Competitive Exams

IIT JEE, NEET, ESE, GATE, AE/JE, Olympiad

Only IAS

UPSC, State PSC

School Preparation

Foundation (Class 6-12), Commerce, Arts, CuriousJr (1st - 8th), Science, International Boards

Govt Exam

Judiciary, SSC, Defence, Teaching, JAIIB & CAIIB, BIHAR EXAMS WALLAH, UP Exams, Railway, Nursing Exams, Banking, WB Exams

UG & PG Entrance Exams

MBA, IPMAT, IIT JAM, LAW, CUET UG, UGC NET, GMAT, Design & Architecture, Pharma, CSIR NET, CUET PG, NEET PG

FINANCE

CA, CS, Finance Courses, ACCA

Others

English Wallah, Online Degrees

English Proficiency Test

IELTS, TOEFL

Agriculture

Difference Between Biology and Microbiology

Biology deals with both macroscopic and microscopic organisms. Microbiology deals only with microscopic organisms. This is the primary Difference between biology and microbiology. Check this article to know more.

Jasdeep Bhatia7 Mar, 2024

Difference Between Biology and Microbiology: Biology is a branch of science that covers all processes inside living organisms, their environment, their evolution and biological processes.

Microbiology, on the other hand, is a specific branch of biology that is concerned with living things on a microscopic scale. It involves using a microscope to study things that are too small to be seen or studied by the naked eye. It involves the study pf bacteria, viruses, microscopic plants and animals. Here we are going to discuss the differences between biology and microbiology. Sometimes it looks like they are the same, as both terms have "-ology" as their suffix, but they are not. Microbiology is a branch of biology about which we will speak further.

Difference Between Aestivation And Hibernation

About Biology

The term "biology" was given by Lamarck and Teviranus in 1801. Aristotle is known as the Father of Biology. The word "biology" defines itself as it is made up of two Greek words: "bios," which means life, and "logos," which means study. So, it is the branch of science where we study living beings. Biology has mainly two branches: botany and zoology, in which we study plants in botany and animals in zoology. In biology, living organisms are studied, with different sub-branches such as physiology, anatomy, evolution, functioning, and various interactions they make with each other and the non-living environment. The biotic component in this context refers to all living creatures on earth, whereas the abiotic factor refers to all non-living elements of the environment that interact with living things. Cell biology, evolution, genetics, homeostasis, and biochemistry, are important subdivisions of biology.

Difference Between Ape and Man

Principles of Biology

Modern biology is unified by four principles, according to the book "Managing Science":

All living things are composed of basic building blocks called cells. According to the cell hypothesis, all cells originate from previously existing cells.
The idea behind gene theory is that all living things possess DNA, molecules that encode cell shapes and activities handed down through generations.
The idea of homeostasis states that all living things strive to achieve a condition of equilibrium that allows them to live in their surroundings.

According to the theory of evolution, all living things can change to acquire traits that improve their ability to survive in their environments. Natural selection refers to the process whereby particular traits are "selected" from random DNA variations in an organism. In natural selection, organisms with traits better suited to their environment have higher survival rates and pass those traits on to their offspring.

Difference Between Adaptation And Mitigation

The Different Areas of Biology

Although there are just four core ideas in biology, it covers a broad spectrum of topics divided into several domains and sub-disciplines. According to "Blackie's Dictionary of Biology", broadly speaking, biology's several divisions may be considered the study of a particular kind of creature. For instance, the study of plants, animals, and microbes is called botany, zoology, and microbiology. Many biologists specialise in studying a particular subject or issue within those more wide domains. For instance, one researcher may focus on a particular fish species' behaviour, while another investigates the neurological and chemical factors behind the behaviour. There are many branches and subdisciplines of biology, however the following is a brief overview of some of the more general disciplines included in biology:

Difference Between Active And Passive Immunity

Biochemistry

The Biochemical Society defines biochemistry as the study of chemical reactions that occur in or are connected to living organisms. For instance, pharmacology is a branch of biochemistry research focusing on understanding how medications interact with body molecules.

Ecology

The branch of ecology examines how living things interact with their environment. For instance, an ecologist may research how neighbouring humans influence honeybee behaviour.

Genetics

Genetics is the study of heredity. Geneticists research how genes are transferred from generation to generation and how they differ among individuals. For instance, according to a 2019 review article published in Nature Reviews Genetics, researchers have discovered several genes and genetic variants that affect the human lifetime.

