1: Introduction
- Page ID
- 42451
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Chapter 1 Learning Outcomes
- Describe the field of microbiology
- Appreciate the variety of impacts of microbes and microbiology on humans and the environment
- Provide a reasonable definition of a microbe
- Explain germ theory of disease and the link to Koch’s Postulates
- Apply Koch’s Postulates
- Understand the role of background knowledge in formulating hyptotheses and how science is limited in the experiments it can perform by techniques available as well as ethical considerations
- Determine the appropriate type of microscopy to use in a situation (bright field, fluorescence, TEM, SEM)
- Distinguish between images produced by various forms of microscopy (bright field, fluorescence, TEM, SEM)
- Provide a rough timeline of the development of the forms of microscopy presented (bright field, fluorescence, TEM, SEM)
- 1.1: An Invisible World
- Microorganisms (or microbes, as they are also called) are small organisms. Most are so small that they cannot be seen without a microscope. Most microorganisms are harmless to humans and, in fact, many are helpful. They play fundamental roles in ecosystems everywhere on earth, forming the backbone of many food webs. People use them to make biofuels, medicines, and even foods.
- 1.2: The Science of Microbiology
- Modern microbiology is an extremely broad field reaching far beyond health applications. Microbiology touches on every aspect of our lives, from what we eat to how we wash our clothes.
- 1.3: How We See the Invisible World
- Through a microscope, we can examine microbial cells and colonies, using various techniques to manipulate color, size, and contrast in ways that help us identify species and diagnose disease. This chapter explores how various types of microscopes manipulate light in order to provide a window into the world of microorganisms. By understanding how various kinds of microscopes work, we can produce highly detailed images of microbes that can be useful for both research and clinical applications.
Thumbnail: "microscope" by rouwkema is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0