Benefits Of Microorganisms

The Cambridge dictionary defines microorganisms as living thing that on its own cannot be seen without a microscope. Also known as microbes, they are categorised into 6 main types this includes: Bacteria, Viruses, Algae, Archaea, Protozoa and Fungi. In this piece of writing I will explore the main benefits of microorganism to Man in the economy and society as well as its consequences. Microorganisms are very important in the environment and its ecosystems, however they are also very beneficial to Humans; they are commonly used in industry to manufacture goods and food products which are distributed all over the world, thus impacting the economy, furthermore they play a huge role in the Pharmaceutical industry through the production of antibiotics. Amongst other things microorganisms can be used in everyday life from sewage disposal to water purification to effectively treating viral human diseases.

Bacteria are

Alexander Fleming was the first to discover a bacteria-destroying mould called penicillin in 1928 (The discovery and development of Penicillin 1928-1945, American chemical society and the royal society of chemistry 1999). Penicillin works by killing bacteria cells, but leaving human cells untouched. This is because it is able to differentiate which cells are bacteria as many bacteria cells have cell walls whereas human cells do not. Bacteria cell walls are made up of peptidoglycan, this forms a strong and protective barrier around the bacteria to stop foreign objects and particles from entering, however during cell division penicillin is able to latch onto the peptidoglycan and disrupts the process which prevents the bacteria from completing cell division; this creates pressure between the inside of the bacteria and the surrounding liquid, which in effect causes the cell to