Microbiology

The Microbiology ( ancient Greek μικρός Mikrós "small", βίος bios "life" λόγος lógos " word ", " teaching" ) is a branch of biology and is the science and study of the microorganisms, ie living beings, as individuals are not visible to the naked eye can be detected: bacteria, fungi, protozoa ( protozoa ), and a wenigzellige algae ( " microalgae " ) and viruses.

Subregions

The microbiology is divided according to different points in areas of expertise. The classification depends on the application in other disciplines (eg, medical microbiology, food microbiology, Technical Microbiology ), refers to the habitat of the microorganisms ( Geomicrobiology, marine microbiology, soil microbiology ) or the treated groups of microorganisms:

• Bacteriology, the science and study of bacteria
• Mycology, the science and study of the fungi
• Protozoology, the science and study of the protozoa
• Virology, the science and study of the viruses

Methods

In microbiology, cytology methods are used ( science and teaching of the cells), genetics, biochemistry, ecology and systematics. Applies microbiology, inter alia in biotechnology. Microorganisms are ideal for genetic research, since they have relatively small, manageable genomes.

History

The microbiological research begins with the discovery of microorganisms by Robert Hooke and Antoni van Leeuwenhoek ( 1665-1670 approximately ). Both were among the first to be constructed microscopes and made preparations for the development of the light microscope.

Other important facts provided the research of Louis Pasteur (1822-1895), the 1864 the foundations for the process of pasteurization created: by briefly heating food fermentation is prevented, thereby increasing the shelf life of foods. In addition, Pasteur disproved the previously held theory of spontaneous generation, which emanated from a spontaneous generation of microorganisms.

The medical microbiology was primarily supported by the work of the Berlin bacteriologist Robert Koch (1843-1910), who systematically investigated first by microorganisms that cause disease, and this connection with the discovery of the tuberculosis pathogen ( Mycobacterium tuberculosis ) showed. In addition, the microbiology it owes the introduction of solid nutrient media for culturing microorganisms. Cook until potato slices used for this purpose. Later he used gelatin to solidify liquid culture media, and eventually led to an agar culture medium as a means for solidifying.

University Education in Microbiology

The bachelor program microbiology has a standard period of study of six semesters and leads to the professional degree Bachelor of Science - Microbiology. On this is based on a master's degree program, the standard period of study is four semesters.

Graduates in graduation year 2004 needed to bachelor's degree an average of 5.6 semesters for the Master 7.1 and up to 12.0 semester diploma.