Written primarily for students embarking on an undergraduate bioscience degree, this primer provides a concise overview of microbial biotechnology, its societal and ethical implications, the challenges that remain, and the potential and future research directions, helping students to further their understanding and make the transition to active researcher.

1: The basic principles of a biotechnology process 2: Microbial growth 3: Microbial bio-production 4: Biotechnology and food and drink production 5: Environmental biotechnology 6: Application of synthetic biology to biotechnology 7: Diagnostics 8: Microbial biotechnology and agriculture 9: Using extremophiles in biotechnology 10: Microbial biotechnology in the art and built environment 11: Ethical considerations

Oxford Biology Primers are the only resource to introduce prospective and current students of undergraduate-level bioscience to a range of topics from this dynamic experimental science, enticing readers to study further. Its titles directly support two key transitions in the student journey: from school to undergraduate-level study, and from undergraduate to independent researcher. Its modular format offers a high degree of flexibility, with teachers being able to draw on specific volumes that augment the post-16 curriculum, university lecturers being able to draw on specific volumes at different stages of the undergraduate curriculum, and with materials from the series being available for access in both print and digital formats. Also available as an e-book with functionality, navigation features, and links that offer extra learning support

Professor Kay Yeoman teaches microbiology in the School of Biological Sciences at UEA. She has undertaken research in the use of agricultural waste materials in fermentation media. She has also conducted research in the Rhizobium:legume symbiosis, investigating the uptake of iron. She is keen communicator of science, leads fungal forays and is particularly interested in fungi and their use in industry. Dr Beatrix Fahnert is a microbiologist with a background in medical, industrial and applied microbiology. She has been teaching related subjects at Undergraduate and Postgraduate level for more than 20 years, and is currently an Associate Professor at the School of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln. Beatrix is a member of the European Federation of Biotechnology and the UK Microbiology Society, where she served as Chair-Elect of the Education Division. Dr David Lea-Smith is a lecturer in microbiology at the University of East Anglia. His research is primarily focused on investigating photosynthetic cyanobacteria, specifically understanding their biochemistry and physiology, impact on the environment and potential for biotechnology as a platform for renewable production of industrial and medical compounds. Dr Tom Clarke graduated from UCL in Biochemistry and undertook a PhD at the John Innes centre in Norwich. After a research fellowship at the University of Michigan he joined UEA biological sciences in 2003. His current research involves uncovering how bacteria generate electricity in different environments.

Oxford Biology Primers are the only resource to introduce prospective and current students of undergraduate-level bioscience to a range of topics from this dynamic experimental science, enticing readers to study further. Its titles directly support two key transitions in the student journey: from school to undergraduate-level study, and from undergraduate to independent researcher. Its modular format offers a high degree of flexibility, with teachers being able to draw on specific volumes that augment the post-16 curriculum, university lecturers being able to draw on specific volumes at different stages of the undergraduate curriculum, and with materials from the series being available for access in both print and digital formats. Also available as an e-book with functionality, navigation features, and links that offer extra learning support