BIOL 202 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Edward Jenner, Antibody, Cowpox
24 Jan 2017
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Document Summary
Microbiology: the study of small life forms and viruses: bacteria, fungi, algae, protozoa, and viruses. The focus is bacteriology and virology: mycology: fungi, phycology: algae, protozoology: protozoa, parasitology: parasites. Prevention of diseases: microbiology deals with the biochemistry of microbes and pathogens; allows industries to develop methods of attack on these microorganisms. Bacteria can use environmental/hazardous waste (fecal matter, for example) and use it as a food source; this matter is then broken down. Microbiota: the bacteria that live inside the human body. Make up 50% of the biomass of the earth. Microbes can replicate quickly: can be used to manufacturing purposes: place the gene for insulin; implant it in bacteria; replicate the bacteria, this is the basis of genetic engineering. There are 2-3 billion different species; there are 1030 bacteria alive: only 1% of this can be cultured, there are many bacteria species that exist but cannot be studied because it cannot be cultured.
