This area of study may be useful as an introduction to the subject or to give a general understanding of the issues addressed. Attention will focus on what bacteria do, how they operate and change, and their effects on humans and diseases related to humans. General microbiology may also include any wider topics related to microbes, such as food bacteria, biotechnology, misuse and the environment.
This area of applied microbiology focuses on genetic phenomena, such as how genes can repair themselves or be repaired, and how mutation takes place and its general implications. Further research in this field can be in the exchange of genes, how they can recombine and the expression of genetics generally. People working in this area will analyze how genetic processes work and the implications of their findings.
One important and constantly evolving area of microbiology is in DNA. Scientists and students working in this area will consider aspects such as genomic isolation, DNA mapping and cloning. If the purpose of DNA testing is for matching purposes, such as in criminal investigations, a microbiologist has to follow three clear steps: determine the DNA markers from sites, carry out testing to ascertain whether there are matches, and statistically assess the likelihood of a random similarity.
This branch of applied microbiology considers the role, activities and importance of various microorganisms in the whole range of environmental processes. It investigates how bacteria and other organisms relate and how these relations can influence the biological and chemical compositions in the environment. More specifically, it will research the relative importance of some microorganisms at the levels of cell structures and larger groupings. This type of work will be carried out partly in laboratories and partly in the natural environment where the organisms live.