8.

8.5 The Impact of

THE IMPACT OF
Microorganisms
on
Life
MICROORGANISMS ON LIFE
Prepared
by:
Rachel Goh
Teo Sian Yi

Types of Microorganisms
Microorganis Characteristics
m
Bacteria

-Unicellular organisms
-Have cell walls made of a polymer called
peptidoglycan.
-Reproduce by binary fission.
-Larger than viruses, visible under a light microscope.
-Eg: Lactobacillus sp. and Staphylococcus sp.

Algae

-Photosynthetic plant.
-Have chloroplasts and chlorophyll.
-Cell walls are made of cellulose.
-Eg: Spirogyra sp.

Spirogyra
sp.

Microorganism

Characteristics

Fungi

-Saprophytes, multicellular eukaryotes.

-Do not have chlorophyll, stems, leaves,
or root.
-Cell walls made of chitin.
-Eg: Mucor sp. and yeast.

Protozoa

Mucor
sp.

Yeast
-Unicellular organism, have nucleus, cytoplasm
and plasma membrane.
-Can carry out respiration, reproduction and
excretion.
-Use flagella, cilia or pseudopodia to move.
-Eg: Euglena sp., Paramecium sp. and Amoeba
sp.

Euglena
sp.
Amoeba
sp.

Paramecium
sp.

Microorganism

Characteristics

Viruses

-Smallest microorganisms.
-Can only be seen under electron microscope.
-Not a living cell because it cannot survive or
reproduce on its own outside the host.
-Must infect and use living cells to reproduce.
-Composed of DNA and RNA surrounded by a
protein coat.
-Can be crystallized.
-Eg: T4 bacteriophage and tobacco masaic.
Tobacco
mosaic
virus

Human
papilloma
virus

T4
bacteriophag
e

Abiotic Components Affecting

Microorganisms
Abiotic Components
Affecting M
Activity of microorganisms is affected
by abiotic components such as:
Activity of microorganisms is
Concentration of nutrients
affected by abiotic components
pH
such as:
-Temperature
Concentration of nutrients
-Light
pH intensity
-Temperature
- Light intensity

Abiotic component

Effect to microorganism

Nutrients or water

-All microorganisms need nutrients and water

except virus for reproduction and growth.
-Without it, microorganisms will die or form
spores.

pH

-Optimum pH for bacteria: slightly alkaline

(pH around 7.4).
-Optimum pH for mould, yeast and protozoa:
acidic condition (pH between 4.5 and 5.0).

Temperature

-Low temperature: microorganisms inactive.

-Optimum temperature: 35C to 40C.
-Beyond 60C: growth of microorganisms
inhibited.
-Temperature up to 121C: microorganisms
and spores destroyed (sterilization).

Light intensity

-Low light intensity (dark) : the prefer places

for microorganisms.
-High intensity of sunlight/ UV rays: can kill
microorganism.
-However, algae and photosynthetic bacteria
need light to photosynthesis.

The Role of Useful

Microorganisms in the
Ecosystem

Useful
microorganism

Role

Decomposers

-Decomposers (a group of saprophytic bacteria or

fungi) carry out decomposition of dead organic
remains.
-Decomposers break down dead remains of plants,
animals and waste products of animals.
-Release nutrients into the soil.

Protozoa in
alimentary canal
of termites

-Protozoa such as Trichonympha sp. produce

cellulase which digest cellulose (termites feed
mainly on wood which contains cellulose).

Symbiotic bacteria - Synthesize vit B12, vit K

found in human
colon
Denitrifying
bacteria

- Nitrogen fixing bacteria: convert atmospheric

nitrogen to a form that can be used by plants.
- Useful in Nitrogen cycle.

