Microbiology

In Our Time

BBC

History

4.6 • 9.2K Ratings

🗓️ 8 March 2007

⏱️ 42 minutes

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Summary

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the history of microbiology. We have more microbes in our bodies than we have human cells. We fear them as the cause of disease, yet are reliant on them for processes as diverse as water purification, pharmaceuticals, bread-making and brewing. In the future, we may look to them to save the planet from environmental hazards as scientists exploit their ability to clean up pollution. For microbes are the great recyclers on the earth, processing everything – plants, animals and us. Without microbes life would grind to a halt. How did we first discover these invisible masters of the universe? The development of microscopes in the 17th Century played a key part, but for a while science seemed stuck in this purely observational role. It is only when Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch began to manipulate microbes in the lab two hundred years later that stunning advances were made. These breakthroughs led to an understanding of how microbes transform matter, spread disease and also prevent it with the development of antibiotics and vaccines.With John Dupré, Professor of Philosophy of Science at Exeter University; Anne Glover, Professor of Molecular and Cell Biology at Aberdeen University; and Andrew Mendelsohn, Senior Lecturer in the History of Science and Medicine at Imperial College, University of London

Transcript

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0:00.0	Thanks for downloading the in our time podcast for more details about in our time and for our terms of use
0:05.4	Please go to bbc.co.uk forward slash radio for I hope you enjoy the program
0:11.9	Hello today we'll be talking about the history of microbiology
0:15.1	We have more microbes in our bodies than we have human cells
0:18.3	We fear them as the cause of disease yet a reliant on them for processes as diverse as water purification
0:23.6	Pharmaceuticals, bread making and brewing in the future
0:27.9	We may look to them to save the planet from environmental hazards the scientists exploit their ability to clean up pollution
0:34.2	For microbes are the great recyclers on the earth
0:37.4	Processing everything plants animals and us without microbes life would silt to a halt
0:43.8	How did we first discover these invisible masters of the universe the development of microscopes in the 17th century played a key part but for a while
0:50.9	Science seems stuck in this purely observational role
0:53.9	It's only when Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch can begin to manipulate microbes in the lab 200 is later that stunning advances were made
1:00.9	These breakthroughs led to an understanding of how microbes
1:04.5	Transform matter spread disease and also prevent it with the development of antibiotics and vaccines
1:10.2	So what do we know about how microbes operate how can they contribute to environmental stability and how to advance
1:17.1	As in genetics in microbiology help our treatment of diseases like cancer here to discuss the history of microbiology are anglabber
1:24.2	Chief scientific advice of a Scotland and professor of molecular and cell biology at Aberdeen University
1:29.9	Andrew Mendelsson senior lecturer in the history of science and medicine at Imperial College University of London and John Duprey
1:36.5	Professor of the loss of science and director of a genius at Exeter University's John Duprey. How would you define a micro?
1:42.7	Well, that's not an easy question to answer because microbes are enormously diverse
1:48.8	Most microbes are single-celled organisms, but that is a hugely diverse category
1:55.3	Currently we divide life into three main categories and two of those are what we used to call bacteria
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