Difference Between 70s And 80s Ribosomes

Physiology

The functioning of living things is the main topic of physiology study. All living things have physiology, which "deals with the life-supporting functions and processes of living organisms or their parts." Physiologists attempt to comprehend biological processes such as the operation and response to external stimuli of a certain organ.

Microbiology

We study microorganisms like viruses, bacteria, algae, fungi, archaea, and protozoa in this area of biology. In 1674, Antoni Van Leeuwenhoek (1632–1723) used a homemade single-lens microscope to make the first observations of bacteria and other creatures in the water. Famous microbiologists like Marshall, who discovered the connection between Helicobacter pylori infection and stomach ulcers, Jenner, who developed a vaccine to prevent smallpox; Fleming, who discovered penicillin; and Zur Hausen, who uncovered the link between the papillomavirus and cervical cancer made some of the most crucial findings that have aided contemporary civilisation. Maintaining food, water, and energy security for healthy people are just a few global issues and objectives that microbiology research has played a vital role in addressing. The study of microbes will also aid in addressing important queries like "How diverse is life on Earth?" and "Does life exist elsewhere in the universe?" Microbiology has two branches: biotechnology, or applied microbiology, and pure microbiology. In pure microbiology, we study the theoretical study of the organisms as the subject itself. Whereas in applied microbiology or biotechnology, we study the application of microorganisms. Antoni Van Leeuwenhoek first saw bacteria in a homemade single-lens microscope in 1674.

Differences Between Amylose and Amylopectin

Applied Microbiology

The areas of fundamental and applied microbiology can overlap, as seen in the case of genetic engineering. The employment of microbes to produce a particular good or for a specific purpose is known as applied microbiology, which is mainly what genetic engineering is thought to be. The techniques for genetic engineering were created from fundamental studies of microbial genetics. Conversely, techniques developed and employed in applied microbiology may be transformed into equipment for fundamental microbiology. However, the following categories can be used to categorise applied microbiology.

Soil Microbiology

Regardless of how "dead" the soil may seem, depending on the location and soil quality, it swarms with millions or billions of microbial cells per gram. Dead plants, animal and human waste, and animals are in or on the soil. Plant roots, animals including rodents, insects, and worms, as well as a variety of microorganisms like viruses, bacteria, algae, fungus, and protozoa, make up the ecology of rich soil. Earth's natural cycles provide a simple means to show the function of this microbial flora. The nitrogen cycle is an excellent illustration of this process. It starts with microorganisms drawing atmospheric nitrogen gas and converting it into a combined form of nitrogen that plants can use as a nutrient. Next, the plant produces organic nitrogen compounds that people and animals consume. These compounds eventually reach the soil, where microorganisms complete the cycle by decomposing these compounds back into atmospheric nitrogen and simple inorganic molecules that plants can use.

Nutrition Microbiology

For the following reasons, microbes are essential to food: (1) they can deteriorate food; (2) they are employed to make a wide range of food items; and (3) they can spread microbial illnesses.

Genetic engineering and Commercial Microbiology

Products of microbial metabolism include a variety of compounds with significant economic significance. From an industrial perspective, the substrate may be seen as raw material, and the microbe as the "chemical factory" that transforms the raw material into new goods. It may be possible to carry out this reaction on a big industrial scale if desired criteria can be satisfied and an organism can transform inexpensive raw material into a valuable product.

Microbiology in Public health care

After the germ theory of illness was established in the mid-1880s and laboratory techniques for isolating microorganisms (especially bacteria) were developed, the causes of several prevalent ailments were swiftly identified. A few common diseases and the year their causal agent was identified include anthrax (1876), gonorrhoea (1879), typhoid fever (1880), malaria (1880), TB (1882), diphtheria (1883), cholera (1884), and tetanus (1884). The creation of vaccinations, which began in the 1790s, antibiotics in the middle of the 20th century, and the worldwide eradication of smallpox by 1977 are a few of medical microbiology's most significant achievements.

Pure Microbiology

Pure microbiology is an area of science that focuses on using microbes to produce goods that are valuable to humans, such as drugs, antibiotics, vaccines, enzymes, and biotechnological products. Fungi and protists are considered microorganisms because they have membrane-bound cell organelles. Eubacteria and archaebacteria are considered prokaryotic organisms because they lack membrane-bound organelles. Microbiologists have historically used microscopy, staining, and culture.

Difference Between Autotrophs and Heterotrophs

Similarities between Biology and Microbiology

Biology and microbiology are fields of science that deal with studying living organisms.
Also, both fields study the origin, distribution, structure, functioning, and interactions of different living organisms.

