Microbes in Human Welfare Class 12 Notes |biology|
Introduction:
1. **Microbes:**
- Microorganisms are microscopic living organisms that include bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protozoa.
- They play a crucial role in various aspects of human welfare.
Agricultural Practices:
1. **Nitrogen Fixation:**
- Certain bacteria like Rhizobium and Azotobacter help in converting atmospheric nitrogen into a form that plants can utilize.
2. **Phosphorus Solubilization:**
- Some microbes, like mycorrhizal fungi and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria, enhance the availability of phosphorus to plants.
3. **Biofertilizers:**
- Microorganisms such as Rhizobium, Azotobacter, and blue-green algae are used as biofertilizers to improve soil fertility.
Industrial Applications:
1. **Fermentation:**
- Yeasts and bacteria are employed in the fermentation process for the production of various products such as ethanol, vinegar, and dairy products.
2. **Enzyme Production:**
- Microbes are used to produce enzymes like amylase, protease, and lipase for industrial processes.
Sewage Treatment:
1. **Biological Treatment:**
- Activated sludge process and trickling filters involve the use of microbes to decompose organic matter in sewage.
Antibiotics Production:
1. **Antibiotics:**
- Penicillin, streptomycin, and tetracycline are examples of antibiotics produced by microbes, particularly fungi and bacteria.
Household Products:
1. **Fermented Foods:**
- Microbes contribute to the production of various fermented foods like yogurt, cheese, and pickles.
2. **Biogas Production:**
- Methanogenic bacteria are used in the production of biogas from organic waste.
Waste Management:
1. **Bioremediation:**
- Certain bacteria can be used to clean up oil spills and degrade pollutants, contributing to environmental cleanup.
1. **Role in Human Welfare:**
- Microbes have a significant impact on agriculture, industry, medicine, and environmental management.
- Harnessing their abilities can lead to sustainable and beneficial applications.
Microbes in Household Products:
1. **Fermented Foods:**
- Microbes, particularly bacteria and yeast, are essential in the fermentation process for producing various household foods like yogurt, cheese, sauerkraut, and kimchi.
2. **Bread Making:**
- Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) is used in the fermentation of dough to produce carbon dioxide, which causes the bread to rise.
3. **Pickles and Fermented Vegetables:**
- Lactic acid bacteria are employed in the fermentation of pickles and vegetables, preserving them and enhancing their flavor.
Microbes in Industrial Production:
1. **Fermentation in Industry:**
- Microbes, such as bacteria and yeast, are extensively used in industrial fermentation processes to produce various products.
- Ethanol production through the fermentation of sugars is a common industrial application.
2. **Pharmaceuticals:**
- Production of antibiotics like penicillin involves cultivating specific microbes, mainly fungi (Penicillium) or bacteria, and extracting the antibiotic compounds.
3. **Bioremediation:**
- Certain microbes are used in industrial settings for bioremediation, helping to clean up pollutants and waste materials.
Chemicals Produced by Microbes:
1. **Organic Acids:**
- Microbes are used to produce organic acids like citric acid (Aspergillus niger) and lactic acid (Lactobacillus species) for the food and pharmaceutical industries.
2. **Biofuels:**
- Microorganisms are utilized in the production of biofuels such as bioethanol and biodiesel as alternatives to traditional fossil fuels.
3. **Solvents and Intermediates:**
- Microbes can be engineered to produce various chemicals, solvents, and intermediates in industrial processes.
Enzymes Produced by Microbes:
1. **Amylase:**
- Bacteria and fungi produce amylase, an enzyme used in the food industry for starch hydrolysis.
2. **Protease:**
- Bacterial and fungal proteases are employed in detergent formulations for stain removal.
3. **Lipase:**
- Lipase, produced by microbes, is used in the food industry for the hydrolysis of fats and oils.
4. **Cellulase:**
- Microbial cellulases are utilized in the textile industry for the treatment of fabrics and in the production of biofuels from cellulose-rich biomass.
Bioactive Molecules:
1. **Antibiotics:**
- Microbes, particularly bacteria and fungi, produce antibiotics such as penicillin, streptomycin, and tetracycline. These substances have potent antimicrobial properties and are used in medicine to combat bacterial infections.
2. **Immunosuppressants and Vaccines:**
- Microbes are utilized in the production of immunosuppressants for organ transplantation and vaccines for disease prevention.
3. **Enzymes:**
- Microbes produce a variety of enzymes with industrial applications, including amylase, protease, and lipase, used in various processes such as food production and detergents.
Microbes in Sewage Treatment:
1. **Activated Sludge Process:**
- Microorganisms, especially bacteria, play a crucial role in breaking down organic matter in sewage through the activated sludge process.
2. **Trickling Filters:**
- Microbes are used in trickling filters, where sewage is allowed to trickle over a bed of rocks or plastic media, promoting the growth of microorganisms that help in sewage treatment.
Microbes in the Production of Biogas:
1. **Methanogenic Bacteria:**
- Anaerobic digestion involves the activity of methanogenic bacteria, which break down organic matter to produce biogas, primarily methane.
2. **Biogas Production:**
- Microbes such as methanogens are crucial in the fermentation of organic waste in biogas digesters, leading to the generation of biogas used as a renewable energy source.
Microbes as Biocontrol Agents:
1. **Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt):**
- Bt is a bacterium used as a biocontrol agent in agriculture. It produces proteins toxic to certain insect pests, providing an environmentally friendly alternative to chemical pesticides.
2. **Trichoderma spp.:**
- Fungi like Trichoderma are employed as biofungicides to control plant diseases by antagonizing pathogenic fungi.
Microbes as Biofertilizers:
1. **Rhizobium:**
- Nitrogen-fixing bacteria like Rhizobium form symbiotic relationships with leguminous plants, contributing to soil fertility.
2. **Azotobacter:**
- Free-living nitrogen-fixing bacteria such as Azotobacter enhance nitrogen availability in the soil.
3. **Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria):**
- Cyanobacteria, like Anabaena, are used as biofertilizers, fixing atmospheric nitrogen and making it available to plants.
4. **Mycorrhizal Fungi:**
- Mycorrhizal fungi form symbiotic associations with plant roots, enhancing nutrient absorption, particularly phosphorus.
Understanding the roles of microbes in these applications is crucial for sustainable and environmentally friendly practices in various fields. Refer to your class notes and textbooks for more detailed information and specific examples related to your curriculum.
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