Question to answer: (Please answer in full detail) Question below to answer must

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Question to answer: (Please answer in full detail)

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Describe two beneficial things that microorganisms do for humans (you must label these two things Good#1 and Good#2); include separate explanations of why the microorganisms do each of those things. Next, describe two antagonistic things that microorganisms do to humans (you must label these two things Bad#1 and Bad#2); include separate explanations of why the microorganisms do each of those things.

Explanation / Answer

Bacteria range from the essential and useful, to the harmful.Bacteria are everywhere, including your entire body. The bacteria in our body weighs as much as our brain–3 lbs! Bacteria can be harmful, but some species of bacteria are needed to keep us healthy.

Microbes are vital to the environment because they participate in the Earth's element cycles like the carbon and nitrogen cycles. Microorganisms are involved in the production of oxygen, biomass control and 'cleaning' the Earth of remnants of dead organisms.

Some microbes also lead a symbiotic type of lifestyle in most multicellular organisms. The community of beneficial microoraganims living in human intestines is called microflora.

Because microorganisms are capable of producing so many enzymes necessary for the building up and breaking down of organic compounds, bacteria are widely 'employed' by humans.

Good 1:

Nitrogen cycle

Nitrogen is a very important chemical element of all living matter. It is an essential part of amino acids - the building blocks of proteins. Nitrogen in its gaseous form (N2) makes up 78% of the atmosphere, but it cannot be absorbed and used as a nutrient by plants and animals. It must be converted by nitrifying (nitrosomonas) bacteria, so that it can enter food chains as a part of the nitrogen cycle. The nitrogen cycle is the cyclic movement of nitrogen in different chemical forms from the environment to organisms and then back to the environment. The nitrogen cycle consists of several different processes: nitrogen fixation; ammonification (decay); nitrification; and denitrification.

Decomposition

Microbes 'clean up' waste products and remnants of dead organisms in a process called decomposition. The decomposition or stabilisation of organic matter by biological action is as old as life itself. The controlled microbial decomposition of organic matter is called composting. The final product of composting is called compost. There are two types of composting:

In these processes, bacteria, fungi, moulds, protozoa and other saprophytic organisms feed upon decaying organic materials initially. In the later stages of decomposition, mites, millipedes, centipedes, springtails, beetles and earthworms further break down and enrich these composting materials.

Good 2:

Biotechnology

The industrial application of living organisms is called biotechnology. Humans have been using microorganisms for centuries. Today, biotechnology is a fast-developing industry.

Bioremediation

Bioremediation is the use of living organisms for cleaning up oil spills and soil and water pollutants. Sewage treatment techniques are based on biofiltration of some toxic organic material by converting it into something that can be safely discharged into the environment. Bacteria that break down environmental pollutants are sometimes called biofilters.

Pharmaceuticals

Some microbes are used for medicinal production. One of the most important groups of medicines, antibiotics, is produced by fungi and bacteria. The name antibiotics means 'against life'. It is appropriate, because they attack bacteria and other unicellular organisms that are pathogenic for humans.

Food industry

Fermentation is the process that produces alcoholic beverages or acidic dairy products. On a cellular level, fermentation is a way of obtaining energy without using oxygen. Fermentation involves the breaking down of complex organic substances into simpler ones.

Food like cheese, pickles, olives, sausages, chocolate, bread, wine, beer and soy sauce are all made with the help of different types of bacteria and yeast. In most of these food products, bacteria play a major role because they produce lactic acid.

some bacteria are capable of causing disease. These bacteria are termed pathogenic.

Bad 1:

Pathogenic means capable of causing disease. An actual harmful effect of a microbe to the body depends on:

Bad 2:

Harmful bacteria can cause diseases such as cholera, leprosy, tuberculosis and typhoid. Other bacteria produce toxins which cause diseases such as diphtheria, scarlet fever and tetanus. A form of bacteria that develops in preserved food produces toxins that cause form of food poisoning called botulism.

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