Microbiology
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Microbiology is the study of microorganisms, which are microscopic, unicellular, and cell-cluster organisms. This includes eukaryotes such as fungi and protists, and prokaryotes. Viruses and prions, though not strictly classed as living organisms, are also studied. Microbiology typically includes the study of the immune system, or Immunology. Generally, immune systems interact with pathogenic microbes; these two disciplines often intersect which is why many colleges offer a paired degree such as "Microbiology and Immunology".
Microbiology is a broad term which includes virology, mycology, parasitology, bacteriology and other branches. A microbiologist is a specialist in microbiology and these other topics.
Microbiology is researched actively, and the field is advancing continually. It is estimated only about one percent of all of the microbe species on Earth have been studied. Although microbes were directly observed over three hundred years ago, the field of microbiology can be said to be in its infancy relative to older biological disciplines such as zoology and botany.
See also
- Archaea
- Bacteria
- Biochemistry
- Biosafety
- Biotechnology
- Environmental microbiology
- Eukaryote
- Food microbiology
- Genetics
- Immunology
- Important publications in microbiology
- Industrial microbiology
- Iron in microbiology
- Microbial phylogenetics
- Medical technologist
- Medicine
- Mycology
- Nursing
- Oral microbiology
- Prokaryote
- Virology
- Professional organizations
- Journals
- Critical Reviews in Microbiology
- International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology
- Journal of Bacteriology
- Nature Reviews Microbiology
- Springer Protocols in Microbiology
