Importance of Microbiology, Essay Example

Microbiology is a field of study that deals with microorganisms which are very small in size to the extent that they can only be seen with the aid of a microscope. The organisms include bacteria, fungi and viruses.  It is important to acknowledge the fact that bacteria, fungi and viruses leads in importance as causes of death among mankind and therefore a study in this field is extremely important. The study of these invisible microbes by microbiologists has greatly impacted on the society along epoch in history. The tiny organisms have been a cause of many calamities to human including famines, government downfalls and incalculable magnitudes of death. Continued research in this field has facilitated for the acquisition of vital information that has facilitated for success in the battle against the microorganisms.

The study in microbiology has been useful in research on biomedical science, medicines manufacturing and environmental application. Vital data has been accumulated with regard microorganisms that are responsible for majority of the diseases that have afflicted humankind. The study of bacteria has also yielded significant knowledge on atmospheric nitrogen fixation which has been applied in agriculture. Equally important is the study on the processes of decomposition and nutrient recycling which are attributed to bacteria and fungi. The field of microbiology has also found significant application in industrial application. In this regard, the skills of waste management, biotechnology research, mining, food industry and medicine have all been used for the benefit of the society.

Before the knowledge of microorganisms was acquired, the believe of most people in as far as diseases are concerned was as a result of spontaneous proliferation. The idea that disease infections were a result of microorganisms was never conceived in the human brain. It was not until the 17^th century when improvements in the microscope were done that the microorganisms could be viewed. This made a considerable breakthrough in the understanding of the role played by microorganism in the spread of diseases. The understanding of the causes of majority of the death prior to the 20^th century was infections diseases such as tuberculosis in addition to pneumonia that killed thousands of people. Most soldiers incurred injuries and subsequent infections and thereafter death followed in few weeks. Unsanitary conditions and excessive crowding in most cities proliferated the breeding of breeding microorganisms that that affected the lives of people unfavorably.

The interaction of microbiologists with the microbes opens up a career in the field of microbiology whose possibilities are endless. The field has undergone specialization with some microbiologists focusing on a specific microbe. Consequently, specific microbiologists will be experts in bacteria, viruses, microbes associated with livestock, plants or animals. Other scientists in this field will focus on microbes with practical applications such as altering microbes in the production of medicine and creation of laundry detergents.

The greatest advancement achieved in this field is the study of diseases such as meningitis, tuberculosis, AIDS and common cold among other lethal diseases. The understanding of the science behind the survival and functioning of these microorganisms has been beneficial in prevention and treatment of these diseases. Scientists are continuously working in laboratories on these microorganisms. The importance of project to identify unknown bacterium to a micro student is making a distinction bwteen S. aureus and S. epidermidis which is useful in the differentiation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from othe rest of the gram-negative rods.