DAV PUBLIC SCHOOL,
SECTOR-VI, DWARKA
NOTES
CLASS – VIII
MICROORGANISIM-
FRIENDS OR FOES
What are Microorganisms?
Tiny organisms , microscopic, living, single-celled
organisms which can’t be seen with unaided eye.
Micro-organisms are of great importance to the human health
, to environment, and to our economy.There are useful as well as harmful
microorganisms.
Why microorganisms are called microorganisms ?
Microorganisms can’t
be seen with unaided eye .To see microorganisms
we need microscopes and in some cases magnifying glass that is why
microorganisms are called microorganisms .
Microorganisms are categorized into four major groups .
Four groups in which microorganism are grouped a Fungi,
Bacteria, Algae and Protozoa.
Viruses
Viruses- Viruses consist of genetic materials (DNA or RNA)
surrounded by a protective coat of protein.
Viruses are
microscopic and too small to be seen by the naked eye.
Viruses can't multiply on their own they reproduce only
inside host organism,host may be plants animals or bacterium.
Viruses consist of genetic materials (DNA or RNA)
Virus is inactive when outside the host organism and become
active inside host organisms.
Human diseases which are caused by viruses include:
Smallpox
The common cold
Measles
Chickenpox
Hepatitis
Influenza
Polio
Rabies
HIV (the virus that causes AIDS)
SARS (Severe acute respiratory syndrome)
Dengue
Diseases caused by bacteria
Cholera,
Typhoid Fever,
Tuberculosis(TB),
Leprosy (Hansen's Disease) ,
SYPHILIS ETC
Diseases caused by protozoa(Protozoans)
Malaria
Giardiasis
Trichomoniasis
Sleeping Sickness
Dysentery
Amoebiasis
Habitats of microorganisms
Microorganisms live in all place which you know .
Microorganisms live in extreme conditions where we can’t
live ranging from hot springs to ice
cold climate and from marshy lands to deserts.
Microorganism even live in human body .
Some microorganisms are beneficial for us and some
microorganism are harmful for us,plants and animals.
Benefits of Microorganisms to Humans
Uses of microorganisms
Friendly microorganisms
Friendly microorganisms are useful for us because they helps
in cleaning environment by degrading dead and decay substances,microorganisms
are used in increasing soil fertility.microorganism are used in making cake,
bread and curd etc
Making curd and Bread
Lactobacillus Bacteria helps in the formation of curd from
milk.
How milk is converted into curd ?
Lactobacillus denatures the structure of protein casein
present in milk by producing Lactic acid it destroys the tertiary and
quaternary structures of proteins thus
globular protein is converted into fibrous protein which gives thick textures
to the milk due to the coagulation of proteins.
By this process milk is
converted into curd.
Bacteria help in making cheese
Bacteria convert the natural sugars in milk (lactose) into
lactic acid. Different flavor of the milk is due to the different types of
bacteria used.
Bacteria also helps in making pickles and other food
products.
Yeast (fungi –one of the group of microorganisms)
Uses of microorganisms,yeast in making cakes, breads,
pastries in baking industry.
Bakers add yeast to dough ,yeast reproduces very fast and
produces carbon dioxide during respiration.Bubles of the gas produced fills the
dough and increases its volume.
Commercial use of Microorganisms.
Commercially microorganisms are used for making wine
,alcohol and acetic acid(vinegar).
Wine and Alcohol are commercially produced by using Yeast
(Fungi).
Microorganism yeast is grown on natural sugars present in
crushed fruit juices,wheat,barley,rice etc and by the process of fermentation
yeast convert sugars into alcohols.
Fermentation-the process of conversion of sugars into
alcohol is known as fermentation.
Medicinal use of microorganisms
What is antibiotic?
Antibiotics -Antibiotics are a group of medicines that are
used to treat
infections caused by bacteria and certain parasites.
Antibiotics are produced by the uses of bacteria.
Examples of
antibiotics-Tetracycline,Streptomycin,erythromycin, Doripenem, Daptomycin,
Clarithromycin, Penicillin G, Penicillin V etc
Uses of microorganisms in Increasing soil fertility
Bacteria (Biological nitrogen fixers)like blue green
algae fixes atmospheric nitrogen and
convert it in other forms of nitrogen that is used by plants thus it enrich
soils with nitrogen and increases the soil fertility.
Uses of microorganisms in Cleaning Environment
Microorganism converts dead and decaying parts of plants and animals into manure by decomposing them into simple
substance.Thus the microorganism clean up the environment.
Harmful microorganisms
Microorganisms which are not good for us are called harmful
microorganisms.
Microorganisms causes disease in animals ,human beings and
plants therefore they are also called
pathogens.
Pathogens-Disease-causing microorganisms are called
pathogens.
Diseases causing microorganisms in Humans
Pathogens presents everywhere. Pathogens transferred into
our body from air, water and food or by direct contact with infected person or
animal.
Malaria-Female anopheles mosquito carries parasite of malaria.
Dengue virus-Female Aedes mosquito acts as carrier of Dengue
virus.