How Do I Become a Microbiologist?

Microbiology is one of the branches of biology. It studies the morphology, growth and reproduction of various micro-organisms (bacteria, actinomycetes, fungi, viruses, rickettsia, mycoplasma, chlamydia, spirochaete, and single-cell algae) at the molecular, cell or population level. , Physiological metabolism, genetic variation, ecological distribution and classification and evolution of basic principles of life activities, and apply it to sciences such as industrial fermentation, medical health and biological engineering. Microbiology is a science that studies the laws and biological characteristics of the life activities of various tiny organisms. ^[1]

microbiology

(Academic subject)

Study the microbial morphology and structure, physiological and biochemical, genetic variation, ecological distribution and taxonomic evolution of life activities, and apply it to the science of practical fields such as industrial fermentation, medical health, biological engineering and environmental protection. ^[2]

Microbiology ^[2]

1. Small size and large specific surface area

The size of the microorganism is measured in m, but the specific surface area (surface area / volume) is large, and there must be a huge absorption of nutrients, excretion of metabolic waste, and environmental information receiving surface. This feature is also microbes with everything large

1. Role in the natural material cycle

2. Air and water purification, sewage treatment

3 Industrial and agricultural production: bacteria, metabolites, metabolic activities

4 Contributions to life sciences

Microbiology subject: China is one of the countries with the most abundant microbial resources in the world. Research on microbial resources reflects the level of basic research in microbiology. It is the basis for national situation surveys, resource protection, development and sustainable use. It is the basis for biodiversity research and endangered species protection. It also includes microorganisms.

Taxonomic unit of microorganisms: boundary, phylum, class, order, family, genera, species

Species are the most basic taxonomic units. After each taxonomy unit, there can be subclasses, subclasses, suborders, subfamilies ...

Taking beer yeast as an example, its status in taxonomy is:

Realm (Kindom): Fungal Realm

Phyllum: Fungal door

Class: Ascomycetes

Order: Endospora

Family: Endosporaceae

Genus: Saccharomyces

Species: beer yeast

Species: is a basic taxonomic unit; it is a general term for a large group of strains that are highly similar in phenotypic characteristics, are closely related, and have significant differences from other species in the same genus. Strain (strain) means any purebred population and all its progeny (a group of purebred progeny flora that originated from a common ancestor and maintained ancestral characteristics) and propagated from an independently isolated single cell. Therefore, a pure culture of a different source of a microorganism can be called a strain of the species. Strains emphasize a genetically pure lineage. Example: Two strains of Escherichia coli: EscherichiacoliB and EscherichiacoliK12

Representation of strains: If the species is the basic unit of taxonomy, then the strain is actually the basic unit of application, because different strains of the same species have very different types and yields of metabolites and enzymes. difference! Subspecies or variants: Reclassification within species.

When there are a few obvious and stable mutation characteristics or genetic traits of different strains in a species, but they are not enough to distinguish into new species, these strains can be subdivided into two or more small taxonomic units-sub Species.

Variant is a synonym for subspecies. The word "variant" is easy to confuse the meaning of the word. Since 1976, the term "variant" is no longer used. The mutant strains obtained in the laboratory are usually called subspecies.

For example: E.colik12 (wild type) does not require a special aa, and after laboratory mutation, a defective aa can be obtained from k12, which is called a subspecies of E.colik12. form: often refers to sub-species subdivision. When the trait difference between different strains in the same or the same subspecies is not enough to divide into new subspecies, they can be subdivided into different types. Example: Dividing into different serotypes based on differences in antigen characteristics

Naming of microorganisms: There are two common names and scientific names for microorganisms. Such as: Bread bread mold-Neurospora crassa; Pseudomonas aeruginosa-Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Scientific name-is the scientific name of the microorganism, which is named in accordance with the rules formulated by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Microorganisms. The scientific name consists of Latin words, or Latinized foreign words. There are two ways of naming scientific names. Double name method: scientific name = genus name + species name + (first name) + current name name + name year name: Latin nouns or adjectives used as nouns, singular, initial capital, indicating the main characteristics of microorganism , Constructed by microorganisms, shaped or named by scientists. Species name: Latin adjectives, lower case initials, secondary characteristics of microorganisms, such as microbial pigment, shape, source, or scientist name. Example: Escherichiacoli (Migula) CastellanietChalmers1919

StaphylococcusaureusRosenbach1884 When referring to a genus of microorganisms in general, but not to a specific species (or unspecified species name), you can add sp. Or ssp. (Representing the singular and Plural form).

For example: Saccharomycessp. Represents a species in the genus Saccharomyces. Strain name: Add numbers, place names or symbols after the species name. Example: BacillussubtilisAS1.389AS = AcademiaSinica

BacillussubtilisBF7658BF = North Textile

Clostridiumacetobutylicum ATCC824

ATCC = AmericanTypeCultureCollection

When a scientific name has appeared before in the article, the generic name can be abbreviated to 1 to 3 letters in the following.

For example: Escherichiacoli can be abbreviated as E.coli

Staphylococcusaureus can be abbreviated as S.aureus. Three names method: used to name the subspecies. At this time, add a subsp. After the genus and species name, and then attach the subspecies name (italic). Example: Bacillusthuringiensissubsp.galleria Bacillus thuringiensis