Importance of Microorganisms - Online Tutor, Practice Problems & Exam Prep

Microorganisms are essential for human survival, forming the human microbiota that aids in health by competing with pathogens. They play critical roles in commercial applications, such as food production and antibiotics, and environmental processes like nitrogen fixation and bioremediation. Additionally, microorganisms serve as valuable research tools, providing insights into complex organisms. However, some can act as pathogens, causing diseases like tuberculosis and malaria. Understanding these dual roles is vital for improving health and harnessing their benefits in various fields.

Importance of Microorganisms

In this video, we're going to begin our lesson on the importance of microorganisms. Microorganisms are incredibly important to all living organisms, especially to humans. It turns out that we actually cannot survive without microorganisms. Recall that microorganisms live on our bodies and in our bodies, and we refer to those organisms as the human microbiota. They're important for many different reasons, as we'll talk about later in our course, but we cannot survive without microorganisms. However, microorganisms have also killed more people through disease than through war. It's kind of a love-hate relationship with microorganisms. We need them to survive, but some types of microorganisms can cause us disease and harm. Microorganisms have really important roles commercially, environmentally, as research tools, and they have important roles in health as well. As we move forward in our course, we're going to continue to talk about the important roles that microorganisms have, once again, commercially, environmentally, as research tools, and in health. I'll see you all in our next video.

Commercial Benefits of Microorganisms

In this video, we're going to talk about some of the commercial benefits of microorganisms. Microorganisms can actually be used strategically by humans to make lots of money. They can be used to make really valuable products that can be bought and sold to make a profit. For example, microorganisms are used in food production to make foods such as bread, beer, milk, yogurt, and cheeses, which I personally love. Microorganisms can also be used to make valuable products such as antibiotics to help people defend against bad bacteria that may cause harm. They can also be used to make dietary supplements to help boost people's nutrition, to make biofuels to help power our vehicles used for transportation, and to make insecticides, which we can use on plants to help protect our plants and crops from insects. Microorganisms can also be used to make molecules that we use to make plastics, and, of course, we use plastics for so many different things.

Below, we're showing you an image that displays some of the commercial uses of microorganisms. On the far left, we are showing how bakers' and brewers' yeast, which are specific types of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, can be used in the production of making wine, beer, and bread. They can also be used to produce cheeses such as blue cheese mold, Penicillin forte, which is used in cheesemaking to make different types of cheeses that you see here. Additionally, they can be used to make other valuable products such as penicillin antibiotics that humans can use to help defend against bad bacteria that might cause harm and disease. Penicillium rubens, a type of filamentous mold, is going to be used for making penicillin, a class of antibiotics. These antibiotics can be sold to help protect humans against bad bacteria.

Microorganisms can have a lot of commercial benefits, and there are many career opportunities in the microbiology field when it comes to using microorganisms for commercial purposes. This here concludes our introduction to how microorganisms can be commercially beneficial, and I'll see you in our next video.

Environmental Benefits of Microorganisms

In this video, we're going to talk about some of the environmental benefits of microorganisms. Microorganisms play critical roles in maintaining an environment that supports the life of other organisms. Multicellular organisms like animals and plants rely heavily on microorganisms to maintain their environments. For example, some microorganisms are capable of a process known as nitrogen fixation, which is the process that converts atmospheric nitrogen gas or N_2, an unusable form of nitrogen for most animals and plants, into other forms of nitrogen such as ammonia, or NH_3, that is a usable form for other organisms.

Notice in our image on the bottom left, we're showing you a plant here, and in the roots of this plant, zooming into this roots area, you'll see that there are nitrogen-fixing bacteria, which are capable of performing nitrogen fixation, taking atmospheric nitrogen gas or N_2, an unusable form of nitrogen for the plant, and converting this nitrogen gas into ammonia, a usable form of nitrogen that the plant can use for survival. Microorganisms are important in that way.

Now, other microorganisms are capable of degrading a polysaccharide known as cellulose in animal guts, which helps certain types of animals eat and digest many types of plants and grasses. Some microorganisms are also capable of degrading cellulose in the environment, to prevent fallen leaves and fallen trees from piling up. If we take a look at our image in the middle down below here, you can see how microorganisms can be important for digesting cellulose. Notice that this cow, which eats quite a lot of grass, needs to be thankful for its gut bacteria, its gut microorganisms, because without the gut microorganisms that degrade the cellulose in the grass, this cow would not be able to eat this grass. The cow is saying, "Thanks, gut bacteria. I couldn't eat this grass without you." And the gut bacteria are saying, "You're welcome."

Last but not least, some microorganisms can be used in a process known as bioremediation, which is a process that uses microorganisms to degrade various environmental pollutants and toxic chemicals. Down below on the right-hand side, we're showing you a little image of bioremediation. Notice the addition of microorganisms, nutrients, and some oxygen down into underground water that may be contaminated with pollutants, these microorganisms can degrade the pollutants and help to detoxify an area that may be contaminated. This groundwater can be treated with microorganisms. The microorganisms can then degrade the pollutants and help to remediate the area that has been polluted. Microorganisms can have a great, beneficial impact on the environment.

