Microbiology is the scientific field that studies microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa. Microbiologists investigate the structure, function, behavior, interactions with other organisms, and the roles of these microorganisms in diseases, environmental processes, and biotechnology. Key areas of microbiology include: medical microbiology, environmental microbiology, industrial microbiology, microbial genetics, microbial ecology, and virology.