Microbial Biology (MB) (Major)
Microbes are the dominant life form on earth, weighing more than all other life forms combined. Bacteria, Fungi, Algae, Protozoa, Viruses; they're everywhere, and we need to know more about them. Industry, government, and academia agree, since we are seeing an increased demand for employees and students with knowledge and skills related to microbial biology.
Microbial biology is a pivotal field of study because small life forms such as microbes, viruses, and fungi make up the majority of planetary biomass, and constitute key branches of the Tree of Life. Microbes play fundamental roles in maintaining biosphere health: they degrade environmental pollutants; they supply essential nutrients and chemicals directly to multi-cellular organisms, and they engage in numerous beneficial symbioses with higher organisms. Infectious diseases regulate populations of plant and animals, and outbreaks recur in human societies globally.
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