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Microbiology examines microscopic life forms including algae, fungi, bacteria, and viruses that are invisible without magnification. These tiny organisms are incredibly numerous and varied, impacting human life in both harmful and beneficial manners.
Certain microorganisms trigger illnesses in people, animals, or plants, making them crucial for biosecurity concerns. Conversely, some microbes provide advantages, like those employed for pest control (biological control) or breaking down toxic substances (bioremediation). Some microorganisms play fundamental roles in sustaining ecosystems, such as those producing oxygen and vital nutrients.
This extensive field of study encompasses bacteria, archaea, eukaryotic microbes, viruses, and includes environmental, evolutionary, and molecular microbiology.