♥ Maricar’s Utopia ♥

Microbes in Our Lives

Learning Objective: • List several ways in which microbes affect our normal lives.

For many people, the words germ and microbe bring to mind a group of tiny creatures that do not quite fit into any of the categories in that old question, “Is it animal, vegetable, or mineral?” Microbes, also called microorganisms, are minute living things that individually are usually too small to be seen with the unaided eye. The group includes [1] bacteria, [2] fungi (yeast and molds), [3] protozoa, and [4] microscopic algae. It also includes [5] viruses, those non-cellular entities sometimes regarded as being at the border between life and non-life We tend to associate these small organisms only with major diseases such as AIDS, uncomfortable infections, or such infections, or such common inconveniences as spoiled food. However, the majority of microorganisms make crucial contributions to the welfare of the world’s inhabitants by helping our environment. Marine and fresh water microorganisms form the basis of food chain in oceans, lakes, and rivers. Soil microbes help break down wastes and incorporate nitrogen gas from the air into organic compounds, thereby recycling chemical elements in the soil, water, and air. Certain microbes play important roles in photosynthesis, a food- and oxygen-generating process that is critical to life on earth. Humans and many other animals depend on the microbes in their intestines for digestion and the synthesis of some vitamins that their bodies require, including some B vitamins for metabolism and vitamin K for blood clotting. Microorganisms also have many commercial applications. They are used in the synthesis of such chemical products as acetone, organic acids, enzymes, alcohols, and many drugs. The process by which microbes produce acetone and butanol was discovered in 1914 by Chaim Weizmann, a Russian-born chemist working in England. When World War I broke out in August of that year, the production of acetone was very important for making cordite (gunpowder) for use in the manufacture of munitions. Weizmann’s discovery played a significant role in determining the outcome of the war. The food industry also uses microbes in producing vinegar, sauerkraut, pickles, alcoholic beverages, green olives, soy sauce, buttermilk, cheese, yogurt, and bread. In addition, enzymes from microbes can now be manipulated such that the microbes produce substances they normally do not synthesize. These substances include cellulose, digestive aids, and drain cleaner, plus important therapeutic substances such as insulin. Though only a minority of microorganisms are pathogenic (disease-producing), practical knowledge of microbes is necessary for medicine and the related health sciences. For example, hospital workers must be able to protect patients from common microbes that are normally harmless but pose a threat to the sick and injured. Today we understand that microorganisms are found almost everywhere. Yet not long ago, before the invention of the microscope, microbes were unknown to scientists. Thousands of people died in devastating epidemics, the causes of which were not understood. Food spoilage often could not be controlled, and entire families died because vaccinations and antibiotics were not available to fight infections. We can get an idea of how our current concepts of microbiology developed by looking at a few of the historic milestones in microbiology that have changed our lives. Before doing this, however, we will first take a look at the major groups of microbes and how they are named and classified.

[Tortora G., et al. Microbiology 8th Edition.]

Ciao~

This day actually started with me waking up around 12 noon

since I went to bed late; around 5am I think

My staying up late last night was because of my "someone",

he called me around 11:30 pm and we talked until 5am.

Moving on, after I waked up, I ate muh brunch (breakfast and

lunch as one ) and took a shower then took off to go to

my previous school (SPC) to process some school stuff.

I’m gonna jump pass the school part because if I attempt to

include what happened back there, it will surely take a lot of

time and my blood pressure might shoot off charts

Moving forward to my logging in the net around 4pm, I opened

multiple tabs (my blog, friendster, multiply, y-mail, youtube, etc.,)

I actually planned to spend time finishing my blog’s overall look, and

then I happen to bump to this "plurk" site and the next thing I knew

I already signed up to have an account (Oh gee, I unconsciously like

killing myself with work ).

And so, as seconds turned to minutes and to hours, I finally finished

putting up a shoutbox and a jukebox application in my blog.

Seriously I’m very happy, fulfilled actually…

Even though I am so exhausted, I still don’t regret spending

6 hours tweaking freaking codes and the likes…

As I type at this very moment I am currently feeling the

wild protest of my stomach

I might as well end this post now before I syncope due to

hunger Til’ next time folks~

A song that was again suggested by my ever greatest "someone"

Oh well, just might listen to it — I said to myself as he talked me

all about this song and so as I listen to it, I kind’a got the hang of

it and searched it’s english translation.

As I found the translation, I was about to cut my "someone’s" head off,

because he never ceases to introduce sad good-bye songs… errrr…

Now tell me if I’m thinking too much if I sometimes worry about uhhhh

some things about "us"

Oh oh oh -____- I’m starting to sound like "you know who" (calls Tipin for help !!)

Kidding aside… even though nothing in my statement above was a joke.. errr…

So, here’s the english lyrics of the song and, I also put in a link which will direct

you (whoever) who wish to listen to it.

Enjoy~