Surface-Attached Communities

Microbes are necessary for life to exist. "Without microbes, decomposition cannot take place" (Chivukula, 2015). Photosynthesis and decomposition are vital to the ecosystem to ensure that life can exist, and both use microbial activity to provide energy and nutrients. Photosynthesis must take place to convert light into chemical energy for organic material. Decomposition uses microbial activity to breakdown

Most micro-organisms need most of the things you and I need to flourish and grow - moisture, warmth and a source of nutrition - some (usually the most dangerous such as those responsible for some types of gangrene) can do without oxygen (anaerobic bacteria). They need a mode of spread (usually the unwashed or poorly washed hands of people or badly cleaned equipment/facilities or badly stored food) and a vulnerable person to invade.

Wischusen, William, Jolissaint, Ann, Reiland, Jane, and Pomarico, Steven. 2012. Biology 1208/1209: Biological Laboratories for Science Majors. Hayden McNeil, Plymouth,

Microorganisms are both beneficial and harmful. These microorganisms are important to humans because they play a role in the ecology of life, by decomposing wastes, both natural and man-made, such as creating nitrogen fertilizer at the root zones of certain crops. Other several pathogens that can cause serious harm, even immediate death due to the diseases or disease causing products they produce. Overall, microorganisms play an important role in life.

Microbes are bacteria, archaea and eukaryotes. The earth was formed 4.6 million years ago. And a few million years later, by 3.5 billion years ago, earth was already inhabited by a diversity of organisms. The earliest organism is Prokaryotes and within the next billion years, two distinct groups of prokaryotes called bacteria and archaea diverged. Eukaryotes cell evolved from a prokaryotes community, a host cell containing even smaller prokaryotes .The microbial world accounted for all known life forms for nearly 50 to 90% of Earth's history. We are still researching microbial organisms today in marine environment, extreme environments. A microbial observatory is an NSF-funded project dedicated to the discovery and characterization of novel microorganisms and microbial communities of diverse

The main requirements for the growth of micro-organisms are time and moisture, some need oxygen and warmth, (although micro-organisms can live without air and live in temperatures from 0 to 40 + degrees).

These are some of the proposed functions of our microbiome. First of all, scientists have known for years that gut bacteria break down certain components of good that would otherwise be indigestible and would pass out of the body unused. In addition, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron breaks down carbohydrate, also capable of breaking down the large, complex carbohydrates found in plant. It also has genes that code for more than 260 enzymes capable of digesting plant matter. Helicobacter Pylori is a disease-causing bacterium, however, H. pylori benefits the body by helping to regulate levels of stomach acids, thus creating an environment that suits itself and it host, and surprisingly, plays a role in regulating two hormones in appetite (ghrelin). This function greatly help most children in the U.S. to prevent overproduction of fat cells. Sadly, many children are exposed to antibiotic treatments, has caused alterations in the compositions of their intestinal microbiome. This caused the rising of childhood obesity, and overproduction of

living hosts. Bacteria is a Prokaryotic cells that are present in the soil, air, water and in many

In order for growth to occur microorganisms need to obtain energy. One of those ways is by either the use of oxygen or not using oxygen. Microorganisms that require oxygen are obligate aerobes. It is essential for

These organisms need energy from nutrients to do their job (Advanced Biotech, 1995-2015). There are two types of this, bio stimulation and bio augmentation (Advanced Biotech, 1995-2015). In stimulation, nutrients are added to the water, therefore depending on the microbes being in the water (Advanced Biotech, 1995-2015). Not all forms of microbes can break down every type of bacteria. In the process of augmentation, scientifically chosen micro-organisms are added to the water and monitored, therefore being more effective than stimulation because it is positive that the organism(s) being added are the right type and will do the job (Advanced Biotech, 1995-2015). Some benefits to this process are that it is very effective in killing the bacteria and it will work quickly once it is effective. Once the bacteria and micro-organism types are identified, this method is sure to work. Once the organisms are added, it won’t be long before they are done breaking down the bacteria. However, there are some downsides. This method could take lots of time to find the right organisms to kill off the bacteria. Not only will it take long, but it could be costly to purchase the right type of micro-organism to kill of that specific type of

Living organisms had to consume food to be energized for daily activities. Therefore, if the food chain was insecure, the entire society would collapse. If all microbes were not present, there would be an extreme decrease in food chain. For example, animals cannot digest food without symbionts, so they starve to die. Nitrogen fixation is one of major roles of microbes. If there were no microbes, nitrogen could be depleted. Therefore, plants could not perform photosynthesis and die. Animals and plants are two types of food

For millions of years’ bacteria have been surviving to their environments and been at war against other microorganism. This wars have lead them to creating an unstoppable arsenal of weapons they can use to survive. Unlike virus that need a host cell to survive, bacteria can survive anywhere since they can share their DNA with each other. This allows bacteria to survive in places like radioactive waste, zero oxygen environments, and even in absolute darkness. Unlike human beings who are born with a specific genetic code, bacteria have the capability of changing that code. Bacteria have three methods of evolving themselves in order to survive the harsh is of conditions. The three methods are called horizontal gene transfer. The first is Transformation, but some pathologists call it the “Funeral Grab”.

to keep the inner workings of the bacteria safe. Without a cell wall, the bacteria could

The good gut microbes are a powerful line of defense against pathogens and germs and also prevent the overgrowth of harmful microbes such as bacteria, yeasts and parasites, making healthy bacteria vital for a strong immune system.

Life on this planet began with microorganisms. Through millions of years microorganisms have found ways to successfully adapt and survive. These adaptations have created a wide biodiversity, allowing them to basically populate in all places. Why are these microbes so important? Because they shape the history of our world. Some microbes can be deathly to humans while some others are favorable, for example, bacteria that lives in the gut of both humans and animals and helps during the process of digestion (Alfred Brown & Heidi Smith, 2006). Understanding these interactions help scientists to find ways to protect humans from potential deathly pathogens. In order to observe microbes, microscope proficiency and microorganisms’ identification are crucial skills in a microbiology lab. During this laboratory session, samples of environmental and human organisms were inoculated into two different rich media and incubated to their according temperature. After this, appropriate use and calibration of the microscope was performed. Lastly, morphology and size of different species of bacteria, algae, fungi and protozoan were recorded.