BIO 3124 Study Guide - Thermoacidophile, Asepsis, Mulch
1 Dec 2014
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Document Summary
Largest mass of living material on earth: oldest form of life, carry out major processes for biogeochemical cycles, can live in places unsuitable for other organisms, other life forms require microbes to survive, can be both beneficial and harmful to humans, many more microorganisms are beneficial than are harmful. Emphasis typically on harmful microorganisms: infectious disease agents or pathogens, improved understanding of microorganisms have led to the control of infectious disease during last century, microorganisms and agriculture, many depend on microbial activities, negative impacts: diseases in plants and animals, positive impacts: nitrogen fixing bacteria, cellulose degrading microbes in the rumen, regeneration of nutrients in soil & water, microorganisms and food, negative impacts: food spoilage by microorganisms requires specialized preservation of many foods, positive impacts: microbial transformations (typically fermentations) yield dairy products, other food products, microorganisms, energy and the environment, the role of microbes in biofuels production (ex.
