BIOL 140 Lecture Notes - Microbiology, Toner
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+distinct+tissues,+as+multicellular+
organisms+do,+they+do+associate+with+other+similar+cells+as+populations.+These+
populations+associate+with+other+populations+in+communities.+Interactions+within+
microbial+communities+occur+at+several+levels,+with+waste+products+of+some+organisms+
provided+as+nutrient+for+other+organisms.+In+the+process,+the+properties+of+a+given+
ecosystem+are+often+altered.++
Microorganisms+have+fascinated+me+since+I+was+first+introduced+to+their+world+as+an+
undergraduate+student.+I+am+looking+forward+to+sharing+some+of+the+wonders+of+this+
world+with+you.+I+hope+that+you+enjoy+the+course.++
+
There+are+a+few+things+I+would+like+to+point+out+at+the+beginning+of+this+course:+
1.+For+all+matters+pertaining+to+Biol+240L,+please+contact+Dr.+Cheryl+Duxbury.++
Document Summary
Topic 1: microbiology in context. 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. In fact, for most of the time that microorganisms have existed on earth, there were no multicellular organisms available to infect. 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. These populations associate with other populations in communities.