Microbiology
14 questions tagged Microbiology — spanning every one of the seven Ws.
What Is a Probiotic?
Probiotics are live microorganisms — mainly bacteria and yeasts — that, when consumed in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host by supporting the gut microbiome.
Why Do Some Lakes Turn Pink?
Pink lakes get their colour from salt-loving microorganisms — primarily the algae Dunaliella salina and haloarchaea bacteria — that produce high concentrations of red-pink pigments (beta-carotene and bacterioruberin) in extremely salty water.
When Was the First Antibiotic-Resistant Bacterium Found?
Penicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was reported as early as 1940 — before penicillin was even in widespread clinical use — confirming Fleming's 1945 warning that misuse would breed resistance.
What is a sourdough starter?
A sourdough starter is a fermented mix of flour and water containing wild yeasts and lactic acid bacteria, used to make bread rise without commercial yeast.
Whose work first described the human microbiome as a major biological system?
The idea developed through modern microbiology and genomics, with many researchers showing that humans host vast microbial communities. By the 2000s, the human microbiome was recognized as an important part of biology and health.
Why do some bacteria become resistant to antibiotics?
Bacteria evolve resistance through mutation and gene exchange, and antibiotics kill the susceptible ones while resistant survivors multiply. Overuse and misuse of antibiotics speed up this process.
What is the microbiome of the gut?
The gut microbiome is the community of microorganisms living in the digestive tract. It helps with digestion, immunity and making certain nutrients and chemicals.
When did Louis Pasteur begin his swan-neck flask experiments?
Louis Pasteur began his famous swan-neck flask experiments in 1859. They helped disprove spontaneous generation and showed that microbes come from other microbes.
When did Robert Koch identify the bacterium that causes tuberculosis?
Robert Koch identified the tuberculosis bacterium, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, in 1882. The discovery was a major milestone in medical microbiology.
When was the first metagenomics study published?
The term and early concept of metagenomics emerged in the late 1990s, with a landmark study published in 1998. It revealed that many microbes could be studied directly from environmental DNA.
When was fecal microbiota transplantation first reported as a medical treatment?
Fecal microbiota transplantation was first reported in modern medical literature in 1958. It was used to treat severe intestinal infection.
When was quorum sensing first described in bacteria?
Quorum sensing was first described in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It showed that bacteria can coordinate behavior using chemical signals.
When was the first bacterial biofilm described?
Biofilms were recognized in the 20th century, with major scientific descriptions emerging in the 1970s and 1980s. They are communities of bacteria attached to surfaces in a slimy matrix.
When did scientists first isolate bacteria from Antarctic ice?
Scientists isolated microbes from Antarctic ice and cold environments in the 20th century, with major work expanding in the 1980s and 1990s. These findings showed bacteria could survive in extreme cold.