MicroPara

• What does the word "microbiology" mean?


  The study of small living things.
• What are microorganisms?


  An important class of cells capable of independent existence.
• Why is microbiology considered a basic biological science?

  It helps in understanding the biology of higher organisms, including humans.
• What are the two main branches of microbiology?

  Pure microbiology and applied microbiology.
• What is bacteriology?


  The study of bacteria.
• What does mycology study?

  The study of fungi.
• What is protozoology?


  The study of protozoa.
• What does phycology/algology study?

  The study of algae.
• What is parasitology?


  The study of parasites.
• What does immunology study?

  The study of the immune system.
• What is virology?


  The study of viruses.
• What is medical microbiology concerned with?

  The study of pathogenic microbes and their role in human illness.
• What does pharmaceutical microbiology study?

  The microorganisms related to the production of pharmaceuticals.
• What is industrial microbiology focused on?

  The exploitation of microbes for use in industrial processes.
• What does food microbiology study?

  The microorganisms causing food spoilage and foodborne illness.
• What is agricultural microbiology concerned with?

  The study of agriculturally relevant microorganisms.
• What does plant microbiology study?


  The interactions between microorganisms and plants.
• What is soil microbiology?


  The study of microorganisms found in soil.
• What is biotechnology related to in microbiology?

  Recombinant DNA technology or genetic engineering.
• What is astrobiology?


  The study of microorganisms in outer space.
• What is a biological agent in microbiology?

  The study of microorganisms used in weapon industries.
• What is nanomicrobiology?


  The study of microscopic organisms on a nano level.
• What is predictive microbiology?

  The quantification of relations between controlling factors in foods and responses of microorganisms.
• What does the term "germ" mean?

  It comes from the Latin word "germen," meaning to sprout from or germinate.
• What are microbes?


  Minute living things that are too small to be seen by the naked eye.
• What is the human microbiome?


  The microbes that are steadily living on the human body.
• How do humans depend on their microbiome?

  To maintain good health and prevent the growth of pathogenic microorganisms.
• Who established the system of nomenclature for organisms?

  Carolus Linnaeus.
• What is a scientific name composed of?

  Two names: genus (first name) and species (second name).
• What is the singular form of bacteria?

  Bacterium.
• What are the characteristics of bacteria?

  Relatively small, unicellular microorganisms with genetic material not enclosed in a nuclear membrane.
• What is the composition of the bacterial cell wall?

  It is largely composed of peptidoglycan.
• How do bacteria reproduce?

  Through asexual reproduction via binary fission.
• What are archaea?


  Prokaryotic cells that may have cell walls but lack peptidoglycan.
• In what environments are archaea typically found?

  Extreme environments.
• What are the three groups of archaea?

  Methanogens, extreme halophiles, and extreme thermophiles.
• What do methanogens produce?

  Methane as a waste product from respiration.
• Where are extreme halophiles typically found?

  In extremely salty environments.
• What do extreme thermophiles thrive in?


  Hot, sulfurous water.
• What are fungi characterized by?

  Cells with a distinct nucleus containing genetic material surrounded by a nuclear membrane.