History of Basic Microbiology
Microbiology comes from the Greek (mikros, "small", bios, "life", logia, "science") which means the study of microorganisms.
The first person to observe microorganisms was Anton Van Leeuwenhoek in 1676. Besides Van Leeuwenhoek, there were also other scientists who helped enrich the history of Basic Microbiology in this world,
Aristotle, a figure who believed that living things came from inanimate objects, or also known as the theory of Generatio. Spontanea : Abiogenesis
Francesco Redi, a figure who proved that living things came from living things too. Also known as the theory of Spontaneous Generation: Biogenesis.
Louis Pasteur, the man who proved that microorganisms do not arise spontaneously. Louis Pasteur also invented the sterilization and pasteurization techniques.
Basic Microbiology
Basic microbiology is widely studied in high school and at the early level of biology / microbiology courses. Basic microbiology covers the classification of microorganisms, types and characteristics of microorganisms, to knowledge of nutrition and the growth of microorganisms.
Microorganisms are classified into bacteria, fungi, protozoa, algae and viruses. Currently there are more than 400 genera (classification above species) bacteria that have been known and identified.
This classification of bacteria is based on the properties and characteristics possessed by bacteria, for example whether the bacteria are aerobic or anaerobic, the ability of bacteria to produce gas, etc.
The most complete summary of the classification of bacteria is in the book Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology.
Pathogenic bacteria can cause diseases that are harmful to humans, for example Staphylococcus aureus infection of the skin. This bacterial infection can cause itching and watery bumps. If the infection is severe it can cause festering wounds.
But on the other hand, bacteria can also be useful for human life, for example in making nata de coco using Acetobacter xylinum bacteria or making yogurt using Lactobacillus sp.
In addition to bacteria, there are also fungi which are grouped into molds and yeasts. One of the best known "good" fungi is Rhizopus oligosporus or tempeh mushroom. Yeast Saccharomyces sp is used for brewing beer / wine.
However, there are also "bad" fungi that are detrimental to health such as the fungus Candida albicans which causes vaginal discharge in women, irritation of the groin, etc.
Basic microbiology also includes aspects of nutrition and microbial growth. Knowledge of this is useful for the application of sanitation – hygiene as well as for cultivating microbes in the production of processed food and beverages.
For example, conditioning cold temperatures to prevent microbial growth. Sanitize cutlery to prevent the growth of pathogenic bacteria. Giving ZA and vinegar in the manufacture of nata de coco, etc.
Uses of Understanding Basic Microbiology
There are many benefits to knowing and understanding basic microbiology, especially in everyday life; principles of sanitation and hygiene, principles of food preservation, principles of using microorganisms for food processing, and even disease management and treatment.