Science Biology includes a large number of divisions and subsidiaries of Sciences.However, one of the youngest and most promising, useful to man and its activities is microbiology.More recently arisen, but quickly gained momentum in the development of this science today she became the founder of such sections as biotechnology and genetic engineering.What is microbiology and how were the stages of its formation and development?Let us examine this issue in more detail.
What is microbiology?
First, microbiology - is a science.Volume, interesting young but rapidly developing science.The etymology of the word has its origin in the Greek language.So, "mikros" means "small", the second part of the word comes from "bios", which means "life", and the final part of the Greek."logos", which translates as teaching.Now you can give a literal answer to the question of what microbiology.This doctrine of the micro-life.
other words, is the study of the smallest living creatures that are not visible to the naked eye.These single-celled organisms are:
- prokaryotes (organisms without nuclei, or do not have issued the nucleus):
- bacteria;
- archaea.
2. eukaryotes (organisms that have decorated the kernel):
- unicellular algae;
- simple.
3. Viruses.
However, priority is given to the study of microbiology is a wide variety of bacterial types, forms and methods of obtaining energy.That is the basis of microbiology.
object of study of science
the question that studying microbiology, you can answer this way: it studies the outer diversity of bacteria in shape and size, their impact on the environment and living organisms, methods of feeding, development and reproduction of microorganisms, as well astheir impact on the economic and practical human activity.
microorganisms - is being able to dwell in a variety of conditions.For them practically no limits on temperature, acidity and alkalinity, pressure and humidity.Under any circumstances, there is at least one (and often a lot), a group of bacteria that can survive.Today known microbial communities that inhabit a completely anaerobic conditions inside the volcano at the bottom termoistochnikov, in the dark depths of the oceans, the harsh conditions of the mountains and rocks, and so on.
Science Hundreds of species of microorganisms, which will eventually add up to a thousand.However, it found that it is only a small part of the diversity that exist in nature.Therefore, the work of microbiologists have very much.
One of the most famous centers, in which the detailed study of micro-organisms and all the processes associated with them, was the Pasteur Institute in France.Named after the famous founder of the science of microbiology Louis Pasteur, the Institute of Microbiology released from its walls a lot of wonderful professionals who have committed no less remarkable and significant discoveries.
in Russia today is the Institute of Microbiology.Winogradsky Russian Academy of Sciences, which is the largest research center in the field of microbiology in our country.
Historical background in microbiology science
history of microbiology as a science consists of three main stages conditional:
- morphological or descriptive;
- physiological or accumulator;
- modern.
In general, the history of microbiology has in the development of about 400 years.That is the beginning of the occurrence of falls by about XVII century.Therefore, it is believed that it is a relatively young science in comparison with other branches of biology.
morphological or descriptive stage
very name suggests that at this stage passed, strictly speaking, just the accumulation of knowledge about the morphology of the bacterial cells.It all started with the opening of prokaryotes.This credit belongs to the Italian founder of the microbiological sciences Antonio van Leeuwenhoek, who had a sharp mind, and a good look tenacious ability to think logically, and generalize.As well as a good technician, he has managed to carve a lens, giving an increase of 300 times.And to repeat his achievement could only in the middle of the XX century Russian scientists.And do not vytachivaniem and smelting of optical glass lenses.
These lenses served as the material through which Leeuwenhoek discovered microorganisms.And initially he set himself the task rather prosaic nature: the scientist wanted to know why the hell so bitter.Rubbed parts of the plant and examined them under a microscope own production, he saw a living world of tiny creatures.This was in 1695.Since then, Antonio begins to actively explore and describe the different types of bacterial cells.He distinguishes them only in form, however, and this is already done.
