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Overview This topic covers the basics of microbiology.
That will include: I. What is Microbiology
II. Bacteria & Protozoa III. Algae & Fungi
IV. Heminthes V. Viruses
Objectives At the end of this recorded topic lecture,
you should be able to meet the following objective: 1. Be able to list the six types of microbes.
What is Microbiology Microbiology is the study of anything too small to be seen
with the naked eye. That includes single-celled organisms such as bacteria and other prokaryotes,
protozoa, algae, fungi, and parasitic worms (helminthes). Microscopes are essential to
the study of microbiology and you will be learning how to use them in lab.
What is Covered in Microbiology
Bacteria, like these myxobacteria, and protozoa, like this paramecium, are always single-celled
organisms and are not visible to the naked eye. These pictures were taken using electron
microscopes.
Some forms of algae and fungi are multicellular and are big enough to be seen with the naked
eye, like these examples. We include them in Microbiology because they have single-cell
forms.
Helminthes, or parasitic worms, are included in Microbiology because they have microscopic
egg and/or larval forms. This particular adult, nonpathogenic worm is visible to the naked
eye but only if you look carefully for it. It was much easier to view using a light microscope.
Also, diseases caused by pathogenic worms are transmitted in the same way that bacteria
and other infectious agents are transmitted.
Microbiology also includes the study of viruses, my personal favorite.
Viruses are not cellular -- they are missing some important parts that are needed to be
a cell.
But, they evolve (or change over time) and they influence the evolution of their cellular
hosts, so they are an important part of the study of Microbiology.
In this class, we will mainly be studying bacteria and viruses, but we will be touching
on the other microbes as well.
Reminder After listening to this lecture, you should
be able to: 1. Be able to list the six types of microbes.