introduction to Microbes

What is a microorganism? tiny living thing A microorganism or microbe is a tiny living thing that we cannot see without the aid of a microscope. There can be millions or even billions of microorganisms in one place. Some are helpful and some are harmful. Because they are mostly living things, they grow, move, reproduce, eat, give off waste, are sensitive to their environments, and have cells. The study of microorganisms is called microbiology.

Microorganisms’ requirements for living Because microorganisms are living things, they have the same requirements that all living things have. They need: Oxygen Food Flesh-Eating Bacteria Good temperature Extreme Temperatures Reproduction Bacterial Reproduction Waste disposal Paramecium Waste Disposal Water Microorganisms in a Water Drop Microorganisms’ requirements for living

4 Types of microbes TYPES OF MICROBES Viruses Bacteria Fungi Protists Microbes can be helpful and harmful. They are found almost everywhere, in food we eat, even inside and outside of our bodies. They can cause serious diseases. Microbes even clean our water and digest our food. Most must be viewed under a microscope. 4 Types of microbes

Only exist to reproduce and make you sick Only exist to reproduce and make you sick!! (They cannot reproduce independently.) Can’t stay alive unless they invade another plant, animal, or bacterial cell Can invade almost any living cells to reproduce and make copies of themselves. They can’t move on their own, breathe, or excrete waste. The smallest and simplest of all microbes They hijack other cells, inject genetic codes, and force them to create new viruses . Causes disease like polio, chicken pox, measles They are NOT living things but are microscopic microbes. Antibiotics can’t kill viruses only bacteria What is a Virus? Viruses

bacteria First to appear on earth Mostly good and helpful and live most anywhere. Single-celled Used to make yogurt, cheese, chocolate, raw meats, coffee, food preserved with vinegar Lives in almost every material and environment Over 4,000 species are known Causes disease like typhoid fever, salmonella, cholera, staph infection, and E-coli Involved in fermentation Can make their own food, live off dead materials, or absorb materials from other living organisms (including humans!) Antibiotics kill bacteria Comes in many shapes, including rod-shaped, spherical-shaped, and spiral-shaped Bacteria for Kids bacteria

Eats almost anything (including manure) and LOVES dead plants and animals They are considered decomposers because they break things down – Earth’s clean-up crew Lives by absorbing nutrients from dead or decaying things 100,000 species Fungus (singular) or fungi (plural) Used to make foods like moldy cheese, soy sauce, mushrooms, breads Most well known are yeast, mushrooms, mold, and mildew Forms in clusters of cells Yeast is a fungus Reproduce by sending out spores Spores in Action Video They produce medicine (penicillin) They cause diseases like athlete’s foot and ringworm fungus

Two main categories: 1) algae – make their own food (producers) OR 2) protozoans search for food (consumers) Amoeba Eating Paramecium Some major groups: amoeba, diatoms, euglena, algae, protozoa, slime & water molds (not fungus) Protists Video 200,000 species Parasitic protists that live on people or animals are called pathogens They act fungus-like (slime mold), animal-like (protozoans), or plant-like (algae) Live mostly in fresh pond water and is the cause of the disease giardia Single-celled and multicellular but different shapes and sizes Can have appendages such as cilia (hairs), flagellum (tail) or flagella (tails), or pseudopods (false feet) surrounding it Found in foods like ice cream, sour cream, sushi, and products like fertilizer and toothpaste Plant-like protists make its own food (chlorophyll) by photosynthesis Protists Song protists

REVIEW With a partner or as a class, discuss what the four types of microbes are as well as characteristics of each. Review these words: Decomposer Flagellum Unicellular Decay Multicellular Yeast Cilia Microbiology Pseudopod Organism