This concludes this brief introduction, and we'll be able to apply some of these concepts as we move forward in our course. So, I'll see you all in our next video.

Microorganisms as Research Tools

In this video, we're going to talk about the importance of microorganisms as research tools. Microorganisms are commonly used in research, a lot of this has to do with the fact that microorganisms have the same fundamental metabolic and genetic features as complex multicellular organisms. Studying microorganisms can reveal information about complex multicellular organisms. Also, all cells are made up of the same chemical elements. All cells build and perform similar cell structures and metabolic pathways. There's a famous quote that says, "What is true of elephants is also true of bacteria." Bacteria are way easier to study than elephants. That might not be entirely true; elephants are not identical to bacteria, but at the metabolic and molecular level, there are a lot of similarities between microorganisms and complex multicellular organisms. Microorganisms are inexpensive to grow and grow very quickly, which means it's cost-effective to use microorganisms for research. Microorganisms are also excellent research tools.

Microorganisms can also be used as what are known as model organisms, nonhuman species that are studied to provide insight into other organisms. By studying microorganisms and using them as research tools, we gain insights into other types of organisms. Notice the example below to better understand this idea. We're showing you a bunch of model microorganisms that are used by scientists to study and reveal information about other types of organisms as well. At the bottom of each of these boxes, we note what scientists are studying with these particular organisms.

On the far left, we're showing you a bacterium, Escherichia coli, and scientists use Escherichia coli as a model organism for molecular genetics. Next, we have an alga, specifically Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, and scientists use this organism to study photosynthesis and flagella motility. Then we have an example of a protozoan model organism, Stentor coerulescens. Scientists use this protozoan to study single cell regeneration. Lastly, on the far right, we have a specific fungus, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, and scientists use this organism to study cell cycle and cell division. Microorganisms play a really important role as research tools to help scientists gain information not only about the organism itself but also to gain insights into other organisms as well.

This here concludes our brief introduction to how microorganisms are important as research tools. I'll see you all in our next video.

Which of the following is a beneficial activity of microorganisms?

• A. Some microorganisms are used in the creation of food and drink.
• B. Some microorganisms remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
• C. Some microorganisms provide nitrogen for plant growth.
• D. Some microorganisms are used in sewage treatment processes.
• E. Some microorganisms are used to remove pollutants from the environment.
• F. All of the above.

Which of the following is an example of bioremediation?

• A. Using oil-degrading bacteria to clean up an oil spill.
• B. Microorganisms in soil providing usable Nitrogen to plants.
• C. Using bacteria in a laboratory to create human proteins and hormones, such as insulin.
• D. All of the above.

Microorganisms in Health & Disease

In this video, we're going to talk about the importance of microorganisms in health, but also in disease. And so it turns out that even our own human bodies actually carry an enormous population of microorganisms at all times that we refer to as the normal microbiota. And so this normal microbiota is also sometimes referred to as the normal flora. And once again, it's referring to an enormous population of microorganisms. More specifically, trillions of microbes that live on and in the bodies of multicellular organisms such as ourselves. Now as the name suggests, trillions of microbes normally exist on humans. And under normal conditions, these trillions of microbes do not cause us harm. They do not cause us disease under normal conditions. And in fact, the normal microbiota actually plays important roles in sustaining and maintaining human health, helping to keep us healthy and protecting us from disease-causing pathogens by competing with disease-causing microbes. Now later in our course, we'll talk a lot more about the normal microbiota, but for now, this here is our brief introduction. And it turns out that there was a project named the Human Microbiome Project, which was a set of coordinated studies that used advanced technology to help characterize the microbes that inhabit humans. And millions upon millions of dollars were invested in this human microbiome project, which goes to show how important the human, normal microbiota, is in helping to sustain our health.

