CHAPTER 2: THE CHEMICAL ELEMENTS
OF MICROORGANISMSChemistry is a major factor in microbiology because microbes are made up of
chemical elements. Scientists are able to destroy microbes by breaking them
down into their chemical elements and then disposing of those elements.
Before you can understand how this process works, you must be familiar with
the chemical principles related to microbiology. You’ll learn about these chemi-
cal principles in this chapter.CHAPTER 3: OBSERVING MICROORGANISMS
“Wash the germs from your hands!” That was the cry of every mom who knew
that hand washing is the best way to prevent sickness. Most kids balked at hand
washing simply because they couldn’t see the germs on their hands.
We’ll show you how to see germs and other microbes in this chapter by using a
microscope. You’ll learn everything you need to know to bring microbes into clear
focus so you can see with a microscope what you can’t see with the naked eye.CHAPTER 4: PROKARYOTIC CELLS AND EUKARYOTIC
CELLSIt is time to get down and personal with two common microbe cells. These are
prokaryotic cells and eukaryotic cells. These names are probably unfamiliar to
you, but they won’t be by the time you’re finished reading this chapter.
Prokaryotic cells are bacteria cells and eukaryotic cells are cells of animals,
plants, algae, fungi, and protozoa. Each carries out the six life processes that all
living things have in common. In this chapter you’ll learn about how prokary-
otes and eukaryotes carry out these life processes.CHAPTER 5: THE CHEMICAL METABOLISM
“It’s my slow metabolism! That’s why I can’t shed a few pounds.” This is a great
excuse for being unable to lose weight, but the reason our metabolisms are slow
is because we tend not to exercise enough.
In this chapter, you’ll learn about the biochemical reactions that change food
into energy—collectively called metabolism—and how the cell is able to con-
vert nutrients into energy.INTRODUCTION xv
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