Nitrogen
Cycle
Nitrogen Cycle
-The
nitrogen
cycle
allows
nitrogen
to be utilized
The
nitrogen
cycle
allows
nitrogen
to by
organisms
to theand
physical
be
utilizedand
byreturned
organisms
returned
environment.
to
the physical environment.
-Plants
can
only
absorb
nitrogen
in the form
of
Plants
can
only
absorb
nitrogen
in the
ammonium,
nitrite or nitrate
ions.
form
of ammonium,
nitrite
or nitrate
ions.
Nitrogen fixing bacteria such as Nostoc sp. (lives in
and Rhizobium
sp. (lives in
the root
-soil)
Nitrogen
fixing bacteria
such
as nodules of
leguminous
plants)
can
atmospheric
Nostoc
sp.
(lives
in convert
soil) and
nitrogen into ammonium
(NH
and
Rhizobium
sp. (livescompounds
in the root
nodules
NHleguminous
) through a process
of
plants)called
can nitrogen
convertfixation.
atmospheric
Nitrates are taken
up by the
roots
of plants and
nitrogen
into
ammonium
converted into(NH
plant and
proteins.
compounds
NH) through a

 When the animals eat the plants, the organic nitrogen is

-transferred
When the
the plants,
the
intoanimals
the body eat
of animals
and becomes
organic
nitrogen is transferred into the body
animal protein.
animals
becomes
animal
of
Waste
matter,and
plants
and animals
whichprotein.
die and
-decompose
Waste matter,
plants
and
animals
which
are converted
into
ammonium
compounds.
and decompose
areconverted
converted
die
Ammonium
compounds are
into into
nitrites and
ammonium
compounds.
nitrates by nitrifying
bacteria through a process called
-nitrification.
Ammonium compounds are converted into
and nitrates
by nitrifying
nitrites
Ammonia converted
into nitrites
(NO ) by bacteria
Nitrosomonas
sp.
through
a process
called nitrification.
-Nitrites
Ammonia
converted
into(NO
nitrites
(NO) bysp.
converted
into nitrates
) by Nitrobacter
sp.
Nitrosomonas
The cycle is balanced
by a continuous return of nitrogen
the atmosphere
by denitrifying
bacteria
which by
break
-toNitrites
converted
into nitrates
(NO)
down nitrates and
release nitrogen back into the
Nitrobacter
sp.
-atmosphere.
The cycle is balanced by a continuous

return of nitrogen to the atmosphere by

NITROGEN CYCLE

Digestive System in
Digestive
System
in
Human
Humans
-Symbiotic bacteria in human colon
Symbiotic bacteria in human
synthesis vitamin B and vitamin K.
colon synthesis vitamin B and
Deficiency in vitamin B lead to
vitamin K.
anaemia, Vitamin K needed for
blood clotting.

- Deficiency in vitamin B lead

to anaemia, Vitamin K needed
for blood clotting.

Alimentary Canal of
Termites
Alimentary
Canal of Te
Termites feed on wood which
-Termitescellulose,
feed on wood
which
contains
they do
not have
contains
cellulose,
they dotonot
have
the
enzymes
(cellulase)
digest
the cellulose.
enzymes (cellulase) to digest
the cellulose. sp. is a mutualistic
Trichonympha
protozoans present in the alimentary
- Trichonympha
is secrete
a mutualistic
canal
of termitessp.
and
protozoans
present
in
the
cellulase.
alimentary canal of termites and
secrete cellulase.

The Effect
of Harmful
The Effect
of
Microorganisms
Harmful
Harmful
microorganisms: can cause
Microorganisms
- Harmful microorganisms: can cause
diseases and spoilage of food and
diseases and spoilage of food and
substances.
substances.
Pathogens: microorganisms that
-cause
Pathogens:
microorganisms that
diseases.

cause
Bodydiseases.
have skin that is protected by a
i) Body
layer
of have
cells. skin that is protected by
a layer
of
cells.
Can
only cause disease if it getting into
ii) Can
only(by
cause
disease
if it getting
body
cells
cut or
open wound).
into body cells (by cut or open
wound).

