CSEC Science - Benefits of Microbes

BENEFITS OF
MICROBES
CSEC (Form 4-5 | Grade 9-10) Integrated Science
Section A - The Organism & its Environment
KEISHA S LEWIS (C)2020 | biospecialist2019@gmail.com

OBJECTIVES
SYLLABUS OBJECTIVE
Candidate should be able to:
Discuss the importance of selected microbes;
LESSON OBJECTIVE
By the end of this lesson, the student should be able to:
describe several ways in which microbes benefit human beings
and the greater environment.

INTRODUCTION Watch the video that follows and answer these
questions:
1. Which pathway is oxygen-independent:
aerobic or anaerobic?
2. What is another word for the anaerobic
pathway?
3. Why is bread not alcoholic?
4. Which gas makes bubbles in bread and
champagne?
5. Which pathway is used to make wine:
aerobic or anaerobic?
6. What sugar is used by bacteria in milk?
7. Name three (3) foods that are produced with
the help of microbes.
KEISHASLEWIS(C)2020|biospecialist2019@gmail.com

Microbes can be very useful
to humans.
In this lesson we will look at
some benefits, in addition to
making food.

ENVIRONMENTAL
BENEFITS I
Bacteria & fungi are decomposers. They
maintain a healthy environment by breaking
down dead & waste matter such as faeces.
The breakdown releases nutrients back into the
environment, for use by other living things. In
this way, they recycle these wastes & dead
matter into the environment.

ENVIRONMENTAL
BENEFITS II
Some species of bacteria are the ONLY living
things that can ‘fix’ nitrogen in plants.
(‘Fixing’ nitrogen is converting nitrogen gas
from the air to nitrates, which can then be
used by plants and animals).

FOOD PRODUCTION
➢ Some species of bacteria & fungi
can be used to increase the fertility
of the soil and increase crop yields.
➢ They are necessary for the making
of beer & cheese
➢ Probiotic foods such as yoghurt
deliver helpful microbes to our
digestive systems.

HEALTH
BENEFITS
➢ Gut flora are microbes that live in our
intestines & help us digest food.
➢ They also regulate the production of vitamins
& other nutrients essential to keeping our
bodies strong & healthy.
➢ Some bacteria in our bodies produce natural
antibiotics that repel harmful microorganisms.
➢ Many people also have helpful viruses that
slow the spread of harmful viruses.

MEDICAL
BENEFITS
➢ Bacteria & viruses are the key components of
the vaccines that prevent the spread of once-
deadly diseases such as smallpox.
➢ Microbes are used to manufacture helpful
substances such as human insulin (humulin)
and human growth hormone.
➢ Reprogrammed viruses are now being used to
deliver drugs into the body’s cells.KEISHASLEWIS(C)2020|biospecialist2019@gmail.com

SUMMARY ● Microorganisms are not just pathogens that cause
disease. Many types of viruses, bacteria and fungi are
useful to humans and their surroundings.
● Benefits can be classified as Environmental, Health,
Medical etc…
● A major environmental benefit of bacteria and fungi is
their role as decomposers in the environment. They
break down dead and waste matter and recycle
nutrients.
● A major health benefit is the gut flora, which are
bacteria in the intestines that aid digestion.
● A major medical benefit is the role of some bacteria in
the production of important biochemicals, such as
human insulin for diabetics.

Now Let’s See if You
Understand...
Click on the link below. It will take you to an online pdf of a worksheet.
Print the document and fill it out by hand. Bring it to class with you to share with
teacher and classmates.
PDF WORKSHEET - MICROBES

FURTHER
READING
Do you want to learn more about how microbes
help us?
Then here are some articles you can read, plus a
video.
➢ 6 Great Things Microbes Do For Us | TED-Ed
➢ Microbes - Learn Genetics Utah
➢ Meet Your Microbes - TED TalkKEISHASLEWIS(C)2020|biospecialist2019@gmail.com

REFERENCES
Blake Fluornoy, 11th April 2018, Five Beneficial Effects of Microorganisms, viewed
on 18th July 2019, <https://sciencing.com/five-beneficial-effects-
microorganisms-10010404.html>
LJNovaScotia from Pixabay, (Intestines Gut Flora), viewed on 22nd July 2019,
<https://pixabay.com/vectors/intestines-gut-flora-gut-bacteria-1468807/>
pelambung from Pixabay, 13th May 2013, (Yoghurt Fruit Fresh), viewed on 22nd
July 2019, <https://pixabay.com/photos/yogurt-food-fresh-dessert-diet-
763372/>

REFERENCES cont’d/...
Scot Nelson, 9th June 2011, Slime mold, viewed on 22nd July 2019,
<https://www.flickr.com/photos/scotnelson/5816371092>
TED-Ed, 19th Jan 2016, The beneficial bacteria that make delicious food - Erez
Garty, viewed on 18th July 2019, <https://youtu.be/eksagPy5tmQ>
Wesalius via Wikimedia Commons, 15th May 2018, File: Human insulin 100IU-ml
vial yellow background. Jpg, viewed on 22nd July 2019,
<https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Human_insulin_100IU-
ml_vial_yellow_background.jpg>

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