Importance of Microbiology

The importance of microbiology It is based on its repercussions in various aspects of daily life, which are not exclusively limited to the health sciences. On the contrary, the knowledge of microscopic life forms generates an impact in areas such as industry, energy resources and the public administration.

Although the existence of microorganisms has been postulated since ancient times, it was undoubtedly Luis Pasteur who was in charge of systematizing the current concepts of microbiology, destroying the ideas of spontaneous generation and highlighting the real importance of this science. At present, it has been such microbiology growth as a branch that many specialists have chosen to divide and, thus, consider as disciplines independent of clinical microbiology, general microbiology, microparasitology and mycology, among other.

In health sciences, microbiology It is a specialty in which the diagnosis of the potential infectious causes of various diseases. In this field, the affections caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites of different types are recognized.

characteristics. In addition to the identification of these organisms by means of observation directly or after its isolation with specific culture techniques, there are currently certain technical resources that allow its presence to be detected by indirect methods. Among these strategies, the polymerase chain reaction and the enzyme immunoassay, popularly known by the acronym in English ELISA, stand out.

In the exploitation of energy resources, microbiology provides significant value in two major areas. On the one hand, it is possible to take advantage of the formidable metabolic activity of microorganisms to convert some waste into sources of usable gas as fuel (biogas). On the other hand, it has been confirmed that different bacteria are able to use for their biological activity the polluting products arising from the hydrocarbonsTherefore, they could reduce the risk of pollution linked to oil spills.

In addition to these achievements in relation to benefits for humanity, it is not possible to forget that some microorganisms can be used for dark purposes, as is the case with their potential capacity for war bacteriological. However, as described for other sciences, microbiology is a knowledge tool whose application par excellence is intended to improve the quality of life of human beings, with the necessary precautions to use these concepts in a conscious and respectful way towards the the rest.