ICROORGANISMSICROORGANISMS RIENDRIEND ANDAND …

1 MICROORGANISMS : friend and foe . Y. ou have seen several kinds of These observations show that water plants and animals. However, and soil are full of tiny organisms, there are other living organisms though not all of them fall into the around us which we cannot see with category of microbes. These eyes alone. These are called microorganisms or microbes are so microorganisms or microbes. For small in size that they cannot be seen example, you might have observed that with the unaided eye. Some of these, during rainy season moist bread gets such as the fungus that grows on bread, spoilt and its surface gets covered with can be seen with a magnifying glass. greyish white patches. Observe these Others cannot be seen without the help patches through a magnifying glass.

2 You of a microscope. That is why these are will see tiny, black rounded structures. called microorganisms or microbes. Do you know what these structures are Microorganisms are classified into and where did these come from? four major groups. These groups are bacteria, fungi, protozoa and some Microorganisms algae. Some of these common microorganisms are shown in Activity Figs. - Viruses are also microscopic. They, Collect some moist soil from the however, reproduce only inside the cells field in a beaker and add water to of the host organism, which may be a it. After soil particles have settled, bacterium, plant or animal. Some of the observe a drop of water from the viruses are shown in Fig. Common beaker under a microscope.

3 What ailments like cold, influenza (flu) and do you see ? most coughs are caused by viruses. Serious diseases like polio and chicken Activity pox are also caused by viruses. Diseases like dysentery and malaria Take a few drops of water from a are caused by protozoans whereas pond. Spread on a glass slide and typhoid and tuberculosis (TB) are observe through a microscope. bacterial diseases. You have learnt about some of Do you find tiny organisms moving these microorganisms in Classes VI. around? and VII. Spiral bacteria Rod shaped bacteria Fig. : Bacteria Amoeba Chlamydomonas Spirogyra Paramecium Fig. : Algae Fig. : Protozoa Bread mould Penicillium Aspergillus Fig. : Fungi 18 SCIENCE. Friendly Microorganisms Microorganisms are used for various purposes.

4 They are used in the preparation of curd, bread and cake. Microorganisms have been used for the production of alcohol since ages. They are also used in cleaning up of the environment. For example, the organic wastes (vegetable peels, remains of animals, faeces, etc.) are broken down into harmless and usable substances by bacteria. Recall that bacteria are also used in the preparation of medicines. In agriculture they are used to increase soil fertility by fixing nitrogen. Fig. : Viruses Making of Curd and Bread Where do Microorganisms You have learnt in Class VII that milk is Live? turned into curd by bacteria. Microorganisms may be single-celled like bacteria, some algae and protozoa, or multicellular, such as algae and fungi.

5 I saw that my mother They can survive under all types of added a little curd to warm environment, ranging from ice cold milk to set curd for the climate to hot springs and deserts to next day. I wonder why! marshy lands. They are also found inside the bodies of animals including Curd contains several micro- humans. Some microorganisms grow on organisms. Of these, the bacterium other organisms while others exist Lactobacillus promotes the formation freely. Microorganisms like amoeba can of curd. It multiplies in milk and converts live alone, while fungi and bacteria may it into curd. Bacteria are also involved live in colonies. in the making of cheese, pickles and many other food items. An important Microorganisms and Us ingredient of rava (sooji ) idlis and bhaturas is curd.

6 Can you guess why? Microorganisms play an important role in our lives. Some of them are beneficial Activity in many ways whereas some others are harmful and cause diseases. Let us study Take kg flour (atta or maida), about them in detail. add some sugar and mix with MICROORGANISMS : friend and foe 19. warm water. Add a small amount yeast powder to the sugar solution. of yeast powder and knead to Keep it covered in a warm place for make a soft dough. What do you 4-5 hours. Now smell the solution. observe after two hours? Did you Could you get a smell? find the dough rising? This is the smell of alcohol as sugar has been converted into alcohol by yeast. This process of conversion of sugar into alcohol is known as fermentation.

7 Maida with Yeast Powder Louis Pasteur discovered fermentation in 1857. Raised maida Medicinal Use of Microorganisms Fig. Whenever you fall ill the doctor may give you some antibiotic tablets, Yeast reproduces rapidly and capsules or injections such as of produces carbon dioxide during penicillin. The source of these respiration. Bubbles of the gas fill the medicines is microorganisms. These dough and increase its volume (Fig. ). This is the basis of the use of yeast in medicines kill or stop the growth of the the baking industry for making breads, disease-causing microorganisms. pastries and cakes. Such medicines are called antibiotics. These days a number of antibiotics are Commercial Use of Microorganisms being produced from bacteria and fungi.

8 Streptomycin, tetracycline and Microorganisms are used for the large scale production of alcohol, wine and erythromycin are some of the acetic acid (vinegar). Yeast is used for commercial production of alcohol and wine. For this purpose yeast is In 1929, Alexander grown on natural sugars present in Fleming was working on a culture of disease- grains like barley, wheat, rice and causing bacteria. crushed fruit juices, etc. Suddenly he found the spores of a little green mould in one of Activity his culture plates. He observed that Take a 500 mL beaker filled upto the presence of mould prevented the growth of bacteria. In fact, it also killed with water. Dissolve 2-3 teaspoons many of these bacteria. From this the of sugar in it.

9 Add half a spoon of mould penicillin was prepared. 20 SCIENCE. commonly known antibiotics which are we are protected from the disease- made from fungi and bacteria. The causing microbes. This is how a vaccine antibiotics are manufactured by works. Several diseases, including growing specific microorganisms and cholera, tuberculosis, smallpox and are used to cure a variety of diseases. hepatitis can be prevented by Antibiotics are even mixed with the vaccination. feed of livestock and poultry to check microbial infection in animals. They are Edward Jenner also used to control many plant discovered the diseases. vaccine for small- pox in 1798. It is important to remember that antibiotics should be taken only on the advice of a qualified doctor.

10 Also In your childhood, you must have you must finish the course been given injections to protect yourself prescribed by the doctor. If you take against several diseases. Can you antibiotics when not needed or in prepare a list of these diseases? You wrong doses, it may make the drug may take help from your parents. less effective when you might need it in future. Also antibiotics taken It is essential to protect all children unnecessarily may kill the beneficial against these diseases. Necessary vaccines bacteria in the body. Antibiotics, are available in the nearby hospitals. You however, are not effective against might have seen the advertisement on cold and flu as these are caused by and newspapers regarding protection of viruses.