Reviewer: History and Scope of Microbiology
Microbiology The study of microorganisms or organisms too small to be seen clearly the unaided
eye
Microorganisms Organisms that are less than about 1 millimeter in diameter, cannot be seen clearly,
and must be examined with a microscope. Examples include:
1. Viruses
2. Bacteria
3. Many algae and fungi
4. Protozoa
Discovery of
Microorganisms
Lucretius (about Roman philosopher and poet
95–55 B.C.) Wrote De rerum natura (“On the Nature of Things”)
Suggested that disease was caused by invisible living creatures
Girolamo Italian physician
Fracastoro Postulated the germ theory of disease
(1478–1553) Best known for his work entitled Syphilis sive morbus Gallicus (“Syphilis or the
French Disease”).
Also suggested that disease was caused by invisible living creatures
Francesco Stelluti Italian naturalist
Made the first known microscopic observations on bees and weevils from 1625 to
1630
Microscope used for observation was believed to be produced by Galileo Galilei
Antony van Delft, Holland
Leeuwenhoek Dutch draper and haberdasher
(1632–1723) Constructed microscopes with double convex glass lenses between 2 silver plates
Magnified around 50–300x
Method of illumination: placing specimen between 2 pcs. of glass and lighting them
at a 45°
1673: Leeuwenhoek sent his letter describing his discoveries of bacteria and
protozoa (he called animalcules) to the Royal Society of London
Spontaneous Archaic theory of life that hypothesizes that living organisms could develop
Generation from non-living matter
Theory
Francesco Redi Italian physician
Disproved spontaneous generation theory with his experiment:
Microbiology The study of microorganisms or organisms too small to be seen clearly the unaided
eye
Microorganisms Organisms that are less than about 1 millimeter in diameter, cannot be seen clearly,
and must be examined with a microscope. Examples include:
1. Viruses
2. Bacteria
3. Many algae and fungi
4. Protozoa
Discovery of
Microorganisms
Lucretius (about Roman philosopher and poet
95–55 B.C.) Wrote De rerum natura (“On the Nature of Things”)
Suggested that disease was caused by invisible living creatures
Girolamo Italian physician
Fracastoro Postulated the germ theory of disease
(1478–1553) Best known for his work entitled Syphilis sive morbus Gallicus (“Syphilis or the
French Disease”).
Also suggested that disease was caused by invisible living creatures
Francesco Stelluti Italian naturalist
Made the first known microscopic observations on bees and weevils from 1625 to
1630
Microscope used for observation was believed to be produced by Galileo Galilei
Antony van Delft, Holland
Leeuwenhoek Dutch draper and haberdasher
(1632–1723) Constructed microscopes with double convex glass lenses between 2 silver plates
Magnified around 50–300x
Method of illumination: placing specimen between 2 pcs. of glass and lighting them
at a 45°
1673: Leeuwenhoek sent his letter describing his discoveries of bacteria and
protozoa (he called animalcules) to the Royal Society of London
Spontaneous Archaic theory of life that hypothesizes that living organisms could develop
Generation from non-living matter
Theory
Francesco Redi Italian physician
Disproved spontaneous generation theory with his experiment:
