Fundamentals
of
Microbiology
(Biology
240)
Course
notes
Dr.
Josh
D.
Neufeld
Topic
1:
Microbiology
in
context
Welcome
to
Biology
240!
In
this
course,
you
will
be
introduced
to
the
world
of
microorganisms,
learn
how
these
organisms
are
studied,
and
become
aware
of
the
position,
role
and
importance
of
microorganisms
in
the
world.
Microbiology
is
a
science
that
is
not
much
more
than
a
century
old.
It
is
thus
a
young,
vigorous
and
modern
science.
Microbiology
has
had
profound
influence
on
almost
every
sector
of
human
interest:
health,
agriculture,
food
and
environment.
It
has
given
rise
to
molecular
biology
and
biotechnology.
Even
if
you
do
not
plan
to
specialize
in
microbiology,
it
is
important
to
develop
an
understanding
of
microbiology
and
the
microbial
impact
on
our
lives.
While
one
of
the
most
important
drivers
for
the
development
of
the
science
of
microbiology
was
the
recognition
that
many
diseases
are
caused
by
microorganisms,
in
reality,
only
a
very
small
fraction
of
microorganisms
cause
disease.
In
fact,
for
most
of
the
time
that
microorganisms
have
existed
on
earth,
there
were
no
multicellular
organisms
available
to
infect.
The
physiological
activities
of
microorganisms
resulted
in
the
formation
of
a
“biosphere”,
that
allowed
some
of
them
to
evolve
into
multicellular
organisms.
Even
today,
microorganisms
comprise
>50%
of
the
Earth’s
biomass.
The
overwhelming
majority
of
these
microorganisms
are
"friendly".
Microorganisms
have
been
very
important
as
model
systems
in
the
study
of
biochemistry
and
genetics.
Most
of
the
fundamental
biochemical
and
genetic
principles
of
life
were
developed
through
the
study
of
microorganisms.
Microbial
cells
can
be
cultured
to
high
densities
in
the
laboratory,
facilitating
biochemical
analysis,
and
they
are
easy
to
manipulate
genetically.
Although
microbial
cells
do
not
differentiate
into
distin
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