Transmission of Diseases
Transmission of Diseases

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Vectors
Water
Food
Airborne and droplet transmission
Direct contact

1.Vectors
2.Water
3.Food
4.Airborne and
droplet transmission

How The Diseases Spread

Direct Contact

- A contagious disease can be spread by

contact with an infected person or using their
personal items such as towels, clothing.
- Examples: ringworm caused by fungi, AIDS
and syphilis through sexual intercourse.

Food and
Water

- Microorganisms enter the alimentary canal

through: contaminated food and water,
unwashed hands and the faces of infected
people.
- Examples: Cholera, typhoid.

Vectors

- Malaria is caused by plasmodium sp.

transmitted by the mosquito anopheles sp. as a
vector.
- Houseflies can cause food poisoning and
spread cholera.

Airborne and
droplet

- Airborne transmission is a method where the

pathogens can change into spores and then

Controlling pathogens

The Uses of
Microorganisms
in
The
Uses of
Biotechnology
Microorganisms

Biotechnology
application of biological
in Biotechnology
in the manufacturing and
i) processes
Biotechnology
servicing industries

- Application of biological
processes in the manufacturing
and servicing industries

Production of
antibiotics,
vaccines and
hormones

-Antibiotics are obtained from microorganisms.

- Streptomycin is produced by Streptomyces sp.,
penicillin is produced by Penicillium chrysogenum,
both used to treat infections.
- Sabine vaccine used to treat poliomyelitis.
- Modified bacteria are used to produce the hormone
insulin on a large scale.

Cleaning of
oil spills

-Genetically engineered bacteria are used to clean the

oil spills.
- These bacteria convert the oil into less harmful
molecules which are environment friendly.

Waste
treatment

-Sewage from household and industries is piped into

large settling tanks in sewage treatment plants.
- Aerobic bacteria in the sewage decompose organic
matter.
- The sludge that settles at the bottom of the settling
tanks is pumped into the sedimentation tanks where
fermentation takes place.
- Here, anaerobic bacteria continue to decompose the
organic matter to methane and carbon dioxide.
- The methane gas collected is used as a fuel.
- The digested sludge is rich in nitrates and
phosphates, and is dried to be used as fertilizers by
farmers.

Food
processing

-Fermentation by the yeast in bread making produces

carbon dioxide which helps the dough to rise.
- Beer is brewed from barley grains.
- Wine is made by the fermentation of grape juices,
ethanol and carbon dioxide are released.
- Soy sauce is made from fermented soya beans by the
fungi.

Production of
biodegradabl
e plastic
(Bioplastic)

-Bioplastic such as Biopol can be broken down into

inorganic compounds by bacteria.
- Bioplastic is produced by culturing bacteria such as
Erwina sp. in nutrients (glucose).
- A specific nutrient (nitrogen) is then depleted from the
culture medium.
-The bacteria react by producing plastic as a storage
component in their cells.
- Bioplastic is used to make credit cards, bottles,
medical gums.

Production of
energy from
biomass

-Two sources of energy that are generated through the

activities of microorganisms are biogas and gasohol.
- Biogas is a gas produced by the anaerobic
fermentation of organic matter or waste in a bioreactor.
- Gasohol or biofuel is a combination of 10% ethanol

8.6
APPRECIATING
BIODIVERSITY

Conservation refers
to the efforts made
in maintaining the
quality of the
natural
environments and
their biological
resources. For
example, replanting
the trees.

Preservation refers to
the efforts in
protecting the earths
diverse ecosystems
and wildlife species
which are threatened
with extinction.

THE
IMPORTANCE
OF
PRESERVATION
AND
CONSERVATION
OF
BIODIVERSITY

Organisms and
ecosystems provide
many useful products
such as food,
medicines and sites
for recreational
activites and research.

Human activities such

as deforestation have
disturbed the ecological
equilibrium which leads
to the extinction of
many species of
organism.

THE END

BYE!
!