Microbiology For Dummies (9781119544425) was previously published as Microbiology For Dummies (9781118871188). While this version features a new Dummies cover and design, the content is the same as the prior release and should not be considered a new or updated product.
Microbiology is the study of life itself, down to the smallest particle
Microbiology is a fascinating field that explores life down to the tiniest level. Did you know that your body contains more bacteria cells than human cells? It's true. Microbes are essential to our everyday lives, from the food we eat to the very internal systems that keep us alive. These microbes include bacteria, algae, fungi, viruses, and nematodes. Without microbes, life on Earth would not survive. It's amazing to think that all life is so dependent on these microscopic creatures, but their impact on our future is even more astonishing. Microbes are the tools that allow us to engineer hardier crops, create better medicines, and fuel our technology in sustainable ways. Microbes may just help us save the world.
Microbiology For Dummies is your guide to understanding the fundamentals of this enormously-encompassing field. Whether your career plans include microbiology or another science or health specialty, you need to understand life at the cellular level before you can understand anything on the macro scale.
- Explore the difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
- Understand the basics of cell function and metabolism
- Discover the differences between pathogenic and symbiotic relationships
- Study the mechanisms that keep different organisms active and alive
You need to know how cells work, how they get nutrients, and how they die. You need to know the effects different microbes have on different systems, and how certain microbes are integral to ecosystem health. Microbes are literally the foundation of all life, and they are everywhere. Microbiology For Dummies will help you understand them, appreciate them, and use them.
Autorentext
Jennifer C. Stearns, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at McMaster University. She studies how we get our gut microbiome in early life and how it can keep us healthy over time. Michael G. Surette, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Medicine at McMaster University, where he pushes the boundaries of microbial research. Julienne C. Kaiser, PhD, is a doctoral career educator.
Klappentext
- Grasp the basics of cell functions and interactions
- Discover the integral part microbes play in the ecosystem
- Identify one-celled organisms and their genetics
Make sense of the study of life
Does microbiology make your head spin? You're not alone. Luckily, this down-to-earth guide makes the study of this enormously encompassing subject accessible and fun. Discover how to identify a microbial pathogen, what diseases are caused by microorganisms, and the latest information on vaccines. This guide also allows you to step into, and understand, the cell. In no time, you-ll grasp life at the cellular level and transfer your knowledge of this minuscule topic to score big at exam time!
Inside...
- Explanations of micro life
- Basics of photosynthesis
- The scoop on chemolithotrophy
- Respiration vs. fermentation
- Tips for taking the mystery out of omics
- Inroads into microbial communities
Inhalt
Introduction 1
About This Book 1
Foolish Assumptions 2
Icons Used in This Book 2
Beyond the Book 3
Where to Go from Here 3
Part 1: Getting Started With Microbiology 5
Chapter 1: Microbiology and You 7
Why Microbiology? 7
Introducing the Microorganisms 8
Deconstructing Microbiology 10
Chapter 2: Microbiology: The Young Science 11
Before Microbiology: Misconceptions and Superstitions 12
Discovering Microorganisms 12
Debunking the myth of spontaneous generation 13
Improving medicine, from surgery to antibiotics and more 14
Looking at microbiology outside the human body 16
The Future of Microbiology 16
Exciting frontiers 17
Remaining challenges 18
Chapter 3: Microbes: They're Everywhere and They Can Do Everything 21
Habitat Diversity 23
Metabolic Diversity 24
Getting energy 25
Capturing carbon 25
Making enzymes 26
Secondary metabolism 26
The Intersection of Microbes and Everyone Else 27
Part 2: Balancing the Dynamics Of Microbial Life 29
Chapter 4: Understanding Cell Structure and Function 31
Seeing the Shapes of Cells 31
Life on a Minute Scale: Considering the Size of Prokaryotes 33
The Cell: An Overview 34
Scaling the Outer Membrane and Cell Walls 35
Examining the outer membrane 35
Exploring the cell wall 37
Other Important Cell Structures 41
Divining Cell Division 43
Tackling Transport Systems 44
Coasting with the current: Passive transport 45
Upstream paddle: Active transport 46
Keeping things clean with efflux pumps 46
Getting Around with Locomotion 47
Chapter 5: Making Sense of Metabolism 49
Converting with Enzymes 49
In Charge of Energy: Oxidation and Reduction 51
Donating and accepting electrons 52
Bargaining with energy-rich compounds 54
Storing energy for later 55
Breaking Down Catabolism 56
Digesting glycolysis 56
Stepping along with respiration and electron carriers 57
Moving with the proton motive force 59
Turning the citric acid cycle 60
Stacking Up with Anabolism 61
Creating amino acids and nucleic acids 62
Making sugars and polysaccharides 63
Putting together fatty acids and lipids 65
Chapter 6: Getting the Gist of Microbial Genetics 67
Organizing Genetic Material 68
DNA: The recipe for life 68
Perfect plasmids 70
Doubling down with DNA replication 71
Assembling the Cellular Machinery 75
Making messenger RNA 75
Remembering other types of RNA 77
Synthesizing protein 78
Making the Right Amount: Regulation 80
Turning the tap on and off: DNA regulation 81
Regulating protein function 83
Changing the Genetic Code 83
Slight adjustments 83
Major rearrangements 85
Chapter 7: Measuring Microbial Growth 89
Getting Growth Requirements Right 89
Physical requirements 90
Chemical requirements 91
Culturing microbes in the lab 92
Observing Microbes 94
Counting small things 95
Seeing morphology 97
Calculating Cell Division and Population Growth 98
Dividing cells 99
Following growth phases 100
Inhibiting Microbial Growth 101
Physical methods 101
Disinfectants 102
Part 3: Sorting Out Microbial Diversi...