1 Oh boy! I am soooo excited!

2 Microbiology The study of organisms too small to be seen without magnification (hence the name microorganisms or microbes) –bacteria –viruses –fungi –protozoa –helminths (worms) –algae

3 What is unique about microbes? Microbes are able to carry out life processes of growth, energy generation, and reproduction in a single cell. They have the ability to: –metabolize almost any food (carbon) sources (even some toxic ones) –withstand unbelievable range of temperatures atmospheric pressure osmotic pressure pH Most plant and animals exist as multi-cellular organisms.

4 What do microbes do Ecology –nutrient production & energy flow –Decomposition –Symbiosis Processes significant to humans –production of foods, drugs & vaccines –bioremediation –causing disease –Notes pg Less than 0.01% of bacteria cause disease. –Most are beneficial to man and all other life forms

5 We literally owe our lives to bacteria – Why? Photosynthesis – harnessing the energy from the sun for heterotrophs Photosynthesis – released O 2 which accumulated allowing aerobic respiration O 2 was converted to which ozone (O 3 )resulted in the formation of the ozone layer that protects organisms from UV radiation allowing evolution of terrestrial (land-dwelling) organisms

6 Microbes have been around a lot longer than us

7 Branches of study within microbiology Immunology Public health microbiology & epidemiology Food, dairy and aquatic microbiology Biotechnology Genetic engineering & recombinant DNA technology

8 Impact of pathogens Nearly 2,000 different microbes cause diseases 10 B infections/year worldwide 13 M deaths from infections/year worldwide

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10 Characteristics of microbes

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12 Scientific Method Form a hypothesis - a tentative explanation that can be supported or refuted by observation & experimentation A lengthy process of experimentation, analysis & testing either supports or refutes the hypothesis. Results must be published & repeated by other investigators.

13 If hypothesis is supported by a growing body of evidence & survives rigorous scrutiny, it moves to the next level of confidence - it becomes a theory Evidence of a theory is so compelling that the next level of confidence is reached - it becomes a Law or principle