Microbiology and biotechnology

Microbiology is the study of microorganisms, those organisms which are so small that they can only be seen clearly, if at all, with the use of a microscope. They include bacteria, viruses, fungi and protoctists such as protozoa and microscopic algae. The classification and some of the chief characteristic of these organism have been described in chapter 2

Microorganisms show great diversity and have enormous potential for explotation by humans. They grow and multiply rapidly given suitable conditions, and use fnd and huge range of chemicals. It is this versatility which makes them to useful. They can even be genetically engineered to make further useful products, such as human insulin. Our exploitation of microorganisms is probably only on its infancy, but already it makes an important contribution to our industrial production. One word has come to symbolize the use of microorganisms and other biological systems, namely biotechnology.

Biotechnology has been defined as the application of organisms, biological systems or biological processes to manufacturing and servicing industries. It does not refer simply to microorganisms, although microorganisms play an important role. In fact, use of any biological processes in a manufacturing processes couid be regarded as biotechnology. This would include, for example, genetic engineering and cloning of plants in agriculture, horticulture and forestry.

Biotechnology provides both products and services. Examples of products of alcohol in the brewing industry and newer products such us human insulin from genetically engineered bacteria. Examples of services are treatment of sewage or detection of pollution using a biosensor. Here the process rather than an end-products is important.

Biotechnology could be defined more broadly as the use of other living organisms for for the benefit of humans. It would then include the breeding and improvement of domesticated animals such as cattle or pigs, and crops such as wheat and potatoes. New techniques of genetic engineering are particularly relevant here because they give us away of introducing new desirably factors into living organisms much more precisely and quickly than the breeding programmes of the past. Some of the principles of large- scale manufacture in  biotechnology and look at some examples of biotechnology. The new technologies will continue to change our society just as the old ones have done. Inevitable they will raise new social and ethical issues, some of these are discussed at the end of chapter 25 on applied genetics.

Scientists first began trying to grow bacteria and fungi under controlled conditions in the mid-nineteenth century. The two great pioneers working on the bacteria were Louis Pasteur , working in the Paris, and Robert Koch, working in the Berlin. Thse and other scientist realised the importance of the being able to grow pure cultures of the organisms they were trying to study. This meant somehow developing techniques by which different microorganisms could be isolated from each other. In addition, suitable nutrients and environmental conditions for growing the microorganism had to be developed. Some microorganism, particularly those that cause disease and therefor live particularly, have complex requirements; other have relatively simple requirements.

A.B.Myrzabaev¹,
candidate of pedagogical sciences,
associate professor of  the department of zology
 Bekmaganbetov Zh²,
Master student department of botany
Karaganda State University. E.A. Buketov¹
Nazarbaev Intellectual Schools Karaganda²

References

1. 1. Myrzabaev A.B. Methodology of teaching biology. Karaganda, 2015, Page 23
2. Commissars B.D. Methodological problems of school biological education. — M. Education: 2001
3. Tavstuha O.G. Pedagogical bases of development of ecological culture of pupils // Diss Doctor of Science. Orenburg, 2001. -399c.
4. Myrzabaev A.B. Introduction to noospheric pedagogy. The monograph of Karaganda 2015. — 204 pages.
5. Pankratov AV, Fesenkova LV, Deryabina E.D. The outlook of a modern young man // Ecology and life. — 2005. — No. 3. — P. 33-34.