STB 211 – INTRODUCTION TO MICROBIOLOGY

MODULE 1 - INTRODUCTION

DEFINITION

Microbiology is the scientific study of microorganisms, which are tiny organisms that live around us and inside our body. An organism is a living thing that ingests and breaks down food for energy and nutrients, excretes undigested food as waste, and is capable of reproduction.

HISTORY OF MICROBIOLOGY

ANCIENT TIMES

The existence of microorganisms was hypothesized for many centuries before their actual discovery. The existence of unseen microbiological life was postulated by Jainism which is based on Mahavira’s teachings as early as 6th century BCE. Jain scriptures also describe nigodas which are sub-microscopic creatures living in large clusters and having a very short life and are said to pervade each and every part of the universe, even in tissues of plants and flesh of animals.

The Roman Marcus Terentius Varro made references to microbes when he warned against locating a homestead in the vicinity of swamps "because there are bred certain minute creatures which cannot be seen by the eyes, which float in the air and enter the body through the mouth and nose and there by cause serious diseases."

MEDIEVAL ISLAMIC WORLD 

At the golden age of Islamic civilization, some scientists had knowledge about microorganisms, such as Ibn Sina in his book The Canon of Medicine, Ibn Zuhr (also