Microbiology
is the study of organisms that usually require the aid of a microscope
in order to be seen. Micro-organisms include viruses, bacteria,
archaea bacteria, algae, fungi, and protozoa. Microbiologists
seek to understand the interactions between these organisms and
components of our biosphere. Many micro-organisms are essential
for life, as we know it, to exist on earth. Many of these organisms
produce useful biologically active products, such as enzymes
and antibiotics. A small number of them cause diseases in plants
and animals, including humans. The study of micro-organisms has
led to many important discoveries concerning:
- the complexities,
universality and mechanism of expression of the genetic code;
- the transfer of
genetic information between species and modulation of the
gene pool;
- the mechanism of
antigen-antibody reactions and cellular immunity;
- the synthesis of
proteins, nucleic acids and other cellular constituents;
- the structure,
function and biogenesis of membranes; and,
- the process of
molecular and cellular differentiation.
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