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Understanding Good and Bad Microbes

This document discusses good and bad microbes: - Good microbes help break down dead organisms and pollutants, and are used in food production like yeast and bacteria cultures. They can also produce useful antibiotics. - Bad microbes can cause diseases in humans, plants and animals, and produce harmful chemicals. Overgrowth can disrupt ecosystems. - No microbe is purely good or bad, as circumstances determine their impacts. While some bacteria cause illnesses, the same kinds can also be beneficial as probiotics.

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Hot Chocolate & Smores
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187 views4 pages

Understanding Good and Bad Microbes

This document discusses good and bad microbes: - Good microbes help break down dead organisms and pollutants, and are used in food production like yeast and bacteria cultures. They can also produce useful antibiotics. - Bad microbes can cause diseases in humans, plants and animals, and produce harmful chemicals. Overgrowth can disrupt ecosystems. - No microbe is purely good or bad, as circumstances determine their impacts. While some bacteria cause illnesses, the same kinds can also be beneficial as probiotics.

Uploaded by

Hot Chocolate & Smores
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Good and Bad Microbes

Download this document and then put your editable draft on the Class Notebook. Take
your notes on this document.

Concept Focus:
 Good
 Bad
 
Turn-Talk-Note:
Developing a common understanding of Good and Bad. Record characteristics of each.
Good Bad
Microbes are responsible for breaking down   e: Some types of microbes can
dead plants and animals, which helps to recycle cause serious diseases in humans
nutrients and keep ecosystems healthy. and other animals, such as bacteria
that cause food poisoning and
viruses that cause the flu.
  Certain types of microbes can break down toxic   Some microbes can also cause
pollutants and chemicals, which can help to clean disease in plants, leading to crop loss
up contaminated soil and water. and reduced agricultural yields.
  Many microbes are used in the production of   Certain types of microbes can
food, such as yeast in bread and bacteria in produce harmful chemicals and
yoghurt and cheese. gases, contributing to air and water
pollution.
  Microbes have been used to produce antibiotics   Overgrowth of certain types of
and other medicines that can treat bacterial microbes can lead to ecosystem
infections and other diseases. disruption, including fish kills and
habitat loss.

More about microbes...


 Write down a list of good microbe.
 Write down a list of bad microbes.
 Identify their impact on the environment.

Good and Bad Microbes


 
Microbe Name/Type Good or Bad Impact on the Environment
Azotobacter Good These bacteria, living in the roots of the
plant help the plant absorb nitrogen from
it’s surroundings; which is important for any
plant.

Antibiotics Good These bacteria weaken the walls of the


bacteria so your immune cells can go in and
destroy the bacteria.

Eurkayotes Good This bacteria has helped organisms develop


to another level.

Helical Virions Bad Virus that is formed like a tube. The protein
coat winds up like a garden hose.

Sheathed Bad Group of microorganisms found largely in


nature in slow-running water.

Sulfur Bacterium Good Capable of metabolizing sulfur and it’s


compounds and is important in the sulfur
cycle in nature.
Thinking Prompts:
1. Are there any types of microbes that are only good or only bad? If yes, list them.

No microbe is ever both "only good" and "only bad". Microbes are diverse, and
depending on the circumstances in which they occur, they may have both good and bad
impacts on the environment and living things. As an example, some bacteria can be
dangerous to people and result in conditions like strep throat, cholera, and malaria.
These same bacteria can, however, also be beneficial, as in the case of probiotics.

2. If you have identified any “bad only” microbes, why do you think they exist?

Cite the Sources:

Andrew Rader Studios. “Biology4Kids.com: Microorganisms: Bacteria.” Biology4kids.com, 2018,

www.biology4kids.com/files/micro_bacteria.html.

Britanica. “Eubacterium | Bacteria.” Encyclopedia Britannica, Mar. 23AD,

www.britannica.com/science/eubacterium.
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