Microbiology is the branch of biology that studies microorganisms and their effects on humans and is a key part of the curriculum in all aspects of medical training. This book is a 101 microbiology course prepared by a top professor of microbiology and an experienced popular science writer. The many students who are dreading this component of their medical training, professionals who would like to bone up on the subject, and laypersons who would just like to know about the subject will all find this book a clear and easy-to-understand introduction to the subject. In The Complete Idiot's Guide to Microbiology, readers find- What microbes are, what they do, and what they have in common, as well as a little about the genetic studies of them Microbes and their relation to the immune system Microbes and infectious diseases The role of microbiology in biotechnology and bioterrorism