Microbiology

Microbiology is the scientific study of microscopic organisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, archaea, and protozoa. These tiny living organisms play an important role in medicine, industry, agriculture, and the environment. The knowledge and tools of microbiology are used to diagnose, prevent, and treat infectious diseases, control air and water pollution, produce medicines, food, and fuels, and to understand the complexities of biotechnology. An increasingly important field of study, microbiology has been instrumental in providing new insights into the functioning of living organisms and the evolution of life itself.