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Introduction to Microbiology
LO: understand the importance of microbiology to humans
What is Microbiology?
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Study of organisms that are too small to be seen with the naked eye
You need a microscope to view them

Microbiology is a big subject and covers a wide range of content such as:
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Bacteriology- study of bacteria
Mycology- study of fungi
Protozoology- study of protozoans
Virology- study of viruses
Phycology- study of algae

3 main types of microbes:
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Eukaryotes- has a nucleus and membrane bound organelles e
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endoplasmic reticulum,
Golgi apparatus, mitochondria, chloroplast, nucleus
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6 billion years old
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8 billion years ago 
For 2 billion years the atmosphere was anoxic (no oxygen)
This meant there was anaerobic metabolism (microbes are methanogens so used methanogenesis Methanogenesis is a form of anaerobic respiration in microbes that uses carbon as an electron
acceptor and results in the production of methane
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In cheese making
In yoghurt making
In vinegar making
In bread making
Production of enzymes, alcohols, biofuels, drugs
Can be manipulated to make cellulose, insulin
In sewage treatment- break down organic matter
Detoxify pollutants e
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oil, mercury
Some release oxygen into the environment (O2 is a waste material for some)
Production of food additives e
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citric acid
Quorn- made of protein and fungi, it is a meat substitute
Antibiotics e
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penicillin is made from fungi
Work as a biological insecticide- microbes are sometimes pathogens to insects which feed on
crop and insects which transmit disease e
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Bacillus thuringiensis
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Fungi/bacteria recycle carbon, nutrients, Sulphur, phosphorus that can be used by plants
and animals
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Soil, water and freshwater microbes form the basis of food chains
Some microbes are harmful e
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interact with each other;
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a) cooperation – help microbes
b) competition- kill off competition
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Some microbes use oxygen and
remove it from the habitat, so the habitat becomes anoxic, so then the conditions favour the
growth of the anaerobic microbes (these were present in the habitat but unable to grow)
o microbes attach to solid surfaces and grow into biofilms (masses)e
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on teeth, tongue,
rocks, medical implants
o These biofilms can protect mucous membranes from harmful microbes but can also clog
pipes and medical implants joint prostheses and catheters
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o Biofilms are resistant to antibiotics
o Normal microbiota- microbial communities that live in or on the human body
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