Now, once again, because the normal microbiota or the normal flora are normally found on our bodies and they're important for helping to maintain human health, this shows how microorganisms are important in health. But it's important to also realize that microorganisms are not only important for health, they are also capable of causing disease depending on the type. So some can act as what are known as pathogens. And pathogens is really just the fancy scientific term to refer to disease-causing microbes, microbes that can cause humans harm and disease. And so if we take a look at our image down below, notice at the top here, it's focusing in on the human normal microbiota. And so notice that it's showing you all of these microbes that are on the surface of this person's skin. But notice that they're saying, don't worry. We are here to help. And so this image is supposed to emphasize that the normal microbiota plays important roles in helping to maintain human health and keep us healthy and protect us from other disease-causing pathogens. Now although some microbes are going to be important for maintaining health, other microbes are capable of acting as pathogens and causing human diseases. And so here we're showing you some different groups of pathogens and, different diseases that they are capable of causing. So over here on the far left, we're showing you some bacterial diseases that you may or may not be familiar with, such as strep throat, tuberculosis, gonorrhea, tetanus, pneumonia, and syphilis. And, these are all going to be diseases that are associated with a bacterial infection. And so here we're showing you an image of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which is the bacterium that causes tuberculosis disease. Then next what we have are some examples of fungal diseases that you may or may not be familiar with such as ringworm, athlete's foot, candidiasis, yeast infections, fungal nail infections, valley fever. And down below, we're showing you an image of Trichophyton rubrum, which is the specific fungus that causes ringworm and athlete's foot. Next, over here, what we have are some examples of protozoan diseases that you may or may not be familiar with such as malaria, giardiasis, traveler's diarrhea, sleeping sickness, taxoplasmosis. And so down below, we're showing you an image of giardia duodenalis, which is the protozoan that causes giardiasis. Next, what we have are some viral diseases that are caused by viruses such as, the common cold, the flu, COVID 19, which you all have heard of before in the news, Ebola, HIV and AIDS, measles and mumps. And so down below, we're showing you an image of the SARS CoV 2 virus, which is responsible for causing the COVID 19 disease. And so this here, reminds us that microorganisms are important in maintaining our health, specifically the ones that are part of the human microbiota, but they're also going to be important for causing human diseases as well. And so studying microorganisms are of great importance to humans because they can help improve our health and help protect us from specific diseases. Now this here concludes our brief introduction to how microorganisms are important in health and disease, but we'll continue to talk more about this as we move forward in our course. So I'll see you all in our next video.

Which of the following is true of the normal human microbiota?

• A. It consists of only dangerous pathogens that cause harm to humans.
• B. It consists of a small subset of viruses that do not cause harm to humans.
• C. It consists of trillions of microorganisms living on and in the human body that have a beneficial role in human health.
• D. It consists of only of microbes that normally flourish in the absence of oxygen.

Here’s what students ask on this topic:

What are the commercial benefits of microorganisms?

Microorganisms offer numerous commercial benefits. They are used in food production to create products like bread, beer, yogurt, and cheese. For instance, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a type of yeast, is essential in baking and brewing. Microorganisms also produce antibiotics, such as penicillin from Penicillium rubens, which are crucial for fighting bacterial infections. Additionally, they are used to manufacture dietary supplements, biofuels, insecticides, and even plastics. These applications not only improve human health and nutrition but also contribute to various industries, making microorganisms economically valuable. The versatility of microorganisms in commercial applications opens up numerous career opportunities in microbiology and biotechnology.

How do microorganisms contribute to environmental sustainability?

Microorganisms play a vital role in environmental sustainability. They are involved in nitrogen fixation, converting atmospheric nitrogen (N₂) into ammonia (NH₃), which plants can use. This process is crucial for plant growth and soil fertility. Microorganisms also degrade cellulose in animal guts, aiding in the digestion of plant material, and in the environment, preventing the accumulation of dead plant matter. Additionally, microorganisms are used in bioremediation to break down pollutants and toxic chemicals in contaminated environments, thus detoxifying and restoring ecosystems. These activities highlight the essential role of microorganisms in maintaining ecological balance and supporting life on Earth.

Why are microorganisms important in health and disease?

Microorganisms are crucial for both health and disease. The human microbiota, consisting of trillions of microbes, lives on and in our bodies, playing a key role in maintaining health by competing with pathogens and aiding in digestion and immune function. However, some microorganisms can act as pathogens, causing diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria, and COVID-19. Understanding the dual roles of microorganisms helps in developing treatments and preventive measures for infectious diseases while harnessing beneficial microbes to improve health. The Human Microbiome Project has further emphasized the importance of studying these microorganisms to enhance our understanding of their impact on human health.

How are microorganisms used as research tools?

Microorganisms are invaluable research tools due to their fundamental metabolic and genetic similarities to complex organisms. They are inexpensive and quick to grow, making them ideal for laboratory studies. Microorganisms serve as model organisms, providing insights into cellular processes, genetics, and disease mechanisms. For example, Escherichia coli is used to study molecular genetics, while Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is used for photosynthesis and flagella motility research. These studies help scientists understand broader biological principles and develop medical and biotechnological applications. The simplicity and versatility of microorganisms make them essential for advancing scientific knowledge and innovation.

What is the role of microorganisms in nitrogen fixation?

Microorganisms play a critical role in nitrogen fixation, a process that converts atmospheric nitrogen (N₂) into ammonia (NH₃), which plants can utilize. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria, such as those in the genus Rhizobium, form symbiotic relationships with the roots of leguminous plants. These bacteria live in root nodules and convert N₂ into NH₃ through enzymatic reactions. This ammonia is then assimilated into amino acids and other nitrogenous compounds essential for plant growth. Nitrogen fixation is vital for soil fertility and the global nitrogen cycle, supporting agricultural productivity and ecosystem health.