DOE Explains...Microbiology
Microbiology is the study of microorganisms that are usually too small to be visible with the human eye without a microscope. Microorganisms (also known as microbes) are essential to life on Earth; complex organisms (including human beings) would find it nearly impossible to survive without them. These tiny organisms shape how nutrients move through the environment, controlling how ecosystems work. For instance, they are responsible for how biological materials break down and decay. Microorganisms affect our climate, determine how food spoils, and both cause and control diseases. We can also use microorganisms to help us produce life-saving drugs, manufacture biofuels, clean up pollution, and grow crops.
