Principles of Bacterial Brock Biology of Microorganisms by Berlanga - Book Report/Review Example

?"Book Review" The discipline of science dealing with microorganisms is d as microbiology. In the present scenario microbiology has emerged as one of the most applicable, pertinent and exhilarating branches of the biological sciences. As the name suggests micro means very small, bio is living entities, logy is study. Microbiology is the study of microorganisms, encompassing: bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa; their habitat, physiology, metabolism, genetics, molecular biology of macromolecules, morphology, characteristic features, their capabilities, their abilities to provide beneficial aspects and their potential in causing diseases, transformation, resistance for drugs, interaction with the surroundings, their capability to modify the environment for good or bad, thus microbiology is an amalgamation of numerous conventions. Microorganisms are ubiquitous and they dwell in every part of the planet. They are the vital component for the continuity of life on the planet. Microorganisms promote civilization as they maintain organic and inorganic cycles of the matter by converting them into the components or molecules that are essential for all other inhabitants. They decompose and convert waste into its primary constituents, making them available for re-utilization. Apart from their role as natural reformers of the environment they are significantly important for the production of various day-to-day consumables like drugs especially antibiotics, dairy products like cheese and fermentative products like alcohol. Genes are the basic components of the organism. Understanding the basic principles of genes is the key to comprehend the importance of the genes and their manipulation can be performed in the desired manner. The present era witnesses the imperative role being played by microorganisms in genetic engineering, drug manufacturing, protein expression, insulin production by incorporation of the desired gene in the microbial cell lines, single cell proteins and genetically modified food items. Microbes are finding their ways in every aspect of human endeavor as they can be modulated to construct an extensive range of products for the advantage of plant and animal worlds all the way through their exploitation and manipulation in biotechnology. The chapter 11 of 12th edition of the book Brock Biology of Microorganisms (BBOM) provides an insight to realize and develop clear concepts about the principles of genetics. As genetics, the control mechanism of any organism is the foundation of life and it is related with every aspects of cell machinery, a thorough understanding is desired which is fulfilled by BBOM. Besides being beneficial both naturally and artificially, microorganisms however, also imposed great distress to all the living beings on the planet viz. plants, animals and humans, by causing diseases, food deterioration and poisoning, blemishing crops, and spoilage of man-made artificial things and structures. Exploitation of microorganisms has been carried out in the form of biological weapons by the terrorist to create chaos and panic. The basis could be understood if the principle of genetics and gene expression could be understood. Although, not visible through naked eyes these creatures have immense potential to alter the life forms, either by creating well-being or by taking away the welfare of the organisms of the planet. First discovered by Anton van Leeuwenhoek for more than 325 years, the progress and understanding about microbes was slow until 1960. With the advent of technology and advances in microscopy, microbiology, emerged as one of the fastest growing disciplines of science as microbes are visible only through microscope. Microbiology paved its way in every discipline of life and this imposes a great demand for microbiologists in every area of science encompassing agriculture, medicine, industries, dairy, food, leather, fodder, pharmaceutics, cosmetics, genetics, physiology, metabolism, ecology etc. Thus, a thorough understanding for the subject became essential as the subject has an appearance of an umbrella that connects various sub-fields of studies encompassing, the study of bacteria as bacteriology; the study of fungi as mycology; the study of protozoa as protozoology; the study of algae as phycology; the study of parasites as parasitology; the study of virus as virology; to study the ecology as microbial ecology; to study the cellular physiology as microbial physiology; to understand the genetic basis and gene expression as microbial genetics and molecular biology. Microbiology is also related with the control of infectious diseases and therefore it is well connected with the disciplines of pathology and immunology. To understand and analyze the genomes and expression of genes in varied life forms, microbiology finds its way in the form of Bioinformatics this is a novel in silico research area that is strongly related with the research studies and findings in microbiology related with the analysis of genomes of various life forms. The book, Brock Biology of microorganisms (BBOM), presents an in-depth understanding for microbiology for undergraduates as it presents facts and illustrations in an explicit manner. It is equally good for reference by teachers teaching microbiology, laboratory technicians, authorities of the scientific organizations, science writers, librarians, researchers and scientists. The book, Brock Biology of microorganisms (BBOM), provides clear understanding for the subject, creating curiosity to know more about the subject, the diagrams and illustrations are self-explanatory and provide a clear picture about the topic. All the recent findings are well placed to provide the reader with a thorough understanding about the topic and hence for the subject. Moreover, the book provides practical skills to its readers and help them to understand the latest trends in the microbiology providing high probability to its readers to get an instantaneous admission into the jobs or entry into the research labs for exploring new paradigms of the microorganisms. In the present era of cut-throat competition, Brock Biology of microorganisms (BBOM) provides an outlook that escorts as a tool for updated knowledge and understanding about the molecular biology through the microbiology. A vigilant reader of Brock Biology of microorganisms (BBOM) will be geared up to appreciate the microbial world. The book is equally good for professionals and students, BBOM has emerged as a fundamental basis of information as it is updated and incorporates the most recent pronouncements and findings in microbiology. The enduring triumph of BBOM and authentication of the brisk progress in our indulgence of microorganisms, is replicated in the novel manner. However, editions of BBOM are published every three years. Tracing the history of the book, reveals that the book has established itself around 40 years now. Considering the fact that microbiology nowadays is the fundamental part of molecular biology, as it provides information regarding the cellular processes, the basis of all biological phenomenon and find the application in every aspect of biological science, BBOM has taken utmost