• Introducing microbes
• The scope of microbiology
• Job areas
  • Medical microbiology
  • Microbes mean business
  • Food & drink
  • The great outdoors
  • Out of the laboratory
• Course & Qualifications
  • Choosing a degree or HND course
  • Graduate qualifications
  • Technical training and qualifications

Introducing microbes

The world around us is full of organisms which are too small to be seen with the naked eye. Microbiologists study these tiny life forms. The major groups of microbes are bacteria, viruses, fungi, algae and protozoa.

Microbes live in widely diverse habitats ranging from hot springs, to the human body and the depths of the ocean. They affect each and every aspect of life on earth.

Most people know that microbes are the cause of infectious diseases like 'flu, or whooping cough, but they don't realise that exploiting microbial activities brings us many benefits. Microbes can make you ill, but they are also the source of the antibiotics that can cure you. And, although many microorganisms cause food spoilage, others are essential for its production. Without yeast there would be no beer or bread and we could not make yoghurt without lactic acid bacteria.

On a planetary scale, microorganisms have an essential role in the cycling of the nutrients which make up every living creature. Microbes are responsible for the degradation of dead animals and plants, releasing components that can be used again. They are the only organisms that can fix nitrogen from the atmosphere into living material. Photosynthetic microbes in the oceans fix the carbon dioxide from which all marine life is derived. If these processes did not occur, life on this planet would soon grind to a halt.

The scope of microbiology

Microbiology is not a single subject. It has many areas of specialisation. However it is a science based on the use of pure cultures - looking at one sort of organism at a time. Many of the techniques developed by microbiologists are now used in molecular and cell biology to provide the basis for studying higher organisms.

Microorganisms also play a central role in recombinant DNA technology and act as the agents for genetic modification. Applying knowledge gained from these techniques can lead to many improvements in the quality of our lives. In this way microbiology makes an important contribution to biotechnology, an area of science that applies industrial techniques to biological processes.

The range of job opportunities for microbiologists is as diverse as the organisms they work with.

Understanding microbes has never been more important. Choose microbiology for your career.

• Job areas
  • Medical microbiology
  • Microbes mean business
  • Food & drink
  • The great outdoors
  • Out of the laboratory
• Course & Qualifications
  • Choosing a Degree or HND course
  • Graduate Qualifications
  • Technical training and qualifications