Tab Article

Messieurs, c'est les microbes qui auront le dernier mot." Pasteur For the major part of the twentieth century the physical sciences have dominated science and engineering. This situation was due to a large degree to the devel- opment of the atomic bomb, and the achievements of the Soviet Union in outer space. The successful launching of the first satellite into space (Sputnik) in 1957 by the Soviet Union accelerated physical science research and development programs in the United States by the government, by universities, and by in- dustry. We became engaged in a race for leadership in science and technology. We are now experiencing a rapid shift of national priorities in research and development. As we approach the twenty-first century, we see biology emerging as one of the top priorities in the field of science, and among the biological sciences microbiology has gained new stature. Microorganisms and their activ- ities are increasingly central to many of the concerns of society both nationally and internationally. The problems of the global environment, the recognition of the need to recycle natural resources, the discovery of recombinant DNA and the resulting high technology of genetic engineering these and other develop- ments have placed microbiology in the limelight. Microbiology is emerging as the key biological science. Microorganisms pro- vide the models used in molecular biology for research. This research at the molecular level has provided, and continues to provide, the answers to numer- ous fundamental questions in genetics, metabolism, and cell forms and func- tions. Microorganisms also provide model systems for studying the relationships between species in mixed populations. There is growing recognition of the potential of microorganisms in many applied areas. The ability of microorganisms to decompose materials such as herbicides, pesticides, and oils in oil spills; the potential of microorganisms as food supplements; the exploitation of microbia.