Microbiology

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/microbiology

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How big is Microbiology?Antimicrobial resistance, microbiome research, and environmental microbiology
2. What is the scientific discipline?Microbiology studies organisms invisible to the naked eye
3. What is the foundational discoveries?Germ theory of disease established by Pasteur and Koch
4. What are microorganisms?Microorganisms are tiny living things like bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa. They can be single cells or simple groups of cells. They are found everywhere, from the soil to inside our bodies.
5. Why are microbes important for the planet?Microbes recycle nutrients such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, breaking down dead matter and making these elements available for plants. They help keep ecosystems healthy and support life on Earth.

Microbiome: The collective community of microorganisms living in a particular environment, especially within a host organism.
Aseptic Technique: Procedures used to prevent contamination by unwanted microorganisms, crucial in medical and laboratory settings.
Metagenomics: The study of genetic material recovered directly from environmental samples, revealing microbial diversity without cultivation.