Question

What is the role of microorganisms in our daily lives

Answer 1

Microbes also play an essential role in the natural recycling of livingmaterials. All naturally produced substances are biodegradable, which means that they can be broken down by living organisms, such as bacteria or fungi. Composting is an example of biodegradation that is easy to investigate the classroom.

Answer 2

: Fermentation of sugar by yeast produces alcohol and carbon dioxide. As carbon dioxide rises up, we observe an increase in the volume.
Making vinegar, coffee, and tobacco: Bacteria are used in the production of vinegar (acetic acid), coffee, and tobacco.
Making toothpaste: Shells of diatoms (a type of algae) are used in toothpaste to give it a gritty texture that helps in cleaning teeth. Xanthum gum, obtained from the bacteria Xanthomonas campestris, is also used in making toothpaste.
Medicinal Uses of Microorganisms
Some of the medicinal uses of microorganisms are given below.
Making antibiotics: Certain bacteria and fungi are used in the production of medicines called antibiotics that destroy certain disease-causing microbes. Penicillin (obtained from the fungus Penicillium), streptomycin, and tetracycline (both obtained from Streptomyces bacteria) are examples of antibiotics. Antibiotics are also used to control microbial diseases in animals and plants.
Making vaccines: When a disease-causing microbe enters our body, our body produces substances called antibodies. These antibodies fight and destroy the disease-causing microbe and remain in the body to fight future infections by the same microbe. A vaccine is a preparation of killed or weakened disease-causing microbes. When a vaccine is introduced in the body of a healthy person (by swallowing or injection), his/her body produces antibodies against these killed or weakened microbes. These antibodies remain in the body and protect us from future infections by the same microbe(s). Thus, vaccines help in preventing diseases caused by microbes (e.g., polio, cholera, typhoid, smallpox, and hepatitis).
Making food supplements: Microbes like Chlorella (a type of algae) are rich in proteins and other nutrients and are used as food supplements.
In human body: Bacteria like Lactobacillus acidophilus live in human intestines, where they help to digest food and destroy disease-causing microbes.
Agricultural Uses of Microorganisms
Blue-green algae and bacteria like Rhizobium (that live in the root nodules of leguminous plants like pea and soya bean) help in fixing atmospheric nitrogen and increasing soil fertility.