IMPORTANCE OF BACTERIA IN OUR DAY TO DAY LIFE

Importance of Bacteria in our daily life - Bacteria are cellular organisms. They are present almost everywhere. Some bacteria are found in the root nodules of the legumes. They are so minute that they cannot be seen with the naked eye and an electronic microscope is used to view them. They are of various shapes, oval, circular, spiral or coma shaped. The bacteria have both beneficial and harmful effects of us. Some Saprophytic Bacteria decompose the dead organisms and convert the complex organic compounds into simpler inorganic compounds. These simpler compounds are then returned back to the eco system and we get to use them directly or indirectly. The compost that we get by the decomposition of the cow dung, leaves and waste, is also an outcome of the activities of these Bacteria. The Bacteria found in the soil are involved in various chemical activities that make the soil fertile. Many soil microbes like Azotobacter, Clostridium and Bacteria that live in the roots of the leguminous plants like, Rhizobium leguminosarum, convert the free Nitrogen in the atmosphere to Nitrate. This is called Nitrogen Fixation. This makes the soil productive for the growth of crops. Other than this, the bacteria are very helpful for us in many ways, like: 1. Pre-tanning of Leather. 2. In making curd, cheese, vinegar, butter etc. 3. Taking out the fibers of Jute. 4. Manufacture of medicines. Harmful effects of Bacteria: 1. Some bacteria spoil food, mainly the protein rich food like meat, fish, milk, curd etc. 2. Many severe diseases are caused by bacteria. For example, Typhoid, Pneumonia, Cholera, Tuberculosis, STDs etc. 3. These Bacteria also cause many diseases in the plants, like Blight in Apple. 4. Some Bacteria convert the Nitrate in the soil into free Nitrate. This decreases the fertility of the soil.