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## Microorganisms ### What Are Microorganisms? This unit offers insightful ideas on the nature and roles of microorganisms and is dedicated to answering the following questions. Before you begin reading, therefore, work with a partner and answer the questions: * How do you define microorganisms?...

## Microorganisms ### What Are Microorganisms? This unit offers insightful ideas on the nature and roles of microorganisms and is dedicated to answering the following questions. Before you begin reading, therefore, work with a partner and answer the questions: * How do you define microorganisms? * Why is microscopic life vital for all life on earth? Microorganisms (also called microbes) are life forms including acellular viruses that are too small to be seen with the naked eye. These microscopic organisms are diverse in form and function and they inhabit every environment on Earth that supports life. Many microbes are simple single-celled organisms, but some can form complex structures, and some are even multicellular. Microorganisms typically live in complex microbial communities, and their activities are regulated by interactions with one another, with their environments, and with other organisms. The science of *microbiology* is all about microorganisms: what they are, how they work, and what they do. Microorganisms are everywhere, and though small, their activities have tremendous impacts on everything in our biosphere. To realize microbial activities, you may think about how that many of our day-to-day interactions with the world are influenced for better or worse. ### Keywords * **Microbiology:** is the scientific study of microorganisms * **Biosphere:** the regions of the surface and atmosphere of the earth occupied by living organisms