Write 10 lines on the usefulness of microorganisms in our lives.


  • Microorganisms play a very significant role in agriculture. They can break down organic matter and decompose it completely. It helps in mineralization in which nutrients are returned into the soil in their mineral forms.
  • The components left after complete decomposition are known as humus which remain unchanged in the soil for potentially millennia. This humus helps to retain soil moisture.
  • The microorganisms secrete polysaccharides, gums, and glycoproteins which binds the soil molecules together and improve soil structure. Soil microbes can fix atmospheric nitrogen.
  • For example, the association of Rhizobium bacteria with the root nodules of legumes.
  • Lactobacillus microbe is used in the curd formation.
  • Saccharomyces exiguus (also known as S. minor) is a wild yeast found on plants, grains, and fruits. It is occasionally used for baking; however, in general, it is not used in a pure form but comes from being propagated in a sourdough starter.
  • Dried yeast consists of the cells of a suitable strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae dried so as to preserve the vitamins present.
  • Yeast species, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is used to leaven bread, brew beer, make wine, and other alcoholic drinks. It comes from different sources, such as grapes for wine, barley for beer, and ferment the sugars, to alcohol and carbon dioxide.
  • Microbes in the human digestive system help in the breakdown of food and also produce vitamins. The four dominant bacterial phyla in the human gut are Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, and Proteobacteria.
  • Cyanobacteria or blue-green algae are the microbes that prepare their own food through the process of photosynthesis. These organisms possess chloroplast or photosynthetic pigment in them. They can be used for the extraction of pigment, extracts for antioxidants, etc.
  • Extracts from algae, fungi, bacteria, etc. can be used as anti-microbial agents to inhibit microbe growth.

Updated on: 06-Jan-2023

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