Biology 11 Bacteria

Bacteria: a benefit or a hazard?

Bacteria is something we are all reminded of on a daily basis by merely switching on our televisions where we are bombarded with advertisements for both ‘good’ and ‘bad’ bacteria. Contrary to the view of the past when only so-called ‘bad’ bacteria was ever talked about, so what has changed? This essay will address the facts about bacteria including methods used in identifying bacteria as well as looking at specific examples of how they can be both helpful and harmful to humans. So what are bacteria? In simple terms bacteria are microscopic, single-celled organisms lacking a nucleus and other organelles such as mitochondria and chloroplasts which are common place in eukaryotes. Bacteria are classified as prokaryotes and have been around for billions of years. Their minute size prevented them from being seen until 1683 when Antony van Leeuwenhoek invented a simple single-lens microscope though it wasn’t until much later, 1828 in fact that the word bacterium was invented by Christian Gottfried Ehrenberg.

Bacteria are very important in our society and the environment because they benefit us, as well as many other species. Some of the ways they benefit humans is through the production of certain foods. I.e cheese, yogurt, vinegar, wine, sour cream, etc. Bacteria can also be used in industry to clean up petroleum spills, to remove harmful waste products from the water, sewage treatment plants, and to synthesize drugs and chemicals. Bacteria feed on dying material and convert it back into basic substances. This process of decomposition is as significant as photosynthesis, for without it food chains would cease, and fallen trees, leaves, and other refuse would simply pile up. Bacteria also strongly influence the movement of key elements, such as sulfur, iron, phosphorus, and carbon, around the globe. The weathering of rocks, which releases elements back into life systems for use, is substantially enhanced by the breakdown processes of bacteria.

There are various harmful effects of bacteria as well. Some are harmful to people, and animals. They cause diseases, and they can mutate to resist antibiotics. For example, bacteria in our body can cause gastrointestinal infections as a result of the ingestion of contaminated food. Such bacterias include Escherichia coli, Proteus or Klebsiella species. These bacteria are known as pathogenic bacteria, and can cause incredible damage to our bodies, including death. The term pathogenic means disease carrying, and these harmful bacteria are often referred to simply as germs. A relatively recent but still very concerning issue is the development of antibiotic resistant bacteria.

In conclusion, bacteria can be both helpful and harmful to humans. Although in my opinion they are much more beneficial for many reasons. For starters they have numerous wonderful effects on the environment. Such as decomposition, their influence on the elements and nitrogen fixation, along with their many functions in helping to produce food and ingredients used in food production. For example, vinegar, which is used as both a flavor enhancer and an important food preservative, results from the conversion of ethyl alcohol to acetic acid by acetic-acid bacteria. Specific enzymes extracted from bacteria are used in spot removers, meat tenderizers, laundry starches, and household detergents. Bacteria are now used throughout the growing biotechnology industry in the development of new products for medical treatment. The positive uses for bacteria largely outweigh the negative. Many would argue that the negative would have an impact more severe on our way of life, but take a moment to consider to effects on not only our lives, but the environment and the world we are accustomed to living in if we were to eradicate all bacteria. A completely valid argument would be that we would save countless lives, but we must consider the impact it would have on our environment, and further our lives. The world would stand still.