Microbiology department
The biodiversity found in microorganisms (organisms that cannot be seen directly with the naked eye) is unparalleled in any other area of biology. A meticulous examination of microorganisms in terms of their shape, function, biochemical characteristics, or genetic mechanisms has brought us to the frontiers of biological knowledge. Consequently, the need for innovation, which is a test to determine the quality of a scientific hypothesis, is fully met in microbiology. A useful hypothesis should form the basis for generalizing laws, and the diversity of microbes provides a field for this constant struggle.
Predicting phenomena, which is the practical outcome of knowledge, results from a combination of technique and hypothesis. Biochemistry, molecular biology, and genetics provide the necessary tools for analyzing microorganisms. Microbiology, in turn, expands the horizons of these sciences. A biologist calls such an exchange synergy, meaning that each component benefits all other parts, and lichens are an example of microbial synergy. A lichen is a combination of a fungus and a phototrophic organism, which can be an alga (which is eukaryotic) or a cyanobacterium (which is prokaryotic).
The phototrophic member is the primary producer, while the fungus provides a support and shelter for this member. In biology, this state is called symbiosis, which means a continuous relationship between different organisms. If one side benefits primarily from this exchange, this relationship is known as a parasitic relationship, in which a host meets the needs of a parasite. To isolate and determine the characteristics of a parasite, such as a pathogenic bacterium or virus, it is often necessary to be able to provide conditions similar to the host cell in the laboratory for the growth of the parasite. This is sometimes a major problem for the researcher.”
Key points emphasized in the translation:
- The unique biodiversity of microorganisms.
- The role of microbiology in advancing scientific knowledge.
- The importance of hypothesis testing and innovation in microbiology.
- The concept of synergy and its application in microbial relationships.
- The challenges of studying parasitic microorganisms.
The words symbiosis, mutualism, and parasitism
belong to the science of ecology and demonstrate the use of environmental biology principles in microbiology. Microorganisms are the result of the evolutionary process, meaning they are biological products of natural selection from diverse (genetically) branches of organisms. However, before generalizing this principle to microorganisms, which are the most heterogeneous group of living organisms, it is better to consider the complexity of the history of life.
In the biological classification of living organisms, a large branch is called eukaryotes, in which the nucleus is surrounded by a membrane in organisms. The other branch is prokaryotes, in which DNA is not physically separated from the cytoplasm. Of course, more differences can be made between eukaryotes and prokaryotes, for example, eukaryotes are larger than prokaryotes and have specialized organelles (organelles) that are bounded by a membrane, such as mitochondria.
As will be described in the following sections, microbial eukaryotes are called protists, and the main branches of this group are: algae, protozoa, fungi, and molds. The unique characteristics of viruses place them in a different position from other living organisms. Eukaryotes and prokaryotes are living organisms because they contain all the necessary enzymes for self-replication and have the necessary biological tools for producing metabolic energy. Therefore, eukaryotes and prokaryotes differ from viruses because viruses depend on host cells for these essential functions