What is Microbiology?
Microbiology is the study of micro-organisms, or microbes
Microbes 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.
Health
When 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.
Microbes 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 Food
Microbes 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.
Microbes 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
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.
What do microbiologists do?
Because microbes have such an effect on our lives, they are a major source of interest and employment to thousands of people. Microbiologists study microbes: where they live, how they survive, how they affect us and how we can make them work for us. All around the world there are microbiologists making a difference to our lives – ensuring our food is safe, treating and preventing disease, developing green technologies or tracking the role of microbes in climate change.
Research and Healthcare
Before microbiologists can solve the problems caused by microbes, or exploit their amazing powers, they have to figure out how the microbial cell works. They can then use this knowledge to prevent or treat disease, develop new technologies and improve our lives in general.
Microbiologists are essential in the fight against diseases. Many work as biomedical scientists in hospitals and Health Protection Agency labs: testing samples of body tissue, blood and fluids to diagnose infections, monitor treatments or track disease outbreaks. Some microbiologists work as clinical scientists in hospitals and medical school laboratories where they carry out research and give scientific advice to medical staff. Other microbiologists work on pathogens that cause diseases, such as flu or TB, and the information they find is used to develop vaccines and improve treatments.
Environment and Climate Change
Some microbiologists study how microbes live alongside other creatures in different habitats such as the ocean, salt lakes and polar regions. Some develop early warning sensors to detect pollution and use microbes to treat industrial waste. Others contribute to the worldwide research on climate change by looking at how microbes effect atmospheric conditions and climate. Microbiologists also work with technologists and engineers to develop greener sources of energy produced from urban and industrial waste.
Agriculture and Food Security
Without agriculture there would be no food for us to eat. Microbiologists investigate the vital role of microbes in soil. Some concentrate on plant pests and diseases, developing ways to control them or even use microbes to control insect pests and weeds. Others research the microbes that cause diseases in farm animals.
Business and Leisure
Many UK bioscience and food companies employ microbiologists. Some carry out research and develop new products. Others work in quality control to monitor manufacturing processes and ensure the microbiological safety of goods such as medicines, cosmetics, food and drink.
Where do microbiologists work?
Universities, research institutes and industrial companies employ microbiologists to do medical, environmental, healthcare and agricultural research. Medical microbiologists also work in hospitals and Health Protection Agency laboratories.
Industrial microbiologists work in a range of companies, from big pharmaceutical, biochemical, biotechnology and food businesses through to smaller firms that develop biopharmaceuticals or specialist products.
If you love microbiology but find that lab-based work isn't for you, there are still some great options where you can use the scientific knowledge and transferable skills you have acquired whilst studying. Microbiologists can use their knowledge and skills in a wide range of careers in industry (marketing, technical support and regulatory affairs) education (teaching, museums and science centres), business (patent attorney or accountant) and communications (public relations, journalism and publishing).
your suggestions and comments are encouraged
Microbiology is the study of micro-organisms, or microbes
Microbes 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.
Health
When 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 Change
Microbes 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 Food
Microbes 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.
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.
What do microbiologists do?
Because microbes have such an effect on our lives, they are a major source of interest and employment to thousands of people. Microbiologists study microbes: where they live, how they survive, how they affect us and how we can make them work for us. All around the world there are microbiologists making a difference to our lives – ensuring our food is safe, treating and preventing disease, developing green technologies or tracking the role of microbes in climate change.
Research and Healthcare
Before microbiologists can solve the problems caused by microbes, or exploit their amazing powers, they have to figure out how the microbial cell works. They can then use this knowledge to prevent or treat disease, develop new technologies and improve our lives in general.
Microbiologists are essential in the fight against diseases. Many work as biomedical scientists in hospitals and Health Protection Agency labs: testing samples of body tissue, blood and fluids to diagnose infections, monitor treatments or track disease outbreaks. Some microbiologists work as clinical scientists in hospitals and medical school laboratories where they carry out research and give scientific advice to medical staff. Other microbiologists work on pathogens that cause diseases, such as flu or TB, and the information they find is used to develop vaccines and improve treatments.
Some microbiologists study how microbes live alongside other creatures in different habitats such as the ocean, salt lakes and polar regions. Some develop early warning sensors to detect pollution and use microbes to treat industrial waste. Others contribute to the worldwide research on climate change by looking at how microbes effect atmospheric conditions and climate. Microbiologists also work with technologists and engineers to develop greener sources of energy produced from urban and industrial waste.
Agriculture and Food Security
Without agriculture there would be no food for us to eat. Microbiologists investigate the vital role of microbes in soil. Some concentrate on plant pests and diseases, developing ways to control them or even use microbes to control insect pests and weeds. Others research the microbes that cause diseases in farm animals.
Many UK bioscience and food companies employ microbiologists. Some carry out research and develop new products. Others work in quality control to monitor manufacturing processes and ensure the microbiological safety of goods such as medicines, cosmetics, food and drink.
Where do microbiologists work?
Universities, research institutes and industrial companies employ microbiologists to do medical, environmental, healthcare and agricultural research. Medical microbiologists also work in hospitals and Health Protection Agency laboratories.
If you love microbiology but find that lab-based work isn't for you, there are still some great options where you can use the scientific knowledge and transferable skills you have acquired whilst studying. Microbiologists can use their knowledge and skills in a wide range of careers in industry (marketing, technical support and regulatory affairs) education (teaching, museums and science centres), business (patent attorney or accountant) and communications (public relations, journalism and publishing).
your suggestions and comments are encouraged
