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Microbiology and Biotechnology Overview

This document provides an overview of the topics of microbiology and biotechnology. It discusses the three main types of microorganisms - viruses, bacteria, and fungi. Viruses are the smallest and can only reproduce inside host cells. Bacteria can reproduce rapidly under the right conditions and both help and harm humans. Fungi can be single-celled or multicellular and include mushrooms and molds. The document also describes how biotechnology utilizes microorganisms to produce useful products like foods, drugs, and enzymes.

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24 views19 pages

Microbiology and Biotechnology Overview

This document provides an overview of the topics of microbiology and biotechnology. It discusses the three main types of microorganisms - viruses, bacteria, and fungi. Viruses are the smallest and can only reproduce inside host cells. Bacteria can reproduce rapidly under the right conditions and both help and harm humans. Fungi can be single-celled or multicellular and include mushrooms and molds. The document also describes how biotechnology utilizes microorganisms to produce useful products like foods, drugs, and enzymes.

Uploaded by

api-406307933
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Third Year Science

Microbiology & Biotechnology


In this topic:

• What is microbiology
• Viruses

• Bacteria

• Fungi
• Biotechnology
What is Microbiology?
Microbiology: the study of small living
things
• Trillions of microorganisms are living in you!
• They are everywhere around us
• Some are good and some are bad
Split into 3 groups
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
OB65: Investigating the presence of
microorganisms in air and soil
• Get into lab group
• 1 petri dish per group
• Label the BOTTOM of
the dish
• Choose what to
expose it to
• Seal with parafilm
• Put into incubator
Viruses
• Smallest microorganisms
• Can’t be seen without powerful microscopes
• About 1 million viruses could fit on the edge
of a thumbnail!!
Viruses
• Viruses can’t reproduce by themselves
– Need a ‘host’
– Some argue that they aren’t living things
• Invade other cells to reproduce
Virus diseases
• Measles
• Mumps
• Chicken pox
• Polio
• Colds
• Flu (Influenza)
• Cold sores
• HIV
How can we beat viruses?
• Antibiotics do NOT work on viruses
• Most are fought off by our WHITE BLOOD
CELLS
• White blood cells make ANTIBODIES that kill
the viruses
Bacteria
• Bacteria are bigger than viruses
• To grow, bacteria need:
– Food
– Water
– Suitable temperature
– Suitable pH
Bacteria
• In the right conditions they can reproduce
REALLY fast!
• Can double their numbers every 20 mins
• Reproduce asexually
Bacteria as decomposers
Decomposers: Organisms that feed on dead
plants and animals
• Most bacteria live on dead material
• They cause it to rot and decay
• This is very important for recycling energy and
nutrients
Effects of Bacteria
Usefulbacteria Harmfulbacteria
Recycleenergy& Causediseases
nutrientsbydecaying
deadplants&animals
Makefoodslike Causefoodstogobad
cheese,butter,yoghurt
Usedinbiotechnology Destroycropsinthe
fields
Bacterial diseases
• Tetanus
• Tuberculosis (TB)
• Pneumonia
• Sore throats
• Tooth and gum decay
• Food poisoning
• Cholera
• Anthrax
Fungi
• Simple plants that don’t contain
chlorophyll
• No chlorophyll means:
– No green colour
– Can’t make food by
photosynthesis
• Can live as parasites on plants
and animals
• Many are also decomposers
Fungi
• Some are single celled (e.g.
yeast)
• Many form long threads
• Threaded fungi: normally
underground and show up
as mushrooms on the
surface
Effects of Fungi
UsefulFungi HarmfulFungi
Causedeadplantsand Causehumandiseases
animalstodecay ([Link]’sfoot)
Somecanbeeaten Somearepoisonous
([Link])
Usedtomakealcohol Causefoottorot(e.g.
andbread([Link]) breadmould)
Biotechnology
Biotechnology: The use of living things to
produce useful products
• Bacteria and fungi (like yeast) can
be used to make:
– Foods
– Drugs
– Alcohols
– Hormones
– Enzymes
Industrial uses of biotechnology
Microorganism Industry Product(s)
Yeast Brewery Beer

Bacteriausedto Detergent Biological


makeenzymes factories detergents
Medicinal uses of biotechnology
Microorganism Product(s)
Bacteria&Fungi Antibiotics

•Hormones([Link])
Alteredbacteria
•Antibodies
&yeast
•Chemicalstoclotblood

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