Maths and computer science in the study of microbes – bioinformatics, statistics, modelling

Microbes were unknown to humans until a few centuries ago due to their small size. Studying them has been challenging because they are hard to observe in their natural habitats. Initially, scientists used microscopes and lab cultivation to study microbes, revealing how they look, move, and interact with chemicals. However, much of their natural behavior remained unknown. Today, scientists study microbial DNA to understand their functions, relationships, and evolution. Since microbes are abundant, with billions of species in a gram of soil, processing this genetic data requires advanced computing power. As a result, microbiologists now use data science, combining computer technology, math, and programming to analyze and interpret genetic information, providing new insights into how microbes thrive in diverse environments.