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PPT: Microorganisms: Friend or Foe

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 Page 1


WHAT ARE
MICROORGANISMS?
Class-8
Page 2


WHAT ARE
MICROORGANISMS?
Class-8
What are Microorganisms?
Microorganisms are tiny organisms that are too small to be
seen with the naked eye. They include bacteria, fungi,
protozoa, some algae, and viruses.
Page 3


WHAT ARE
MICROORGANISMS?
Class-8
What are Microorganisms?
Microorganisms are tiny organisms that are too small to be
seen with the naked eye. They include bacteria, fungi,
protozoa, some algae, and viruses.
Microorganisms can survive in
various environments, from
extreme cold to hot springs.
They may live independently or in
colonies, and some can reside
inside other organisms.
Where do Microorganisms Live?
Page 4


WHAT ARE
MICROORGANISMS?
Class-8
What are Microorganisms?
Microorganisms are tiny organisms that are too small to be
seen with the naked eye. They include bacteria, fungi,
protozoa, some algae, and viruses.
Microorganisms can survive in
various environments, from
extreme cold to hot springs.
They may live independently or in
colonies, and some can reside
inside other organisms.
Where do Microorganisms Live?
Microorganisms play vital roles in our
lives.
They have beneficial uses in food
production (e.g., curd, bread), alcohol
fermentation, waste decomposition,
and medicine (e.g., antibiotics).
Microorganisms can enhance soil
fertility through nitrogen fixation by
certain bacteria.
Microorganisms and Us
Bacteria
Virus
Page 5


WHAT ARE
MICROORGANISMS?
Class-8
What are Microorganisms?
Microorganisms are tiny organisms that are too small to be
seen with the naked eye. They include bacteria, fungi,
protozoa, some algae, and viruses.
Microorganisms can survive in
various environments, from
extreme cold to hot springs.
They may live independently or in
colonies, and some can reside
inside other organisms.
Where do Microorganisms Live?
Microorganisms play vital roles in our
lives.
They have beneficial uses in food
production (e.g., curd, bread), alcohol
fermentation, waste decomposition,
and medicine (e.g., antibiotics).
Microorganisms can enhance soil
fertility through nitrogen fixation by
certain bacteria.
Microorganisms and Us
Bacteria
Virus
Beneficial microbes aid in digestion, boost
the immune system, and contribute to
nutrient absorption.
They are used in various food production
processes, fermentation, and medicine.
Microorganisms are used for large-scale
production of alcohol, wine, and acetic acid.
Yeast is commonly employed in alcohol and
wine production.
1.Friendly Microorganisms:
2.Commercial Uses of Microorganisms:
Microorganisms and Us
Production of alcohol
with the help of yeast
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FAQs on PPT: Microorganisms: Friend or Foe

1. What are beneficial microorganisms and how do they help us in everyday life?
Ans. Beneficial microorganisms are bacteria, fungi, and protozoa that provide advantages to humans, animals, and plants. Lactobacillus in yoghurt aids digestion, fungi produce antibiotics like penicillin, and nitrogen-fixing bacteria enrich soil for crop growth. Yeast ferments bread and beverages. These microbes are essential allies in food production, medicine, and agriculture, making them friends rather than foes in our ecosystem.
2. How do harmful microorganisms cause diseases and what infections do they create?
Ans. Pathogenic microorganisms release toxins and invade body tissues, causing infectious diseases. Bacteria cause tuberculosis and cholera; viruses trigger influenza and chickenpox; fungi create skin infections like ringworm; protozoa lead to malaria and dysentery. These disease-causing microbes spread through contaminated food, water, air, or direct contact. Understanding how pathogens function helps students recognise transmission routes and prevention strategies effectively.
3. Why do some microorganisms spoil food and how can we prevent food spoilage?
Ans. Food-spoiling microorganisms break down nutrients through decomposition, producing unpleasant odours and toxins, making food unsafe. Bacteria and moulds multiply rapidly in favourable conditions. Prevention involves refrigeration (slowing microbial growth), pasteurisation (heat treatment), salting, pickling, and airtight storage. Fermentation by beneficial microbes like lactobacilli actually preserves food while adding nutritional value simultaneously.
4. What is the difference between aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms in the human body?
Ans. Aerobic microorganisms require oxygen for survival and respiration, thriving in well-oxygenated environments. Anaerobic microbes function without oxygen, inhabiting deep tissues and intestines. Most disease-causing bacteria are facultative anaerobes, surviving both conditions. Understanding microbial oxygen requirements helps explain why certain infections develop in specific body locations and influences antibiotic effectiveness against different pathogens.
5. How do antibiotics work against harmful bacteria and why is antibiotic resistance becoming dangerous?
Ans. Antibiotics kill or inhibit harmful bacteria by disrupting cell walls, protein synthesis, or DNA replication. However, repeated antibiotic overuse allows resistant bacteria to survive and multiply, creating superbugs immune to common treatments. This antibiotic resistance makes infections harder to treat and spreads through populations. Responsible antibiotic use and completing full courses prevent resistance development, protecting public health.
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