CHAPTER 1 : Study guide
SCOPE AND HISTORY OF MICROBIOLOGY
Chapter Overview
Microbiology is a science course that some students are required to take to fulfill a prerequisite for a particular program or major, yet few students know what the course encompasses or what a microbiologist does. In fact, few students even know why they need to study microbiology at all!
In view of this, the first part of this chapter is devoted to a presentation of how microbiology relates to all our lives, which microbes we need to be aware of and why, and what kinds of work microbiologists normally do.
The second part of this chapter provides a brief historical presentation of the most important developments that transformed microbiology into a "true" science. By studying only the most significant events along with interesting anecdotes, the student is provided with a fascinating journey through time without being encumbered with excessive dates and events. Beginning with the first Biblical accounts, the Greek and Roman contributions, and the events leading to the first observations of microbes, the student is given the opportunity to understand how difficult it was to believe in the presence and importance of these microorganisms.
The chapter describes the observation and documentation of microbes by Leeuwenhoek. It then presents the major contributors to the development of the germ theory of disease, the problems of the spontaneous generation theory, the work of Louis Pasteur, and the contributions of Robert Koch. Next comes a brief and fascinating review of the emergence of the many special fields of microbiology and how they are continually changing and expanding.
In summary, this first chapter provides an excellent opportunity for the instructor to set the stage for the many exciting and relevant topics that will be discussed in the later chapters.
Chapter Objectives
- Describe the scope of microbiology, noting especially the variety of microbes and the kinds of work that microbiologists do.
- Identify two reasons for studying microbiology and explain why each is important.
- Summarize the early history of microbiology, noting especially the development of the microscope.
- Cite major events in the development of immunology, virology, chemotherapy, microbial genetics, and molecular biology.
Discussion Topics
- Discuss why it is important for the companies such as Campbell's soup, Miller Brewing and Blue Bell ice cream that make food products to hire microbiologists.
- Discuss why it was essential to dispel the spontaneous generation theory before the germ theory of disease could be believed.
- Discuss the pros and cons of the Human Genome Project.
Study Hints After reading the chapter, prepare index cards for each of the major players in microbiology: Write their names and contributions and other interesting facts:
A short list of cards you should have: in no particular order
Leeuwenhoek, Semmelweis, Pasteur, Lister, Koch, Fleming
Jenner, Woese, Schwann, Mullis
Chapter Outline
I.Why Study Microbiology?
A.Microbial interactions with other organisms and the environment
B.Beneficial aspects of microbes
C.Microbial relationships to life processes
D.Microbes in research
II.Scope of Microbiology
A.The microbes
1.Bacteria
2.Algae
3.Fungi
4.Viruses
5.Protozoa
6.Others
B.The microbiologists
III.Historical Roots
A. Biblical accounts
B. Greek and Roman contributions
C. Bubonic plague
D. Development of microscopy
1. Robert Hooke
2. Anton van Leeuwenhoek
IV.The Germ Theory of Disease
A.Spontaneous generation theory
B.Early studies
C.Pasteur's contributions
D.Koch's contributions
1. Pure culture techniques
2. Koch's Postulates
E. Work toward controlling infections
1. Ignaz Semmelweiz
2. Joseph Lister
V.Emergence of Special Fields of Microbiology
A.Immunology
B.Virology
C.Chemotherapy
D.Genetics and Molecular Biology
VI.Tomorrow's History
A.Early microbiologists
B.Nobel Prize winners
- Human Genome Project
Size Scale of Microbes 1 um = 10-6 meter
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