Microorganisms

Bacteria in a petri dish

What comes to your mind when you read the term bacteria? How about the term virus? Believe it or not, bacteria and viruses, like other microorganisms, are all around us, in every ecosystem of the world. In this topic, you will take a closer look at a variety of microorganisms and gain a better understanding of whether they are truly friend or foe. You will also learn about the roles of microorganisms in the world around us.

Essential Questions

  • What are the different types of microorganisms and how are they similar and different?
  • How did Pasteur and Koch’s experimentation and hypothesis lead to an understanding of the presence of microorganisms and their relationships to diseases?
  • What characteristics do viruses share with living organisms?