Introduction to Microbiology

Chapter 1

I. Objectives

Why microbiology?

What is a microbe?

How did we learn all this?

II. Why microbiology

A. Microbes rule! – They are everywhere and shape our visible

world

– They have widest range of diversity

– They have adapted to survive in extremely wide range of environments

B. Why is microbiology important?

III. What are microbes?

A. Domains

And. . .

Viruses

B. Structure of Microbes

1. Prokaryotic

2. Eukaryotes

“eu” “karyos”

C. Identification: structure vs genetics

Bacterial shape

Biochemistry

RNA/DNA

D. Classification

Linnaeus

– examples» Escherichia coli

» Bacillus megaterium

» Streptococcus faecalis

IV. Origins:

Earth formed fossil prokaryotes earliest fossil eukaryotes animals all present day life

V. Distribution:

Most abundant organisms

Soil content

Human content

Absent?

Why are microbes so successful?

VI. Historical perspective

Three major epochs

Each marked by advances in methodology

A. Epoch 1:1660-1850

1. Discovery– Hooke

– Anton van Leeuwenhoek–

2. How does life originate?

Redi

Needham

Spallanzani

B. Epoch 2: 1850-1930

1. Ending the spontaneous generation controversy– Pasteur

2. Microbes as infectious disease agents

Lister

Koch and his postulates

Jenner

3. Golden Age of Microbiology: late 1800s

Disease agents

Transformation of organic and inorganic matter

C. Epoch 3: 1930s-present

Antimicrobial agents

Branching out of fields

And into the new millenium!

Disease

Research

Industry

Biotechnology