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There must be a prokaryote somewhere: microbiology's search for itself
1Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois, Urbana 61801.
Microbiological Reviews
|March 1, 1994
Summary
Microbiology lacked evolutionary context for decades, hindering its scientific identity. Modern technology now enables the development of an evolutionary framework, positioning microbiology as a foundational biological science.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary microbiology
- Prokaryotic evolutionary relationships
- Foundational biological sciences
Background:
- Early interest in prokaryotic evolutionary relationships waned by mid-20th century.
- Microbiology developed without an evolutionary framework, limiting its scientific rigor.
- The discipline was largely defined by external forces rather than internal coherence.
Observation:
- Modern technological advancements have revitalized the study of microbial evolution.
- A significant gap existed in understanding the natural evolutionary relationships among prokaryotes.
- The absence of an evolutionary framework weakened microbiology as a scientific discipline.
Findings:
- Modern technology has enabled the reconstruction of an evolutionary framework for microbiology.
- This framework provides coherence and a distinct identity for the field.
- The development of evolutionary microbiology is fundamentally reshaping the discipline.
Implications:
- Microbiology is poised to become the primary biological science.
- It will serve as the foundation for future biological understanding.
- New insights into the living world will emanate from evolutionary microbiology.