Microbiology
Microbiology is the study of microorganisms – microscopic organisms, which includes bacteria, viruses and fungi. The concept of microorganisms goes back many centuries, long before they were observed for the first time in the 1600s. Traditional microbiology relied heavily on observational techniques, such as cultures, staining and microscopy, which led to some revolutionary discoveries, for example, penicillin. However, science has progressed rapidly since then, and the birth of molecular biology and techniques including next-generation sequencing, PCR and CRISPR, has deepened our understanding of microorganisms and their role in the world. Microbiology research has been, and will continue to be, crucial to meeting many global needs, such as protecting public health, maintaining food and water supplies, combating climate change and creating a sustainable planet. Find the latest microbiology papers published on BioTechniques here.