Microbiology is the study of organisms and viruses too small to be seen by the unaided eye. Microbiologists study all aspects of these organisms, including what they are, their lifecycle and metabolic capacity, their distribution in nature, and their relationship to each other and to other living things. Microbial engineering uses our current understanding of these organisms to develop new species with applications in (for example) bioremediation, alternative energy production, or pharmaceutical science. A microbiology major prepares you to work in many different settings, including in the field sampling ecosystems, in the laboratory or working for an agency specializing in public health. Medical technology at WSU is a specialization option in the microbiology major. The field of medical technology is closely related to microbiology, which is the study of organisms and viruses too small to be seen by the unaided eye. Microbiologists study all aspects of these organisms, including what they are, their lifecycle and metabolic capacity, their distribution in nature, and their relationship to each other and to other living things. Medical technology uses the techniques of microbiology to diagnose diseases and pathologies related to human-microbe interactions. Medical technologists perform laboratory tests to discover diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and AIDS through the use of microscopes, computers, and complex and precision instruments.