The major thrust in the specialized domain of ‘microbiology’ got a tremendous boost in speed
and momentum during the twentieth century towards the development of judicious control and management
of infectious human diseases ; elaborated studies in immunity profile ; as exceptionally attractive
models for investigating fundamental life processes viz., activities related to metabolizing, growing,
reproducing, aging, and dying ; and microbes’ broad spectrum physiological and biochemical potentialities
than all other organisms combined. In addition, the science of microorganisms have propogated
other allied disciplines, for instance : biochemistry, genetics, genetic engineering, molecular biology,
and the like.
Historic revelation of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), which being the key to life and genetics,
was duly discovered by two world famous biologists Watson and Crick. DNA forms the basic funda
* A special type of virus-bacterial cell interaction maintained by a complex cellular regulatory mechanism.
Bacterial strains freshly isolated from their natural environment may contain a low concentration of
bacteriophage. This phage will lyse other related bacteria. Cultures that contain these substances are said to
be lysogenic.
** A rod-shaped, Gram-negative, non pathogenic soil and water bacteria that fix atmospheric nitrogen ; the
single genus of the family Azotobacteraceae
mental structure of each and every chromosome in the precise shape of a ‘double-helix’.* In fact,
microorganisms helped extensively and intensively in the better understanding of the exact mechanism
whereby the most critical and valuable information meticulously stored in the ‘genetic material’ is
ultimately transcribed and subsequently translated into proteins. Later on, Escherichia coli i.e., a colon
bacterium, served as a via-media or a common tool for the geneticists, microbiologists, and biochemists
to decepher the intricacies of various cellular processes. The concerted research inputs made by
Nirenberg, Khorana, Holley, Jacob, Monod, and a plethora of others substantiated copious informations
to the present day knowledge of the living systems, of course, making use of the microorganisms. It is,
however, pertinent to mention at this juncture that microbes are being skilfully and gainfully utilized to
grasp the meaning with respect to the control mechanisms directly involved in cell division as well as
reproduction.
As to date ‘microbiology’ has marked with a dent an altogether separate identity and distinct
branch of biology having an established close relationship with biochemistry and genetics. It has progressively
and aggressively emerged into an intriguing subject over the years because each and every
specific area in microbiology has virtually expanded into a large specialized subject in itself, namely :
dairy microbiology, environmental microbiology, food microbiology, industrial microbiology, medical
microbiology, sanitary microbiology, and soil microbiology. Importantly, newer techniques exploring
and exploiting microorganisms for gainful and economically viable products of interest have always
been the focus of attention across the globe. In the same vein, the absolute control and management of
certain non-productive and troublesome species have always remained another virile and fertile area of
interest in ‘microbiology’, which ultimately yielding definitely not only a purer product but also augmented
the end-product to a considerable extent.
There are ample evidences cited in the scientific literatures with respect to enormous utilization
of the microorganisms to understand both biology and the prevailing intricacies of various biological
processes towards the last two decades of the twentieth century and the early part of the New Millennium.
Besides, microbes have been adequately exploited particularly as ‘cloning vehicles’. In this context
one may always bear in mind that E. coli and other microorganisms have been used extensively in
order to carry out the spectacular piece of most innovative inventions of the century, for instance : (a)
cloning specific segments of DNA ; (b) large-scale production of vital chemicals hitherto synthesized by
tedious high-cost chemical routes, e.g., acetic acid, ethanol, citric acid, a variety of antibiotics, and
steroids.
The microbiological transformations have beneficially led to the production of a good number
of steroid variants from progesterone as illustrated under
The New Millennium shall witness the remarkable innovations and paramount advancements in
the latest recombinant DNA (rDNA) technology that has virtually revolutionized the bright futuristic
growth and prospects of manupulating the exceptionally unique ‘genetic combine’ of a microorganism,
plant, animal, and human being to fit into the appropriate requirements for the upliftment of humanity in
particular and remove the sufferings of the mankind in general. In true sense, the recombinant DNA is
considered to be a wonderful novel piece of artistic creation so as to accomplish a controlled recombination
which essentially gives rise to such techniques whereby either genes or other segments of relatively
large chromsomes may be segregated, replicated, and studied exhaustively by suitable nucleic acid
sequencing, and electron microscopy. Thus, biotechnology has really undergone a see change by
means of two vital and important technological advancements viz., rDNA, and genetic engineering in
order to expand enormously the inherent potentials of microorganisms, fungi, viruses, and yeast cells
ultimately turning into highly sophisticated and specialized miniature biochemical units.
FURTHER READING REFERENCES
1. American Society for Microbiology : Celebrating a century of leadership in microbiology,
ASM News : 65 (5), 1999.
2. Beck RW : A Chronology of Microbiology in Historical Context, ASM Press, Washing
ton DC, 2000.
3. Benacerraf B et. al. : A History of Bacteriology and Immunology, William Heinemann,
London, 1980.
4. Brock T (ed). : Milestones in Microbiology, Prentice-Hall, Eaglewood Cliffs., NJ., 1961.
5. Collard P. : The Development of Microbiology, University Press, Cambridge, 1976.
6. Dowling HF : Fighting Infection, Conquests of the Twentieth Century, Harvard, Cambridge,
Mass., 1977.
7. Hellemans A and Bunck B : The Timetables of Science, Simon and Schuster, New York,
1988.
8. Lechevalier H. and Solotorovsky M. : Three Centuries of Microbiology, McGraw Hill,
New York, 1965.
9. Parisch HJ : Victory with Vaccines — The Story of Immunization, Livingstone, London,
1968.
10. Summers WC : History of Microbiology. In : Encylopedia of Microbiology, Vol. 2. J.
Ledenberg, Ed., Academic Press, San Diego, 677–97, 2000.
11. Van Iterson et. al. : Martinus Bijerinck’s, His Life and Work, Science Tech, Madison,
Wis., 1984.
12. Waterson AP and Wilkinson L. : An Introduction to the History of Virology, Cambridge
University Press, London, 1978.
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