ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses microbes and explains their various attributes and provides structural and functional characteristics of microbes. It explains the growth and culture of microbes and also discusses microbial genetics and genetic transformations presents the role of microbes in food, medical, agricultural, and environmental biotechnology. The microorganism E. coli has a long history of use in the biotechnology industry and is the microorganism of choice for most gene cloning experiments. E. coli is naturally found in the intestinal tracts of humans and animals, where it helps provide nutrients to its host. There are many different strains of E. coli that may produce toxins or cause varying levels of infection if ingested or allowed to invade other parts of the body. Microbial biotechnology is being employed for the large-scale production of a variety of biochemicals, ranging from alcohols to antibiotics, and in the processing of foods and feeds.