Leeuwenhoek owns about 20 handwritten volumes, which describe in detail spherical, rod-shaped, spiral and other types of bacteria.He wrote the first work in microbiology, which is called "Secrets of Nature, open by Antoni van Leeuwenhoek."The first attempt to organize and summarize the accumulated knowledge of the morphology of the bacteria belong to the scientist O. Muller, who made it in 1785.Since then, the history of microbiology starts to gain its momentum.
physiological or accumulation phase
At this stage of the development of science have studied the mechanisms underlying the life of bacteria.The processes in which they participate and which are not possible without them in nature.It has proved the impossibility of spontaneous generation of life without the participation of living organisms.All of these discoveries were made as a result of experiments, the great chemist, but after these discoveries also microbiologist Louis Pasteur.It is difficult to overestimate its importance in the development of this science.The history of microbiology hardly been able to develop so quickly and completely, if not this man of genius.
discoveries of Pasteur, you can display a few basic points:
- proved that familiar to people since ancient times, the fermentation process is caused by the presence of sugars a certain type of microorganisms.Moreover, for each type of fermentation (lactic acid, alcohol, oil, etc.) characterized by a specific group of bacteria that it and carry;
- introduced into the food industry pasteurization process for getting products from microflora, causing them to rot and spoilage;
- he is credited with enhancing immunity to disease by administering a vaccine into the body.That is, Pasteur - the ancestor of vaccination, it was he who proved that diseases are caused by pathogenic bacteria;
- destroyed the idea of aerobic every living thing and proved that the lives of many bacteria (butyric acid, for example) do not need oxygen, and even harmful.
main undeniable merit of Louis Pasteur was the fact that all his discoveries, he proved experimentally.So that no one could remain doubts about the validity of the results.But the story of Microbiology, of course, does not end there.
Another scientist who worked in the XIX century and made an invaluable contribution to the study of microorganisms, was Robert Koch - a German scientist who is credited with removing the clean lines of the bacterial cells.That is in the nature of all microorganisms are closely interrelated.One group in the process of life creates a breeding ground for the other, the other does the same for the third and so on.That is the same food chain as in higher organisms, only within the bacterial communities.Because of this, it is very difficult to study for a separate community, a group of microorganisms, because their sizes are extremely small (1-6 m or 1 m) and being in constant close cooperation with each other, they do not lend themselves to scrutiny alone.Perfect presents an opportunity to grow a plurality of identical bacterial cells one community in artificial conditions.That is, get a lot of identical cells that are visible to the naked eye and examine the processes which will be much easier.
That is what made the opening and Koch.He coined the removal of pure cultures of bacteria on a nutrient medium, which each community has its own.Also it owns achievements in painting colonies of microorganisms and its individual members.Robert Koch first discovered the tubercle bacillus (bacillus), parasitic in animals and humans.This scientist applied the method of experimental animals infected with pathogenic (pathogenic) bacteria for the purpose of removal of pure cultures of microorganisms and developed methods for disinfection and control.
thus had accumulated a lot of valuable information about the life of bacteria, their benefits and dangers to humans.Development of Microbiology has gone through even more intense.
Contemporary Stage
modern microbiology - is a set of subsections, and a mini-science that deals with the study of not only the bacteria but also viruses, fungi, archaea, and all known and newly discovered micro-organisms.Asked what microbiology, today it is possible to give a very full and detailed response.It is a complex science devoted to the study of microorganisms and their application in practical life in different fields and areas, as well as the impact of microorganisms on each other, on the environment and living organisms.
In connection with such a vast concept should result in a modern microbiology gradation of the science sections.
- total.
- Soil.
- Water.
- Agriculture.
- Medical.
- Veterinary.
- Space.
- Geological Survey.
- Virology.
- Food.
- industrial (technical).
Each of the chapters deals with a detailed study of microorganisms and their effects on the lives and health of people and animals, as well as the possibility of using bacteria for practical purposes to improve the quality of human life.All this combined is what studying microbiology.
greatest contribution to the development of modern methods of microbiology, methods of breeding and cultivation of microorganisms made by such scholars as Wolfram Tsillig and Karl Stetter, Carl Woese, Norman Pace, Watson, Crick, Pauling, Zuckerkandl.From domestic scientists are such names as Mechnikov, LS Tsenkovsky, DI Ivanovsky Vinogradskii VL Omelyanskii, SP Kostychev, Ya Ya and NikitinskyFyodor Chistyakov, Alexander Lebedev, VN Shaposhnikov.Through the work of these scientists have created ways to combat serious diseases in animals and humans (anthrax, diabetes tick, foot and mouth disease, smallpox, and so on).Were created ways to enhance immunity to bacterial and viral diseases, the strain of microorganisms capable of processing oil, to create during the life of a lot of different organic substances, purify and improve the environment, non-disintegrating decomposing chemicals and more.
