What is microbiology and its branches

Microbiology is defined as the experimental science that Study microorganisms in their nature, life and action. The microorganisms, also known as microbe or microscopic organism, are all that set of living beings that cannot be seen with the naked eye, since their small size is below the resolution of the human eye and, therefore, require a microscope to be observed. These include bacteria, fungi, viruses, protists, among others, in relation to man and their activities, or with animals, plants or among themselves, and are studied.

They are distinguished different branches of microbiologyaccording to its application or by the type of microorganism that covers:

• Bacteriology
• FICOLOGY
• Mycology
• Protozoology
• Parasitology
• Virology

Bacteriology is the branch of microbiology that is focused on Bacteria studywhich are the unicellular prokaryotic microorganisms of a structure that we can consider relatively simple. It also includes the Study of diseases that these cause.

We recommend you learn more about these beings with these other posts about: Bacteria are living beings? and types of bacteria.

Also known as algologythis branch is dedicated to Study of algaephotosynthetic organisms of aquatic life. Study both cell structure, function, life cycles and ecology, as well as other algae properties.

Here you can know the classification of algae and in this other link unicellular algae: what are, characteristics, types and examples.

Study fungiwhich are chemioheterotroph eukaryotic microorganisms. They can be unicellular or can be multicellular. Includes molds and yeasts. This branch is considered one of the most extensive and diversified which provides great advances to scientific research and technological development.

Here you can see more information about the kingdom to which the fungi studied by mycology belong: Fungi Kingdom: what is, characteristics, classification and examples.

It is one of the New branches of microbiology which is based on taxonomy. Protozoology is focused on Study of the protozoamore complex unicellular organisms that include améboid, ciliates, sporozans and flagellates.

Learn more about them knowing better the kingdom to which they belong: Protist Kingdom: What is, characteristics, classification and examples.

This branch focuses on the Study of living organisms and their relationship with the environment, as well as in the diseases that they cause and that affect plants, human beings and animals. In this link you can learn about parasitism: definition and examples.

This branch is dedicated to Virus study. The viruses are submicroscopic agents and obliged unicellular parasitescharacterized by presenting a single type of nucleid acid surrounded by a protein cover. Virology includes the study of classification, evolution, structure and the forms of infecting viruses.

We recommend you read these other posts if you want to learn more on the subject: are viruses living beings? and the difference between viruses and bacteria.

There are numerous Types of microbiologyeach of them specializes in a specific field of study.

• Medical Microbiology: It focuses on the study of microorganisms that cause diseases (that is, pathogens), as well as defining strategies for the prevention and control of infectious diseases.
• Health Microbiology: Within this type we can mainly differentiate two others: the food microbiologythat studies microorganisms in food, both of the beneficial and harmful effects that they cause, and the Water microbiologywhich addresses the microorganisms of the waters with the objective of obtaining water of optimal quality, as well as the use of microorganisms for the regeneration of the waters.
• Agricultural microbiology: It treats the microorganisms for the fertilization of soils, as well as all the beneficial and harmful effects of the microorganisms for agriculture.
• Veterinary microbiology: It focuses on infectious diseases caused by microorganisms to pets and animals, also studying prevention and control ways.
• Industrial microbiology: There are numerous products that are obtained through microbial metabolism, and this is where this type of microbiology participates.
• Space microbiology: Microbiology goes further and also covers the possible existence of microorganisms in external space, as well as the use of microorganisms for issues related to spacecraft.

Microbiology is considered one of the Most important disciplines in biologysince it allows to identify how some of these organisms cause diseases, Discover priests For these diseases and even use some microbes with industrial purposes.

In addition, this importance also falls on the fact that microorganisms are practically in almost all the natural elements that exist on the planet and, our lives, as well as those of plants and animals, are intrinsically linked to these microbes. These living beings are constantly recycling key nutrients, such as carbon or nitrogen, as well as degrading organic matter and contributing to the configuration of our day to day. Thus, microorganisms affect our world in different ways.

First, the microbes maintain the healthy planet, since they ensure a continuous recycling of minerals and nutrients and, at the same time, a crucial role for the maintenance of the oxygenated atmosphere. On the other hand, microbes are vital for agriculture and soils that house crops and cattle. They also contribute to maintaining the outbreaks of certain infectious diseases under control. As for pharmacology, microbes are used in numerous products of great use, from antibiotics to solvents or preservatives. Finally, microbiology has become an indispensable tool for Biotechnology And also for Genetic engineering In recent decades.

Now that you have already discovered the branches of myorbiology and what each one studies, as well as the importance of this great branch of science, encourage you to learn more about these others:

• Branches of biology and what they study.
• Botany branches and what each one studies.
• The branches of zoology and what each one studies.

If you want to read more articles similar to What is microbiology and its brancheswe recommend that you enter our category of other environment.