Hyderabad: These tiniest invisible living creatures called as “MICRO-ORGANISMS (OR) MICROBES”, cannot be seen with our naked eyes but are visible through a special instrument called a MICROSCOPE.
So, what are these? where do they live? what do they do? what is their role in our day to day life? Visalakshi Arigela is answering all these questions. She has done her graduation and post-graduation in Microbiology. These microorganisms come under 4 groups:
These are omnipresent meaning that they are present everywhere- in water, soil, in and on our body, plants, foods, and so on.
- When you see a freshwater pond or lake, have you ever thought what is the green-colored layer on the surface of the water, which we sometimes see? Is it a plant? “No”, Then what are these? These are the Algae growing in the water.
- For ages, we all are aware that when boiled milk added with some previous day curd, the milk will be converted into curd within few hours. What was happening with the milk as it is changing its consistency? The Lactobacillus bacteria are converting milk into curd.
- The black-colored mushy growth on the bread when exposed to air for a few days is the fungus growing on the bread.
- Malaria, which is one of the prevalent diseases all over the world, was caused by protozoa which was spread by the mosquito.
- The waste materials from our domestic use, the dead plants, and animals get decomposed by the activity of microbes which in turn increases the fertility of the soil.
- The gobar gas that is used by rural people as the source of fuel for domestic use is produced by the microbes.
Visalakshi further added that these are some of the areas where these microorganisms play their respective roles. Their presence and contribution are very valuable for us as their involvement can be seen in each and every field of science.
She continued to explain that microorganisms play a vital role in helping us in some way or the other. At the same time, some of them are even harmful as they cause some kinds of serious diseases to animals, plants, and humans. Even most of the pandemics and epidemics are caused by microbes. And at the same time, vaccines and antibiotics are also produced from these microbes.
If our eyes ever had the capacity of magnification, then we would see these numerous creatures roaming around us, making each and every object, their dwelling place. Just imagine how would you feel living with these millions of minute things around us. Would u feel excited to live with them or would u feel it as a nightmare?
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