Microbial Genetics

Our planet Earth is home to an enormous number of organisms and creatures like humans, birds, fish, insects, plants, etc. likewise there are certain organisms that inhabitant planet Earth but are so small that they are not visible to the naked human eye such organisms are called microorganisms and the study of such organisms is known as microbiology.

Microbial genetics is a sub-subject within microbiology and genetic engineering. Microbial genetics is used to study and observe microorganisms and their genetic behaviour for various purposes. Bacteria and archaea are some of the microorganisms that are studied under the subject and their genotype and expression system.

Microbial genetics

Microbial genetics is a sub-branch of microbiology that deals with the study of microorganisms for various purposes. The major group of microorganisms that are studied under Microbial genetics is archaea and bacteria, in some cases curtain fungi and protozoa are also subjected to microbial genetics. Genetical engineering is where Microbial genetics specialises, recombining genes in DNA and DNA technology also comes under the study of microbial genetics.

Genotype studies and the system of expression and regression is also the branch of microbial genetics. Cloning is the result of microbial genetics and genetic engineering.

Microorganisms

Organisms that are extremely tiny and small in size that are only visible under a microscope, such types of organisms are collectively called microorganisms. No naked eye can see these organisms without a microscope.

Bacteria, fungi, protozoa, algae, viruses and archaea are the major groups in which these microorganisms are been divided

Bacteria

Bacteria are single-cell microorganisms that length up to a few micrometres in length. Bacteria are one of the earliest life forms to in-habitat Earth. Bacteria are present almost everywhere in the air around us like in soil, in water, even in our body (mouth and stomach) and these bacteria are essential for life on earth.

Fungi

Yeast and moulds are some organisms that belong to the fungi family. They are heterotrophs in nature which means they are dependent on another organism for their food.

Protozoa

Protozoa are also single-celled microorganisms that belong to the eukaryotes family. These single-celled microorganisms feed on organic matter, therefore feeding other microorganisms, tissues, and other organic matters. These single-celled organisms, protozoa, show a parasitic behaviour as they feed on organic matter.

Algae

These microorganisms are autotrophic in nature which means just like plants they use photosynthesis to prepare their food and do not depend upon another organism for food. Algae contain chlorophyll in this cell which is essential for the process of photosynthesis that’s why these algae are generally green-blue in colour. The algae family e consists of singular cellular organisms such as chlorella as well as multicellular organisms such as giant kelp(which grows to a length of 50m)

Virus

These Sub-microorganisms are not considered living. They are infectious agents which affect all organisms from plants to animals and even microorganisms such as bacteria and archaea. Viruses in fact all living forms and multiplied themself inside a living cell. Viruses are so small that they can be hardly seen under a microscope.

Archaea

Archaea belongs to the prokaryotes family as these single-celled microorganisms do not have any cell nuclei. Archaea have a similar size to bacteria but they have a very distinct shape such as flat and square cells.

Microbiology

The word micro itself means ‘small’ and the word biology means ‘the study of life ‘, therefore microbiology is the study of microorganisms that are so tiny that they can be only seen by microscope.

Microbiology studies organisms that are unicellular(single-celled), multicellular (group of cells), and acellular( which lack cells).

Microbiology can be further divided into various parts such as virology, bacteriology, parasitology, immunology, mycology, and protistology.

Genetics

What are genes?

Genes are basic unit blocks of life. These unit blocks transfer basic information that is essential for life to start, these sequences of nucleotides are found in DNA.

The part of biology that deals with genes, genetic variation, and hereditary traits is known as genetics. Gregor Mendel is known as the father of genetics for his pea plant experiment which played a crucial role in laying down structure for early genetic studies and genetic variation. In his pea plant experiment, Mendel observed the traits of inheritance, the distinguished pattern in which traits are passed down to offspring by parents over time. This was the building block for genetics and its study.

An organism’s experiences and environment play a key role in structuring the development and behaviour, often referred to as nature vs nurture is a genetic process. Example two identical seeds are when placed under different environments they show different growth despite being identical seeds of the same plant.

Gene variation

Diversity or variation in the frequency of genes can be termed gene variation. Mutation in genes or cells is the ultimate source of gene variation but sexual reproduction and genetic drifts also slowly and gradually contribute to gene variation.

Molecular biology

Molecular biology is another branch of biology that deals with understanding all the biological activities between or inside cells on a molecular level. Molecular modification, synthesis, mechanism, and interaction are also studied under molecular biology.

So basically in lame language molecular biology is the branch of biology that deals with all the chemical and physical events that go on between or inside molecules and cell on a molecular level.

 Difference between Microbial genetic and Molecular biology

• Microbial genetics deals with the study of microorganisms and genetic engineering, whereas molecular biology is the study of biological activities between or inside cells on a molecular level.
• Microbial genetics is more of a technical branch of biology associated with micro-level engineering, whereas molecular biology is associated with chemical and physical processes that occurs on a molecular level

Conclusion

Various branches of biology study the microorganisms that are single cellular or multicellular organisms that are extremely small to be seen with human eyes and can be only seen with a microscope. All different branches serve a different role in studying and observing these microorganisms. Microbial genetics is a more sort of technical branch that deals with micro-level genetic engineering, whereas microbiology studies all the biological activity along with all the chemical and physical events that occur on a molecular level in or between the cells and microorganisms.