care in defining the topics precisely. Apparently, these simple looking bacteria and virus becomes an imperative component of molecular and cellular perception. Such understanding has promoted incredible progress in health care and agriculture by means of molecular understanding. BBOM enhances consideration about the molecular aspects, for the beginners and gradually takes the understanding of the reader to the research level. As bacteria and viruses have become an integral part of genetic engineering with widespread relevance in biological research and in biotechnology. The Microbiology alternative presents a sturdy science basis and superior courses in the fields of molecular biology of microorganisms, microbial diversity, immunochemistry, pathogenesis and food microbiology. BBOM provides a comprehensive edification in microbiology, by preparing its readers not only with sound academic pursuit but also enrich them with a complete understanding for industrial research and progression. It is for these reasons, the book gained prevalence. In 1970, Thomas D. Brock authored the first edition of the book, gradually because of its popularity it was translated into other languages as well e.g. Spanish translation by Ricardo Guerrero. Later, starting from its 8th edition, the book has integrated the name of Brock into the title. The book is self-explanatory as the teaching purpose of BBOM onsets with its cover page which highlights the filamentous bacterium Crenothrix, the complete understanding is provided at the back cover. The text in the book comprises significant pedagogical tools, for instance sidebars, appraisals of key terms, mini-reviews, appraisal questions, and relevance questions, all of which are of utmost significance and adds to the learning. The textbook encompasses 37 chapters distributed in nine units, with the four first constituting the body of the book. The 12th edition has two co-authors, Dunlap, PV., and Clark, DP, this has enabled a deeper understanding about the molecular biology, genetics, bioinformatics and evolution biology. As the book has excellent visual presentations, it is the most preferred book by the readers. The chapter, Principles of Bacterial Genetics is being introduced with a spectacular illustrations. The forms and photomicrographs provide a comprehensible and attention-grabbing offering the mental picture of the microbial world to its readers. Moreover the tables and figures have been redesigned to make them easier and coherent for the reader to understand. Chapter is color-coded, to provide a meaning and perception of highlighting important facts. Principles of Bacterial Genetics encompasses, the basic structure of the DNA, the nitrogen bases, the nucleoside formation, the nucleotide formation the structure of the nucleotide, the bonding of the nitrogen bases, Adenine, Guanine, Cytosine, Thymine and the process of transcription to form the mRNA, the structure of Uracil, the formation of peptide by the process of translation. The three different types of RNA (mRNA, tRNA, rRNA). The 70s ribosome, the structure of ribosome and its units (50s and 30s), their sedimentation, it role in peptide formation, the peptide chain initiation, the elongation and the termination process are well explained to provide a concept and visualization about the cellular protein synthesis process. The codons and their arrangement to form the amino acids, the types of codons, 64 codons, the importance of triplet arrangement, the sense and the non-sense codons acting as the stop signals. The importance of methylation process, the significance of the arrangement of the codons in the mRNA, the anti codons brought by the tRNA, consequences of any alteration in this arrangement of the triplet is very well highlighted and explained. The process of mutation which could be correlated with the eukaryotic mutation and alteration. The chapter provides a clear understanding and orientation about the genetics in the most simple manner. The features of the prokaryotic circular DNA replication is well explained. An understanding for enzymes, polymerases and Topoisomerases are well explained, providing the readers with historical perspectives, microbial structure, function of prokaryotic cells and how they differ with the eukaryotic cells, the role of the intracellular and extracellular molecules in the cellular processes and their role in gene expression is well elucidated. Conservation of cytoskeleton is reported in this book in a spectacular color photos. The cell cycle, the division phase and the process of new cell formation provides the basis for understanding the eukaryotic cellular machinery. Today, microbial study is being carried out to define the minimal genome. Technical advances in molecular understanding and genome, for genetics and recombinant DNA, knowledge about the gene, arrangement, replication, function, the biochemical composition, the molecular structure are all explained in BBOM with appropriate illustrations. The chapters explains the basic genetic material the DNA, the RNA, the introns and the exons, the jumping genes, overlapping genes, the expression of genes, the process of transcription and translation are all well defined to provide the readers with a firm base to stand upon. The chapter explains the IS region which is the key in incorporation of the external genetic material, the terminal sequences responsible for the initiation of the m-RNA and the protein, the expression of the particular sequence, the role played by the product of these sequences and thereby defining how genes function. All the codons of amino acids are well explained and they are conserved throughout the evolution. Thereby an understanding towards the principles of bacterial genetics provides the basis for the understanding for all life processes. The process of integration of the human gene into the bacterial genome to procure the desired gene product or the protein is one of the most intricate topic which is explained in BBOM in the most simple manner. This process is well explained by various example namely, a hormone called erythropoietin, which is extremely indispensable for the proper development of red blood cells (erythrocytes), moreover, its isolation is highly tedious is explained in a simple manner. Providing an understanding about the isolation of other molecules and flanking it in the bacterial genome for future aspects and to determine innovative methods for procuring the necessary genetic expression. Not only genes but hormones can also be purified and isolated and can be provided to the individuals suffering with its deficiencies. All these methods are well explained in BBOM, with illustrations, diagrammatic representation. A comparative understanding between Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya provides an impression of viruses and prions. BBOM has also enlarged its exposure of the parameter of gene expression, with special emphasis on Bacillus sporulation The BBOM not only contains essential knowledge for the elementary course on general microbiology, and provides the students with an updated knowledge of the current state of microbiology. References Berlanga, M. "Brock Biology of microorganisms 12th edn. Book Reviews". International Microbiology. 11, 65-73. 2008. Read More