contribution of these people is truly invaluable, so some of them (Mechnikov II) received the Nobel Prize for his work.To date, there are children of science, formed on the basis of microbiology, which are the most advanced in biology - it is biotechnology, bioengineering and genetic engineering.Work each directed to organisms or group of organisms with predetermined properties, handy man.On the development of new methods of working with microorganisms to obtain maximum benefit from the use of bacteria.
Thus, the stages of development of Microbiology, although not numerous, but very informative and full of events.
Methods for studying microorganisms
Modern methods of microbiology based on the work with pure cultures as well as the use of the latest advances in technology (optical, electronic, laser, etc.).Here are the main ones.
- Using microscopic techniques.As a rule, only light microscopes do not give the full results, so shall also apply to fluorescent, laser and electronic.
- Crops bacteria on special nutrient media for culturing and breeding colonies of absolutely pure cultures.
- Physiological and biochemical analysis methods culture of microorganisms.
- Molecular biological methods of analysis.
- genetic analysis methods.Today, it became possible to trace the family tree of nearly every open group of microorganisms.This was made possible thanks to the work of Carl Woese, who managed to decipher the site of the genome of bacteria colonies.With this discovery made possible the construction of a phylogenetic system of prokaryotes.
totality of these methods allows you to get full and detailed information about any of the newly opened or already opened microorganisms and find their correct application.
Stages of microbiology, which she held in her development as a science does not always include such a generous and accurate set of methods.However, it is noteworthy that the most effective at all times is an experimental method, he served as the basis for the accumulation of knowledge and skills in working with the microcosm.
Medical Microbiology
One of the most important and significant it is for the human health sections of Microbiology is the medical microbiology.The subject of the study it became pathogenic viruses and bacteria that cause severe diseases.Therefore, before the medical microbiologist task is to: identify the pathogen, cultivated his clean line, study the characteristics of life and the reasons for that are harmful to the human body, and to find the means to resolve this action.
After the pure culture of the pathogen is obtained, it is necessary to conduct a thorough analysis of molecular biology.Based on the results to test the body's resistance to antibiotics, the spread of the disease to identify and choose the most effective treatment against this microorganism.
That medical microbiology, including veterinary, helped resolve a number of pressing problems of humanity: to create a vaccine against anthrax, rabies, faces equines, sheep pox, anaerobic infections, tularemia and paratyphoid, it was possible to get rid of the plague and parapnevmonii and so on.
Food Microbiology
Fundamentals of microbiology, sanitation and hygiene are closely interrelated, and all are one.Because pathogens can spread much faster and to a greater extent when the conditions of sanitation and hygiene is poor.First and foremost, this is reflected in the food industry, the mass production of food.
Current data on the morphology and physiology of microorganisms, biochemical processes caused by them, as well as the influence of environmental factors on the microflora developing in food during transportation, storage, sale and processing of raw materials, help to avoid many problems.The role of microorganisms in the process of formation and change in the quality of food and the emergence of a number of diseases caused by pathogenic and opportunistic species, very significant, and therefore the task of food microbiology, sanitation and hygiene is the role to identify and turn to the benefit of man.
food microbiology also cultivates bacteria that can convert from oil proteins, uses microorganisms to decompose the food, for the treatment of many food products.Fermentation process based on lactic acid and butyric bacteria give humanity a lot of necessary products.
Virology
completely separate and very large group of microorganisms, which is by far the most poorly understood - are viruses.Microbiology and Virology - two closely interrelated categories of microbiological science that studies the pathogenic bacteria and viruses that can cause serious harm to the health of living organisms.
Virology section is very extensive and complex, so deserves a separate study.
