What is Microbiology?Microbiology is the study of micro-organisms, or microbesMicrobes matter because they affect every aspect of our lives - in us, on us and around us. They can't be seen with the naked eye and so are often forgotten, but they have a huge impact on our lives - in positive and negative ways. |
|
HealthWhen people think of microbes in health they generally think of the microbes that make us ill: viruses that cause cold and flu, or bacteria that cause serious diseases such as meningitis and tuberculosis. However microbes also help us, we use them to make the antibiotics and vaccines that are so important in fighting infections and illness.
Environment and Climate ChangeMicrobes play a positive and negative role in climate change and global warming. They are responsible for most of the methane produced on earth. Methane is a green house gas and contributes to global warming. On the flip side, if we can collect the methane that microbes produce, as they break down waste from homes and farms, it can be used as a biofuel - an alternative source of energy, helping in the fight against climate change. Microbes play an important role in the planet's nutrient cycles; the carbon cycle and nitrogen cycle are dependent on microbes. Microbes have also been used to help clean up contaminated land and oil spills in a process called bioremediation. |
 |
 |
Agriculture and FoodMicrobes are essential for the production of many more foods than you would imagine. Most people know that microbes are involved in the production of cheese, bread and yogurt, but did you know they are also used to make chocolate, Marmite™ and salami? There are millions of bacteria living in our gut that help us take nutrients from our food and compete with 'bad' microbes to prevent illness. Some foods have probiotics added - live cultures of bacteria which boost the numbers of 'good' microbes and improve gut health. Microbes living in the soil affect the plants on the surface by helping them acquire nutrients. Some microbes can cause disease in crops and farm animals. On the other hand, different microbes can be used to control insect pests and weeds.
Business and LeisureMicrobes are used to improve the turf on golf courses and football pitches, where they have a beneficial effect on the grasses. That's not the only place they have an impact on sport. Your gym clothes may well contain silver, this metal has been shown to have antimicrobial properties and is now being used in sports clothes to reduce body odour (which is caused partly by the microbes that feed off your sweat...yuck!).
Microbes have always affected our health, food and environment and they will play an important role in the big issues that face us in the future: climate change, renewable energy, healthier lifestyles and controlling diseases, for this reason microbiologist are needed in many different job sectors, in a variety of different roles. |