Economic Importance Of Microbes 286i67

Roston John D. Bonilla 2011-36215

Biol 120 (Microbiology) November 12, 2013 Economic, Social, Medical and Environmental Importance of Microorganisms

On the later years of 17th century, Anton Van Leeuwenhoek founded an instrument that opened our eyes to the world of the unseen. His microscope led him and today’s scientist to observe and describe a variety of minute living organisms. They are considered either one-celled or multicellular. These microorganisms also vary in shape and sizes; most of which are in gross morphologies. Their appearances under the microscope are usually twisted and are labeled as abnormal by the eyes. From this perception, these creatures are easily judge as harmful since abnormal, for the most, is synonymous to harmful. While it is true that some of these organisms are dangerous, these tiny creatures also play a vital role in nature; hence posting beneficial effects to human beings. What most people do not recognize is that microorganisms, also known as microbes, have always been living with us through the course of animal evolution. Microbes have established mutualistic relationships with humans. Take for instance, those microbes residing on our intestines. Without the microbial fauna, we are not able to acquire some of the essential nutrients from our food intakes. Microbes were also found to be important to ones socio-economic condition. In agriculture, for example, commercial crops are aided by bacteria. Microbial activities exhibited by these microorganisms include maintaining or in other cases increasing the fertility of the soil. Nitrifying bacteria (e.g. Nitrobacter and Nitrosomonas) and ammonifying bacteria (e.g. Bacillus ramosus, B. vulgaris) are vital. The end products of these microbes are very much needed by plants especially in nitrogen and ammonia deficient environments. It is also good to mention microbes’ significance on the production of valuable products. Some of the cheeses, beer, yoghurt, organic acids, tea, coffee etc. sold in the markets are actually products of microorganisms. Fermentation is a process that is, almost everyone knows, aided by microorganism; (e.g. yeast cells for the production of wine). Some commercial vinegar is prepared by the activities of Acetobacter aceti in the sugarcane juice. On the leather industry, microbes have value. They are used to remove the remaining hair and fats on the skin. Some alcohols marketed are also produced by microbes. Ethyl and butyl alcohols are formed from the bacterial activities in sugar solutions (e.g. Clostridium acetobutylicum). These are just few of the advantages we can acquire from these micro living creatures. With the advent of modern science, the common notion that microbes are entirely harmful to human existence is now subverted. This is due to the findings that microbes can be a great factor on the creation of medicines vital in saving human lives. Antibiotics is one product of microbes, created from the fungus that is Penicillium. Still, in the field on medicine, genetic engineering is now highly practiced with its association to microbial creatures. Scientists use these organisms to create pharmaceutical products available for commercial purposes. In treating diabetes, the insulin that is usually obtained from animal pancreatic tissue is now substituted by genetically altered bacteria. Aside from being treatments, microbes are now at the fore front of preventing various diseases. Biotechnologists have been successful on the creation of vaccines preventing diseases like hepatitis. DNA vaccines, another breakthrough from the world of medicine, utilize plasmids obtained from microbes. It was found out that the said type of vaccine is essential in immunizing infants from numerous diseases while it is still in the womb.

Roston John D. Bonilla 2011-36215

Biol 120 (Microbiology) November 12, 2013

Microbial activities also impose a great influence in our environment. Being part of our vast ecosystem, these microorganisms contribute in the provision of the basic foundations to the cycles of elements on Earth. Microbes are the major actors in the synthesis and degradation of all sorts of important molecules in environments. Without these decomposers, the pathway of energy in any given environment would be lacking. Specifically in carbon cycles, the end product of the decomposition (that is CO2) is utilized by photosynthetic organisms in order to live. On the other side, microbes also take part as a key component in the oxygen cycle. The cyanobacteria, with their abundance in nature, are responsible for the production of the oxygen we most breathe. Microorganisms, too, preserves the environment. Sanitary and waste facilities utilize the natural recycling abilities of nature. Microbes are central to these treatments. Before waste water materials are suspended to open waters they are subjected to decomposition by inexplicable number of microbes. Moreover, microbes also have significance in bioremediation. This process makes use of the organisms as an aid in the degradation of synthetic wastes (e.g. oil spills). Microbes are not seen literally, but that should not be a problem. Rather, it is better to broaden our curiosity. Microbes may hold greater unsuspected importance just waiting to be discovered. And yes it is true that some of the effects are harmful but we can’t deny that they too are beneficial. And as co-habitants, we must recognize this. Microorganisms play their part in balancing our nature. These tiny creatures are intertwined with our lives. Hence, without their existence we may not be living.

References: Weeks, Benjamin S. 2008. Microbes and Society. Jones and Bartlett Publishers, Inc. Sudbury, Massachusetts K. Arjun. 2012. Write An Essay On The Economic Importance of Microorganisms. Accessed November 10, 2013 from http://www.preservearticles.com/201102174056/write-an-essay-on-the-economic

importance-of-bacteria.html The Microbial World. 2006. Accessed November 10, 2013 from

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