Difference Between Biology and Microbiology

Biology	Microbiology
1.The branch of science deals with the study of living organisms	1.The branch of science deals with the study of microorganisms
2. The use of a Microscope is not mandatory in Biology	2. The use of a Microscope is mandatory in Microbiology
3. It includes the study of both Macroscopic and Microscopic organisms	3. It includes the study of only Microscopic organisms
4. It is more diverse	4. It is less diverse as compared to Biology
5. It is pure science	5. It is applied biology
6. The branches of biology are Botany, Zoology, Human physiology etc.	6. The branches of Microbiology are mycology, virology etc.

Difference Between Biology and Microbiology FAQs

Name some organisms that cause disease.

Several types of microorganisms, such as bacteria and viruses, cause diseases.

Name the biomolecules included in molecular biology.

DNA, RNA, and proteins are the main constituents of molecular biology.

Who is known as the father of biology?

For his amazing contributions to the field of biology, Aristotle is regarded as the father of biology.

Name some harmful bacteria.

Streptococcus, staphylococcus, etc., are some of the harmful bacteria.

Do microbiology and biology have some differences?

Yes, they have differences between them. Biology deals with the study of living organisms, whereas microbiology deals with the study of microorganisms.

🔥 Trending Blogs

CBSE Sample Papers Class 9 2025-26 PDF with Solutions Download

NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Hindi Sanchayan Chapter 1 Gillu

NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Maths chapter-7 Triangles

CBSE Approves Class 9 Open Book Exams from 2026-27, Know Complete Details

CBSE to Set Up Its Own Community Radio Station to Benefit Students and Teachers

Talk to a counsellorHave doubts? Our support team will be happy to assist you!

7019243492

07019243492

Check out these Related Articles

SCHOOL

NCERT Class 9 Hindi Sparsh Chapter 3 Solutions Everest Meri Shikhar Yatra

Read Full Story

11 Aug 2025, 11:01 am

SCHOOL

NCERT Class 9 Hindi Kritika Chapter 1 Iss Jal Pralay Mein Question Answers

Read Full Story

11 Aug 2025, 05:33 pm

CLASS 9 EXAM

CBSE Sample Papers Class 9 Science 2025-26 Set Wise PDF Download

Read Full Story

8 Aug 2025, 04:02 pm

CLASS 10 EXAM

CBSE Sample Papers Class 10 2025-26 PDF Download with Marking Scheme

Read Full Story

5 Aug 2025, 03:04 pm

SCHOOL

NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Hindi Kshitij Chapter 9 Kabir Ki Sakhiyan

Read Full Story

4 Aug 2025, 04:30 pm

SCHOOL PREPARATION

CBSE Full Form in English, Get Complete Details about CBSE Board

Read Full Story

5 Aug 2025, 03:50 pm

SCHOOL PREPARATION

CBSE Compartment Result 2025 OUT 10th, 12th Direct Link to Download

Read Full Story

6 Aug 2025, 08:20 am

CLASS 10 EXAM

CBSE Class 10 Compartment Result 2025 Out @results.cbse.nic.in, Direct Link

Read Full Story

6 Aug 2025, 01:10 am

CLASS 12 EXAM

CBSE Sample Papers Class 12 2025-26 PDF Download Here

Read Full Story

5 Aug 2025, 07:43 pm

Join 15 Million students on the app today!

Live & recorded classes available at ease

Dashboard for progress tracking

Millions of practice questions at your fingertips

Free Learning Resources

PW Books

Notes (Class 10-12)

Class 10 Math's Notes

Class 10 Chemistry Notes

Class 10 Physics Notes

lass 10 Biology Notes

Aptitude & Reasoning

Class 10 Geography

Physics Class 11 Notes

Class 11 Chemistry Notes

Maths Notes Class 11

Zoology Class 11

Class 11 Botany Notes

Physics Class 12 notes

Chemistry Class 12

Maths Notes Class 12

Zoology class 12

Class 12th Botany Notes

PW Study Materials

Arjuna JEE Study Material

JEE 5 PYQs

JEE Mind Maps

Yakeen Study Material

NCERT Punch

Arjuna Neet Study Material

NEET PYQs

CBSE Sample Paper

CBSE Question Bank

Udaan For Class 10th Study Material

Notes (Class 6-9)

