BIOL 2153 Chapter : Microbiology Intro
Document Summary
What is microbiology: the study of microorganisms: cellular and non cellular organisms that are too small to be seen with the naked eye, bacteria, viruses, protozoans, fungi, algae, diatoms. 3 domains of life: bacteria, archaea, eukarya. Characteristics of cells: metabolism, reproduction, communication, differentiation, movement, evolution. Number of microbial cells on earth: 25 x 10^29, 66% - marine subsurface, 26% - terrestrial subsurface, 4. 8% - surface soil, 2. 2% - oceans, 1% - other habitats. Microbes and agriculture: legumes which partner with bacteria from structures called nodules on their roots, which convert atmospheric nitrogen to fixed nitrogen that plants use for growth. This also reduces the need for fertilizer: bacteria in the gut of cows help digest cellulose into glucose for carbon and energy source that the animal uses. Improved sanitation and the use of antimicrobial agents have helped infectious disease go down such as insulin.
