Microbiology for Dummies - Paperback

by Jennifer Stearns (Author), Michael Surette (Author)

Microbiology For Dummies (9781119544425) was previously published as Microbiology For Dummies (9781118871188). While this version features a new Dummies cover and design, the content is the same as the prior release and should not be considered a new or updated product.

Microbiology is the study of life itself, down to the smallest particle

Microbiology is a fascinating field that explores life down to the tiniest level. Did you know that your body contains more bacteria cells than human cells? It's true. Microbes are essential to our everyday lives, from the food we eat to the very internal systems that keep us alive. These microbes include bacteria, algae, fungi, viruses, and nematodes. Without microbes, life on Earth would not survive. It's amazing to think that all life is so dependent on these microscopic creatures, but their impact on our future is even more astonishing. Microbes are the tools that allow us to engineer hardier crops, create better medicines, and fuel our technology in sustainable ways. Microbes may just help us save the world.

Microbiology For Dummies is your guide to understanding the fundamentals of this enormously-encompassing field. Whether your career plans include microbiology or another science or health specialty, you need to understand life at the cellular level before you can understand anything on the macro scale.

• Explore the difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
• Understand the basics of cell function and metabolism
• Discover the differences between pathogenic and symbiotic relationships
• Study the mechanisms that keep different organisms active and alive

You need to know how cells work, how they get nutrients, and how they die. You need to know the effects different microbes have on different systems, and how certain microbes are integral to ecosystem health. Microbes are literally the foundation of all life, and they are everywhere. Microbiology For Dummies will help you understand them, appreciate them, and use them.

Back Jacket

• Grasp the basics of cell functions and interactions
• Discover the integral part microbes play in the ecosystem
• Identify one-celled organisms and their genetics

Make sense of the study of life

Does microbiology make your head spin? You're not alone. Luckily, this down-to-earth guide makes the study of this enormously encompassing subject accessible and fun. Discover how to identify a microbial pathogen, what diseases are caused by microorganisms, and the latest information on vaccines. This guide also allows you to step into, and understand, the cell. In no time, you-ll grasp life at the cellular level and transfer your knowledge of this minuscule topic to score big at exam time!

Inside...

• Explanations of micro life
• Basics of photosynthesis
• The scoop on chemolithotrophy
• Respiration vs. fermentation
• Tips for taking the mystery out of -omics
• Inroads into microbial communities

Author Biography

Jennifer C. Stearns, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at McMaster University. She studies how we get our gut microbiome in early life and how it can keep us healthy over time. Michael G. Surette, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Medicine at McMaster University, where he pushes the boundaries of microbial research. Julienne C. Kaiser, PhD, is a doctoral career educator.