Key Difference – Microbiology vs Molecular Biology
The key difference between Microbiology and molecular biology is that Microbiology is the study of microorganisms whereas Molecular biology is the study of biological activities at molecular level. Both of them are recently developed branches of biology and the advancement of science in this two areas result in many new applications.
What is Microbiology?
Microbiology is the study of microorganisms including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and protozoa. Microbiological aspects are very important to humans because many diseases are caused by microorganisms. Moreover, microbiology also helps to develop many industrial applications with the help of microorganisms, for example; bakery industry, pharmaceutical industry, beer industry, etc.
Microbiology is mainly divided into two areas; (a) pure microbiology, which includes bacteriology, mycology, protozoology, parasitology, immunology, virology, etc., and (2) applied microbiology which include medical microbiology, pharmaceutical microbiology, industrial microbiology, food microbiology etc. Microbiological use various equipment like microscopes and various dyes and stains, and all these equipment must be sterile. Many microbiological techniques like agar diffusion test, ATP test, bacterial inhibition assay, CAMP test, endospore staining, indole test, microbiological culture, etc. are used in Microbiology.
What is Molecular Biology?
Molecular biology is the study of biological activities at the molecular level. It mainly concerns various interactions between the different types of biological systems like DNA, RNA, proteins and their biosynthesis. Molecular biologists use specific techniques unique to molecular biology but often combine other techniques available in genetics and biochemistry. However, the field of bioinformatics and computational biology have helped to improve the interface between molecular biology and computer science.
Molecular biologists are able to characterize and manipulate molecular components of cells and organisms using various techniques. One of the most basic techniques of molecular biology is the molecular cloning, in which DNA coding for a particular protein is cloned into a plasmid in order to study the function of the protein. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is also an important technique used for copying DNA. Other techniques include gel electrophoresis, macromolecule bottling and probing, DNA microarray and allele-specific oligonucleotide.
What is the difference between Microbiology and Molecular Biology?
Definition of Microbiology and Molecular Biology
Microbiology: Microbiology is the study of microorganisms including viruses, bacteria, fungi and protozoa.
Molecular biology: Molecular biology is the study of biological activities at molecular level, and this mainly concerns various interactions between the different types of biological systems like DNA, RNA, proteins and their biosynthesis.
Techniques of Microbiology and Molecular Biology
Microbiology: Microbiology techniques include agar diffusion test, ATP test, bacterial inhibition assay, CAMP test, endospore staining, indole test, microbiological culture, etc.
Molecular biology: Molecular biology techniques include molecular cloning, PCR, gel electrophoresis, macromolecule bottling and probing, DNA microarray and allele-specific oligonucleotide.