Class-6 Theory & Notes

Math's Notes for class 7

Science Notes for class 7

Class 8 Math Notes

Class 8 Chemistry Notes

Class 8 Physics Notes

Class 8 Biology Notes

Class 8 SST Notes

Class 9 Math's Notes

Class 9 Physics Notes

Class 9 Chemistry Notes

Class 9 Biology Notes

Ncert Solutions

NCERT Solutions For Class 6

NCERT Solutions For class 7

NCERT Solutions for class 8

NCERT Solutions for class 9

NCERT Solutions for class 10

NCERT Solutions for class 11

NCERT Solutions for Class 12

NCERT Solutions For Class 6

Govt Exams

Entrance Exams

Our Other Websites

Class 6th to 12th Online Courses

Class 12 Online Course

Class 11 Online Course

Class 10 Online Course

Class 9 Online Course

Class 8 Online Course

Govt Job Exams Courses

SSC Online Coaching

Bank Exam Online Coaching

TET Online Coaching

JAIIB & CAIIB Online Coaching

Bihar Exam Online Coaching

UPSC Coaching

UPSC Online Coaching

UPSC Offline & Hybrid Coaching

State PSC Online Coaching

UPPSC Online Coaching

BPSC Online Coaching

Defence Exam Coaching

NDA Online Coaching

CDS Online Coaching

AFCAT Online Coaching

Agniveer Online Coaching

Gate Exam Coaching

Civil Engineering Courses

Mechanical Engineering Courses

Formulas

Other Exams

Company Secretary Exam

Know about Physics Wallah

Physics Wallah is an Indian edtech platform that provides accessible & comprehensive learning experiences to students from Class 6th to postgraduate level. We also provide extensive NCERT solutions, sample paper, NEET, JEE Mains, BITSAT previous year papers & more such resources to students. Physics Wallah also caters to over 3.5 million registered students and over 78 lakh+ Youtube subscribers with 4.8 rating on its app.

We Stand Out because

We provide students with intensive courses with India’s qualified & experienced faculties & mentors. PW strives to make the learning experience comprehensive and accessible for students of all sections of society. We believe in empowering every single student who couldn't dream of a good career in engineering and medical field earlier.

Our Key Focus Areas

Physics Wallah's main focus is to make the learning experience as economical as possible for all students. With our affordable courses like Lakshya, Udaan and Arjuna and many others, we have been able to provide a platform for lakhs of aspirants. From providing Chemistry, Maths, Physics formula to giving e-books of eminent authors like RD Sharma, RS Aggarwal and Lakhmir Singh, PW focuses on every single student's need for preparation.

What Makes Us Different

Physics Wallah strives to develop a comprehensive pedagogical structure for students, where they get a state-of-the-art learning experience with study material and resources. Apart from catering students preparing for JEE Mains and NEET, PW also provides study material for each state board like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and others

Difference Between Biology and Microbiology: Biology is a branch of science that covers all processes inside living organisms, their environment, their evolution and biological processes.

Difference Between Aestivation And Hibernation

About Biology

Difference Between Ape and Man

Principles of Biology

Modern biology is unified by four principles, according to the book "Managing Science":

All living things are composed of basic building blocks called cells. According to the cell hypothesis, all cells originate from previously existing cells.
The idea behind gene theory is that all living things possess DNA, molecules that encode cell shapes and activities handed down through generations.
The idea of homeostasis states that all living things strive to achieve a condition of equilibrium that allows them to live in their surroundings.

Difference Between Adaptation And Mitigation

The Different Areas of Biology

Difference Between Active And Passive Immunity

Biochemistry

Ecology

The branch of ecology examines how living things interact with their environment. For instance, an ecologist may research how neighbouring humans influence honeybee behaviour.

Genetics

Difference Between 70s And 80s Ribosomes

Physiology

Microbiology

Differences Between Amylose and Amylopectin

Applied Microbiology

Soil Microbiology

Nutrition Microbiology

Genetic engineering and Commercial Microbiology

Microbiology in Public health care

Pure Microbiology

Difference Between Autotrophs and Heterotrophs

Similarities between Biology and Microbiology

Biology and microbiology are fields of science that deal with studying living organisms.
Also, both fields study the origin, distribution, structure, functioning, and interactions of different living organisms.

Difference Between Biology and Microbiology

Biology	Microbiology
1.The branch of science deals with the study of living organisms	1.The branch of science deals with the study of microorganisms
2. The use of a Microscope is not mandatory in Biology	2. The use of a Microscope is mandatory in Microbiology
3. It includes the study of both Macroscopic and Microscopic organisms	3. It includes the study of only Microscopic organisms
4. It is more diverse	4. It is less diverse as compared to Biology
5. It is pure science	5. It is applied biology
6. The branches of biology are Botany, Zoology, Human physiology etc.	6. The branches of Microbiology are mycology, virology etc.