Microorganisms: Friend and Fo Flashcards
(13 cards)
What are microorganisms?
Microorganisms, also known as microbes, are microscopic organisms that can only be seen with the help of a microscope. Major types of microorganisms include - bacteria, protozoa, fungi, and algae. Microorganisms can be single celled or multicellular. Some microorganisms can be beneficial, which others can be dangerous and cause diseases. Bacteria causes tuberculosis and typhoid. Protozoa causes dysentery and malaria.
What are viruses?
Viruses are microscopic organisms, however they are different from other microorganism. They grow and develop in the cell of a host body which can be anything ranging from a bacterium, animal or plant. They can also causes diseases like polio and chicken pox.
Where do microorganisms live?
Microorganisms can survive in all conditions ranging from hot springs to ice cold winds to marshy lands. They are also found in the bodies of microorganisms including humans. They do not necessarily have to deter the growth of the organism they reside in, they can also grow freely.
How are microorganisms beneficial for us?
Microorganisms are used for various things like making of curd break and cake. It has also been used to make alcohol for ages. It is used to clean the environment; wastes like fruit/vegetable peels, organic waste, remains of animals etc by using bacteria to break them down into simpler substances. It is also used for the preparation of medicines and the in agriculture to increase soil fertility by fixing nitrogen.
Explain the process of making curd and bread.
The making of curd: Curd contains many microorganisms. The bacterium lactobacillus promotes the formation of curd. It multiplies in milk and converts it into curd.
The making of bread: Yeast is added into the flour. Yeast reproduces rapidly and produces carbon dioxide during respiration. Bubbles of the gas fill the dough and increase its volume.
Why is curd an important ingredient of rava idlis and bhaturas?
Curd is an important ingredient of rava idlis and bhaturas. This is because curd contains lactobacillus, which undergoes anaerobic respiration and acts on the sugars. This ensures that the idlis and bhaturas are soft and spongy. Bacteria and yeast are also used in rice idli and dosa batters because it is helpful for fermentation.
What is the commercial use of microorganisms?
Microorganisms are used for the large scale production of alcohol, wine and acetic acid/ vinegar. For this purpose, yeast is grown on natural sugars like barely, wheat, crushed fruit juices, etc. This smell of alcohol is because these sugars are being converted by yeast. The process by which sugars are converted into alcohol is known as fermentation. Fermentation was first discovered by Louis Pasteur in 1857.
What are antibiotics/ What is the medicinal use of Microorganisms?
When people fall ill doctors usually give patients antibiotic tablets, capsules or injections such as penicillin. The sources of these medicines are microorganisms. They fight and kill disease causing microorganisms in the body. These medicines are called antibiotics. Antibiotics are also being produced from bacteria and fungi like streptomycin, tetracycline and erythromycin. They are also mixed with the feed of poultry and livestock to check microbial infections and are used to control many plant infections.
What are some things we should keep in mind before using antibiotics?
It is important to remember that antibiotics should only be taken on the advice of a qualified doctor. The patient should ensure that he/she is completing the course prescribed by the doctor. Taking antibiotics when not needed or in wrong doses will not be as effective in case of any potential need for it in the future. Moreover, unnecessarily using antibiotics can also lead to the killing of good microorganisms in the body.
How does a vaccine work?
When a disease carrying microbe enters our body the antibiotics present fight it and kill it. When dead or weakened microorganisms are introduced to a healthy body, antibiotics present kill it. These antibiotics always remember how to fight and bodies are protected forever from disease causing microbes. This is how a vaccine works. Several diseases like cholera, tuberculosis, hepatitis and small pox can be prevented by vaccination.
What is the pulse polio program?
The Pulse Polio programme works for the protection of chilren against polio. They do this by giving polio drops to children, which is a vaccine.
Write 100 words about harmful microorganisms .
Microorganisms are harmful in many ways. Some cause disease in human beings, plants and animals. Such disease casing agents are known as pathogens. Some microorganisms can also spoil food, clothing and leather. Pathogens enter our body through the air we breathe, the food we eat and the water we drink. They can also be cause by direct contact or carried by animals which act as carriers. Microbial diseases which can be transferred directly by contact are known as communicable diseases. Eg: Common cold, cholera, chicken pox and tuberculosis. There are also some insects and animals that act as carriers for microbial diseases.
(i) housefly sits on waste and human excreta. Pathogens stick to their body and transfer the pathogens on the next thing they sit on.
(ii) female anopheles mosquito carries the parasite of malaria
(iii) female ades mosquito acts as a carrier of the dengue virus.
