Microbiology

The word microbiology was derived Greek word micros meaning small, bios meaning life.  The branch of science that deals about microscopic study of organisms that are unicellular, microscopic and cell cluster organisms is referred as microbiology.  The study is mainly concerned about prokaryotes and eukaryotes such as protists and fungi, and not restricted to study viruses and prions. Microbiology is more specific to study the immune system nothing but immunology. Immune systems are concerned about pathogenic microbes. Broad class of microbiology includes various branches of biology such as mycology, bacteriology, virology and parasitology. The individual who practices microbiology are referred as microbiologists. Microbiology estimate shows that there exist almost 1 % of microbes in earth.

Disciplines of microbiology

Following are sub disciplines field of microbiology.

• Microbial genetics
• Cellular microbiology
• Environmental microbiology
• Microbial physiology
• Aeromicrobiology
• Food microbiology
• Nano microbiology
• Soil microbiology
• Pharmaceutical microbiology
• Industrial microbiology
• Agricultural microbiology
• Evolutionary microbiology
• Pharmaceutical microbiology
• Generation microbiology
• Medical microbiology

Applications of Microbiology

It is evident that microbes exist by associating with other microbe and thereby induce illness to humans. Beneficial microbes also exist and are used in industrial fermentation process for instance in the production of dairy products, vinegar, alcohol, and antibiotics. Microbes also act as a cloning vehicle especially in plants. Microbes produce enzymes like Taq polymerase and reporter genes to be used in many genetic systems and also in advanced molecular biology techniques for instance yeast two hybrid systems. Bacteria are used in the amino acid production. Corynebacterium glutamicum are used in production of L-glutamine and L-lysine. Biopolymers like polyamides, polyesters and polysaccharides are synthesized by the microbial organisms. Xanthan, cellulose, aldinate, cyanophycin, levan, hyaluronic acid, oligo saccharides, polysaccharides, organic acids, and polyhydroxyalkanotes are produced by microorganisms.

Questions:

• What is microbiology?
• What are yeast two hybrid systems?
• What are applications of microbiology?