Microorganisms Defined
Microorganisms are a collection of organisms that share the characteristic of being visible only with a microscope. They constitute the subject matter of microbiology. Members of the microbial world are very diverse…
History of Microbiology
Microbiology has had a long, rich history, initially centered in the causes of infectious diseases but now including practical applications of the science. Many individuals have made significant contributions to…
Microbes and the Origin of Life on Earth
Life on Earth is thought to have originated from the oldest single-cell archaea and bacteria. Scientific evidence suggests that life began on Earth some 3.5 billion years ago. Since then,…
Classification of Microorganisms
Microorganisms are classified into taxonomic categories to facilitate research and communication. Life on Earth is famous for its diversity. Throughout the world we can find many millions of different forms…
Microbes and the World
Microorganisms or microbes are microscopic organisms that exist as unicellular, multicellular, or cell clusters. Microorganims are widespread in nature and are beneficial to life, but some can cause serious harm.…
What is a Vaccine?
In the most simplified terms, a vaccine is a biological preparation that provides active acquired immunity against a certain disease. Usually a vaccine consists of a biological agent that represents the…
Human Growth Hormones
Produced by the pituitary gland, human growth hormone (HGH) is essential for proper growth in children. Some children, however, have disorders that cause reduced HGH levels. If children go without…
Insulin Production using Biotechnology
The process of insulin production using Biotechnology involves the following steps: Isolation of the gene: The gene responsible for producing human insulin is located on chromosome 11. The gene…
Modern biotechnology
The discovery that genes are made up of DNA and can be isolated, copied and manipulated has led to a new era of modern biotechnology. New Zealand has many applications for modern biotechnologies. DNA…
Biopolymer
Biopolymers are polymers produced by living organisms; in other words, they are polymeric biomolecules. Biopolymers contain monomeric units that are covalently bonded to form larger structures. There are three main classes of biopolymers, classified according to the…
