Carl receives an email about a potential health risk related to bacteria found in contaminated water. Which of the following best describes the role of microbiology in addressing this situation?

• A. Microbiology is primarily concerned with plant biology and does not address water contamination.
• B. Microbiology helps identify and characterize the bacteria responsible for the health risk.
• C. Microbiology focuses only on studying viruses, not bacteria.
• D. Microbiology is used to develop vaccines for non-infectious diseases.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the scope of microbiology. Microbiology is the study of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa, and their roles in various environments and health conditions.
2. Step 2: Recognize the relevance of bacteria in contaminated water. Bacteria are common microorganisms that can contaminate water sources and pose health risks to humans.
3. Step 3: Identify the role of microbiology in health risk assessment. Microbiologists isolate and identify bacteria from contaminated water to determine which species are present and whether they are harmful.
4. Step 4: Understand how microbiology contributes to public health. By characterizing bacteria, microbiologists help in diagnosing infections, tracking outbreaks, and developing strategies to mitigate health risks.
5. Step 5: Conclude that microbiology's role in this context is to identify and characterize bacteria responsible for the health risk, which is essential for managing and preventing waterborne diseases.