Baktériumtan

Baktériumtan, or bacteriology, is the science devoted to the study of bacteria—single-celled prokaryotic organisms found in nearly every environment. The field covers bacterial diversity, physiology, genetics, taxonomy, ecology, and their interactions with other organisms, including humans.

The modern discipline arose with the development of microscopy and the germ theory of disease in the 19th century, led by scientists such as Leeuwenhoek, Pasteur, and Koch. It expanded to include antibiotic development, vaccines, and molecular biology techniques.

Core concepts include bacterial cell structure (for example, peptidoglycan-rich walls with Gram-positive or Gram-negative organization), metabolism, and reproduction by binary fission. Bacteria exchange genetic material through transformation, transduction, and conjugation. Taxonomy relies increasingly on genomic data, particularly 16S rRNA sequencing, and classifies bacteria into domains, phyla, and species, though the taxonomy evolves with new findings.

Common methods in baktériumtan include culture on selective media, staining and microscopy, and molecular approaches such as genome sequencing, proteomics, and metagenomics. Laboratory work adheres to biosafety principles to prevent exposure and environmental release.

Applications of bacteriology span medicine (pathogen identification, antibiotic discovery, vaccines), industry (fermentation, biotechnology), agriculture (soil health, nitrogen fixation), and environmental management (bioremediation, wastewater treatment). The field also addresses challenges such as antibiotic resistance and biosafety.