FORM 5 SCIENCE

CHAPTER 1 : MICROORGANISMS AND THEIR EFFECTS ON LIVING THINGS

1.1 1.2 Factors that affect the growth of microorganisms 1.3 Useful microorganisms 1.4 The harmful effects of microorganisms 1.6 How diseases caused by pathogens are treated 1.7 The profound effects of microorganisms on human beings and the balance of nature

CHAPTER 1 : MICROORGANISMS AND THEIR EFFECTS ON LIVING THINGS of microorganisms Classification

1.1 CLASSIFICATION OF MICROORGANISMS

Microorganisms or microbes are very tiny organism that cannot be seen with naked eye but can be seen under the microscope. Type of microorganisms
Bacteria Fungi Viruses Algae Protozoa

Pathogens cause diseases to humans, animals and plants.

BACTERIA
Bacteria are tiny unicellular microorganisms They live in damp place There are generally four shapes of bacteria which are Cocci, Bacilli, Vibrio and Spirilla

BACTERIA

Bacteria obtain food through three ways

Saprophytic bacteria
obtain food from dead animals and plants

Parasitic bacteria
obtain food from living organisms

Autotrophic bacteria
photosynthesis / make their own food (have chlorophyll)

Bacteria reproduce by forming spore or binary fission

FUNGI
Organisms without chlorophyll. They cannot produce their own food Bigger size than bacteria Can be seen with naked eyes Example : mushrooms, mould and yeast

FUNGI YEAST

Reproduce by budding Saprophyte Has a cell wall made of cellulose and has a nucleus

FUNGI BREAD MOULD

The organism reproduces by spore when the sporangia burst It is saprophyte Use to made antibiotics

ALGAE
A very simple plants with chlorophyll. Can make their own food by photosynthesis Does not have root, stems or leaves Bigger than bacteria and can be seen with naked eyes Live in fresh water, salt water, damp soil or on damp bark of trees

ALGAE (EXAMPLE)

ALGAE REPRODUCTION
Reproduce by binary fission, fragmentation, spore and conjugation (sexually).

VIRUSES
The tiniest and simplest organism Does not respire, excrete waste product, does not have nucleus, cell membrane and cytoplasm Have only protein capsule that covers a simple genetic substances Virus are parasites and can only active in living medium. Reproduce by injecting DNA into the host cells

VIRUS (EXAMPLES)

PROTOZOA
Unicellular animals Example

PROTOZOA

Protozoa obtain food through three ways

Heterotrophic bacteria
Digest organic food

Parasitic
obtain food from living organisms

Autotrophic (Euglena)
photosynthesis / make their own food (have chlorophyll)

Reproduce through conjugation and binary fission

1.2 Factors that affect the growth of microorganism

Factors
Light Temperature Humidity Nutrients pH value

Light
Under bright condition, microorganisms such as bacteria and spores will be destroyed when exposed to sunlight or UV light Under dark condition, bacteria reproduce and grow rapidly

Factors that affect the growth of microorganism

0C 37C 50C or higher

Temperature
Temperature Condition of microorganisms Inactive Very active Killed or destroyed (microorganisms with spores can be destroyed at 120C or higher)

Graph of bacteria growth rate against temperature

Bacteria Growth Rate
70 60 Bacteria population

50
40

30
20 10 0 0 20 40 Temperature 60 80

Factors that affect the growth of microorganism

Humidity
Humidity (% of water) Condition of microorganisms
Die or produce spores Inactive Most active and will reproduce

Less than 3% Less than 20% 25% and above

Nutrients (increase the growth rate of microorganisms)

Saprophytic microorganisms
obtain food from dead animals and plants

Parasitic microorganisms
obtain food from living organisms

Autotrophic microorganisms
photosynthesis / make their own food (have chlorophyll)

Factors that affect the growth of microorganism

pH value
pH value Condition of microorganisms Killed Most active and will reproduce Killed

Alkaline medium (More than 7) Neutral (7) Acidic medium (Less than 7)

Some microorganisms can live actively in alkaline or acidic medium

1.3 Useful microorganisms

Digestion of food
Symbiotic bacteria can be found in stomach of herbivores (rabbit, goat and cow) producing enzyme cellulase which converts cellulose to glucose.
Cellulose
cellulase (enzyme)

Glucose

Useful microorganisms

Decomposition
Saprophytic bacteria and fungi decompose dead animals, plants and other organic matter. Prevent them from accumulating and polluting the environment Turn the organic matter into humus which rich in minerals

Useful microorganisms

Medicine
Antibiotics
To kill bacteria

Vaccines
Prepare from dead or very weak bacteria and viruses To stimulate the body to produce antibodies Example : BCG injection to prevent Tuberculosis

Useful microorganisms

Agriculture
Maturing of tobacco leave
Bacteria used to make tobacco leaves mature

Nitrogen cycle
Nitrogen gas Denitrifying bacteria Nitrates Nitrifying bacteria Nitrogen fixing bacteria Plants and animals Bacteria of decay

Ammonium compounds

Useful microorganisms

In Industry
Making breads and cakes (Yeast)
Yeast will reacts with sugar to produce alcohol, carbon dioxide and energy. (Fermentation)

Yeast + sugar

enzyme zymase

carbon dioxide + ethanol + energy

A dough will expand is due to the carbon dioxide release by yeast

Useful microorganisms
Making ethanol Production of vinegar and yogurt
Vinegar is prepared by using bacteria to change ethanol into ethanoic acid
ethanol + oxygen

bacteria

ethanoic acid (vinegar) + water

lactose (milk)

Yogurt is prepared by the action of bacteria on milk

bacteria lactic acid (yogurt)