Question

the role of microbes in our lives essay ( 200words)

Answer 1

Microorganisms play an important role in our life: helps us to digest our food, decompose wastes and participate in various cycles. They are diverse and have adapted to inhabit different environments including extreme conditions, such as hot vents under the ocean to the ice caps; known as extremophiles. There are more microorganisms present in us than there are cells, and the various microorganisms are bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoa. Many people link microorganisms as death and diseases causing agents; also usually compared to dirt. Although some microorganisms are responsible for causing diseases, most microorganisms’ original hosts are not the human body so are not pathogenic, but commensal. This essay will discuss the numerous beneficial microorganisms that carry out processes in biotechnology, agriculture, industries and environment; necessary to sustain life.

Firstly, essential uses of microorganisms can be seen in the environment, as they play a vital role in many of the nutrient cycles. For instance, carbon fixation during the carbon cycle by autotrophic bacteria, such as cyanobacteria, synthesize organic molecule using CO2 from the atmosphere to be used by other organisms and release oxygen for our consumption. In addition, microorganisms are vital participants of the food chain since they act as decomposers; breaking down dead organisms and organic materials and releasing minerals for uptake by living organisms and CO2 back into the atmosphere to be used by photosynthetic organisms. Microorganisms, known as methanogens, influence the carbon cycle by converting CO2 in their cells to methane and releasing it into atmosphere; thus increasing methane concentration whereas methanothrophs consume methane from the atmosphere, leading to a decrease in the greenhouse gas and global warming .

Answer 2

Micro-organisms (or microbes for short) play a very important role in our lives. Some microbes cause disease but the majority are completely harmless. In fact we couldn’t live without them, but they could live without us.

These microscopic organisms play a key role in maintaining life on earth, fixing gases and breaking down dead plant and animal matter into simpler substances that are used at the beginning of the food chain. Biotechnologists can also exploit the activities of microbes to benefit humans, such as in the production of medicines, enzymes and food. They are also used to breakdown sewage and other toxic wastes into safe matter. This process is called bioremediation.