Chapter 1
Introduction to Microbiology
By Boundless
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Microbes are organisms that are microscopic, or extremely small.
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The development of the microscope, along with the observations of various scientists, led to the discovery of microorganisms.
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Pasteur's experiments revealed that spontaneous generation does not occur.
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Robert Koch identified anthrax as a disease agent and formulated postulates that are still used to research diseases today.
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Microorganisms make up a large part of the planet's living material and play a major role in maintaining the Earth's ecosystem.
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Microorganisms are classified into taxonomic categories to facilitate research and communication.
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Life on Earth is thought to have originated from the oldest single-cell archaea and bacteria.
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Microbes are ubiquitous on Earth and their diversity and abundance are determined by the biogeographical habitat they occupy.
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Microbiology is the the study of microscopic organisms and how they interact with humans and the environment.
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The information gained by microbiologists can be applied to many medicinal and commercial endeavors.
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Understanding microbes gives us the ability to fight pathogens using immunization, antiseptics, and antibiotics.
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Modern microbiology began with the discovery of microbes in the 1600s and the scope and scale of the field continues to expand today.