Microorganism Friends or Foes?Microorganisms are microscopic, living, single-celled organisms. Examples include bacteria, fungi, and protozoa. These organism play a major role in the success and failure of living things. Infact, microorganisms and be beneficial or harmful. Click here or here to learn more.
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BacteriaSmall single celled organisms are a basic description for bacteria. Interstingly enough bacteria does not have a nucleus, and for this reason, they are known as prokaryotes. Bacteria are so small they have to be viewed by a microscope. Believe it or not, bacteria can live anywhere. From the human body, to soil, water, and insided other living things. Remember the goal of these tiny invaders are to replicate or reproduce, and bacteria has the ability to reproduce itself. While bacteria usually is classified as bad, they can also be very beneficial. Some bacteria helps break down food, while other cause disease. Common diseases associated with bacteria include: pinkeye, salmonella, tapeworm, and ebola. Therea are two main catergories of bacteria which include eubacteria and archaebacteria. |
FungiWhen people think of fungi, usually the first thought is mushrooms or bread mold. Interstingly enough, mushrooms are commonly consumed by humans. There is so much more to fungi.
Fungi can be very helpful in helping dead plants and animals decay. It also appears as mold that flavors cheese and making antibiotics like penicillin. Most fungi are non threatning, but there are a few that can be diseases. We experience harmful fungi as ringworm, athletes foot, or even yeast infections. These external (on the outside of the body) diseases can be spread easisly. In your everyday life you'll see fungi the most in a simple place like on bread. Click here and here to learn more about fungal infections. |
ProtozoaAnimal like protist are described as protozoa. Protist are classifed into their own group. While they are share traits with bacteria, they have nuclei in their cell.
Protozoa are usually found in moist and wet areas. Like bacteria, protozoa can be helpful or harmful. While it is not common to get affected by protozoa, the most comman way is through contamination. Water can become contaminated by protozoa and infect the people that drink it. Some of the diseases caused by protozoa includes Malaria, Babesiosis, and African Sleeping sickness. On the other hand, protozoa can help plant survival and even eat harmful bacteria and fungi |
friendsProbiotics is a type of bacteria that can be found in foods like yogurt and or cheese. This good bacteria can help ferment milk.
Yeast can act as probiotics as well by helping to create several foods including bread, candy, and wine. Learn more about yeast here. While virues are bad, doctors use them in the form of vaccines to give our bodies experiences in fighting off the disease. Vinegars are produced by bacterial acetic acid fermentation. Vinegar is often used to cleanse foods. A microorganism commonly known as flora, helps to purify water. for more info click here. |
virusesAlien organism that invade the body or commonly classified as viruses. We are familiar with the term virus when we discuss things like germs and disease. In particular, viruses are typically linked with the term infectious disease.
Viruses are not organisms, because organisms are consist of cells. Viruses are genetic instructions to "Take Over." Like bacteria, viruses want to replicate. Viruses have to attache themselves to other cells to replicate. A common way we hear about viruses today is computer viruses. The goal is to reproduce and change functions of cells. A good way to think of this is that viruses "hi-jack" cells. Common viruses include: Colds, Flu, Chicken Pox, which are very mild. More serious viral infections include: Hepatitis and Aids. Learn more about virues here. |
enemiesIf you recall, during the civil war more people died from disease more than anything. This could probably be credited to microorganisms.
Harmful molds can grow on our foods and even in our homes. Molds on food can create stomach viruses while molds in homes can create breathing difficulties. Microorgansims such as bacteria can contaiminate food and drink that leads to food poisoning. Many of these "enemies" of the body come from spoiled food. Many microorganisms can be killed by high temperatures, and very low temperatures can slow their development. For more information click here. |