| When "bacteria (so and so) has | | | | in which scientists treat microorganisms; due to their |
| appeared somewhere" reads a newspaper, one | | | | ability to transfer and express the genes they carry |
| straight away thinks that a new disease has been | | | | into the genome of another organism. The process |
| found. Microorganisms have become synonymous | | | | has four main steps, starting with the isolation of the |
| with illnesses; but as knowledge increased about | | | | gene of interest, insertion of the gene in to a vector, |
| these little creatures, we begin to recognise the | | | | transformation of the cells and then testing. As one |
| other side of the coin and understand why they | | | | can see the role of the vectors are very important in |
| have been created. They are essential for some of | | | | this process, which the virus/bacteria are. These |
| the most vital processes that occur within organisms | | | | experiments have led to the production of many |
| and in nature. It is true that some do cause diseases | | | | different types of medicine and hormones like |
| and at times death but it is also a fact that when | | | | penicillin and insulin which saved millions of peoples' |
| paid special attention and all the necessary | | | | lives. The fruit and vegetables we eat are usually |
| procedures are followed to prevent infection, they | | | | genetically engineered for them to last longer in their |
| are harmless. | | | | best conditions, also their growth rates are fastened |
| Microorganisms are an important | | | | to provide more food to the increasing population of |
| part of nearly all ecosystems. Bacteria assist the | | | | human kind and these are all done with help of |
| decomposition of dead organic material and making | | | | microorganisms. |
| the nutrients once again available to larger organisms | | | | Fermentation is another process which |
| in the nutrient cycle, fix Nitrogen from the air to | | | | also involves bacteria. Products like yogurt, cheese, |
| form nitrates which are essential for plants to survive | | | | and bread are all the products of this process; of |
| and are also used to treat waste water (sewages); | | | | course, using different materials. They are the reason |
| so they are the real recyclers, unlike us. Many of | | | | we obtain these so easily, fast and cheap! |
| them are also directly beneficial to humans, for | | | | As one can see the public is being |
| instance we use certain ones to make fermented | | | | mislead or misinformed by the media about |
| products like cheese and yogurt. Bacteria and viruses | | | | microorganisms and the fact that only a small |
| are used by genetic engineers to transfer genes | | | | proportion of them being harmful has to change the |
| which help farmers to yield more, prevent herbicide | | | | way we see them. Even though they have caused |
| attacks and grow their crops faster. There are more | | | | the death of a lot of people in the past, they have |
| bacteria in a human's body than there are cells; and | | | | now started paying back. We must not also forget |
| every single one is very important; they do a wide | | | | that if an infection is caused it is usually because the |
| range of jobs from helping the breakdown of | | | | necessary precautions to prevent this were not |
| carbohydrates – some of which humans cannot | | | | followed. They are not doing what they are doing |
| digest, to inhibiting the growth of pathogenic bacteria | | | | because they want to harm us, but to survive and |
| thus helping our immune system. Some are even | | | | even this is not intentional; it is just the way they |
| associated with eating dead skin so that our body | | | | have been programmed. Without them life on Earth |
| looks young for longer. These are processes so | | | | would not exist; they are that vital! Thus it is easy to |
| important that there are library's full of books written | | | | say, microorganisms are not just disease causing |
| about them | | | | agents! |
| Especially after the discovery of | | | | References |
| Genetic engineering, bacteria have changed the way | | | | - Solomon et al, Biology 6th Ed. |