What is Microbiology?

Microbiology is the study of organisms too small to be seen with the naked eye. Originally, emphasis was placed on harmful micro organisms which cause disease or spoilage of beverages and food, but it is now recognized that many microbes have essential roles in our ecosystem or can be used to accomplish beneficial tasks. Human history is full of examples of major devastations caused by bacteria and viruses. Some of these historically important diseases still occur, such tuberculosis and yellow fever. Microorganisms are evolving to cause new infectious disease problems such as Lyme disease and AIDS, which capture public attention. Control and eradication of infectious diseases remain important goals of many microbiologists. The recognition that microorganisms were responsible for what was earlier thought to be "spontaneous generation" opened the door to industrial (pharmaceutical, chemical, energy) and food microbiology, technologies which contribute substantially to today's way of life. Microorganisms in soil and water are essential in the transformation of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur and iron to products needed by plants and animals. In various ways, microbes participate in environmental cycling and degradation and global change. In the last few decades, microorganisms have been recognized as ideal model systems for the study of basic biological processes.
More recently, microbiologists have brought an exciting dimension to the study of biology through the use of genetic engineering techniques and highly specific protein (antibody) molecules. Accomplishments in these areas already have led to enormous benefits for the human race, but there are many more challenges to be conquered through these kinds of studies. In the future, studies in space microbiology may help to reveal if there is life on other planets and the role of