Importance of microbiology in our life

Microbiology the study of microscopic organisms derived its name from three Greek words, mikros (small), bios (life) and logos (science). Taken together they mean the study of microscopic life.

Microbes Microbes are minute living thing that individually are usually too small to be seen with the unaided eye. Microbes are found almost everywhere. They are very important in maintaining Earths ecological balance.

Types of Microorganism Bacteria, Archaea, Fungi, Protozoa, algae, Viruses, Multicellular animal parasites and those non-cellular entities sometimes regarded as straddling the border between life and non-life.

Microbes and Human Welfare The vast majority of microbes benefit humans, other animals and plants in many ways. They are used in the synthesis of such chemical products as vitamins, organic acids, enzymes, alcohols, many drugs. Acetone, butanol, and Food industries also used microbes in producing vinegar, sauerkraut, pickles, alcoholic beverages, green olives, soy sance, buttermilk, yogurt, bread. Microbial enzymes may even have helped produce favorite pair of jeans.

Recycling Vital Elements Martnus Beijerinck and Sergei were the first to show how bacteria help recycle vital elements between the soil and the atmosphere. Today, microbial ecology has branched out and includes the study of how microbial population interact with plants and animals in various environments. The chemical elements carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, Sulphur,

and phosphorus are useful for life and abundant but not necessarily in forms that organisms can use. Microorganisms are responsible for converting these elements into forms that plants and animals can use.

Sewage Treatment
Sewage is about 99.9% water with a few hundredths of 1% suspended solids. The remainder materials large solids such as paper, wood, glasses, gravel, sewage; left behind are liquid bacteria convert into such by products as carbon dioxides, ammonia and methane.

Using Microbes to clean up Pollutants

In 1988, scientists began using microbes to clean up pollutants and toxic wastes produced by various industrial process. Some bacteria can actually use pollutants as energy sources; others produce enzymes that break down toxins into less harmful substances. By using bacteria in these ways a process known as bioremediation

Insect Pest Control by Microorganisms

By using microbial rather than chemical insect control, farmers can avoid harming the environment. The bacterium bacillus thuringiensis has been used extensively in the United States to control such pests as alfalfa, bollworms, corn borers, fruit tree leaf rollers.

Recombinant DNA Technology

The applications of recombinant DNA technology are increasing with each passing year. Recombinant DNA techniques have been used thus far to produce a number of natural proteins, vaccines and enzymes. Such substances have great potential for medical use. Beyond metical applications, it also been applied to agriculture. For example, genetically altered strains of bacteria have been developed to protect fruit against frost damage.