1. What are some of the different types of micro-organisms?
· Fungi - seen as moulds on bread and fruit, or used as yeast in the baking and brewing industries
· Algae - which often impart a green coloration to ponds, pools and rivers
· Protozoa - such as the malaria parasite
· Bacteria - some of which cause diseases, while others benefit mankind when present in the soil or used industrially
· Viruses - visible only under an electron microscope, are capable of infecting cells of higher life forms including humans, plants and bacteria.
2. Why are insulin dependent diabetics hooked on E. coli?
Previously insulin was extracted from the pancreas of animals including pigs. Today, the gene for insulin production has been incorporated into the Escherichia coli bacterium. E. coli replicates every 20 minutes. Production of insulin is rapid, requires less space, no pigs, and results in fewer complications for the patients, such as those allergic to porcine products.
5. What good is mouldy bread?
Most of us have benefited from that mould called Penicillium. When a Penicillium spore accidentally landed on Alexander Fleming's laboratory bench in 1928, it led to his discovery of the first antibiotic - penicillin. Most of our present antibiotics are produced by micro-organisms - one of the greatest triumphs of medical science!
6. Where did marscapone cheese begin?
Nature was way ahead of the cheese makers of today.
The nomadic tribes of the Mediterranean used the stomachs of calves as containers in which to carry their milk as they moved from place to place. The milk was curdled by rennin produced in a calf's stomach, and together with the gentle rocking, thickened to become the first soft cheeses.
7. Why is anthrax such a lethal tool for terrorists?
The organism Bacillus anthracis, which causes the disease anthrax, is very easy to grow and has its own protective mechanism. When dried, the organism produces fine, powdery spores that can survive for long periods. When these spores are distributed, they re-germinate in moist, nutritious environments - for example, the human lung - where they produce toxins that can kill the host relatively quickly.
8. Bacterias Are Everywhere
Because we can't see them with the naked eye, we often forget that bacteria are all around us. They can be found on our tables, in our shoes, on our skin, on our toilet seats and in our mouths! In fact, human beings, like any animal, are covered in bacteria. They can survive in almost any condition, too, from burning heat to freezing cold, from extremely low pH levels to extremely high ones.
9. They're Not Alone
Not only are bacteria found on just about any surface, they're often found with a few million of their closest friends. In fact, the human body contains more bacterial cells than human cells! Scientists have estimated that there are more bacteria in your mouth alone than there are people on the planet. That's a LOT of bacteria. Even after you spray your house with a disinfectant, many millions of bacteria still lurk in the nooks and crannies.
10. Not All Bacteria Are Bad
Although it can be kind of gross to think about all the bacteria on your skin or in your mouth, we couldn't survive without these diverse little microbes. It's true that some bacteria can make you sick, but the majority of the bacteria in your body actually work to keep you healthy. They fight bad bacteria, help you break down food and regulate your digestive tract. We need some bacteria in our systems just to be healthy!
11.Some Are Pretty Nasty
Unfortunately, not all bacteria are looking out for our best interests. Some species can cause some pretty gross diseases. Bacteria are responsible for ailments like food poisoning, meningitis, the bubonic plague and strep throat. Other microorganisms can be pretty harmful, too. One species of fungus causes athlete's foot, and another causes ringworm. Diseases like the chickenpox or the flu are caused by very tiny but powerful pathogens called viruses. But don't worry! There are bacteria in your body designed especially to fight off these unpleasant pests.
12. If you pick up a handful of garden soil you will be holding hundreds if not thousands of different kinds of microbes.
13. One single teaspoon of soil contains 1 billion bacteria & 120,000 fungi & 25,000 algae
14. Microbes have been around longer than anything else on Earth, longer even than dinosaurs.
15. If you imagine Earth began as a single day:
Microbes appeared at 5am
Dinosaurs appeared at 10pm
... and humans appeared seconds before midnight
16. There are 10 times more bacteria in the average human’s digestive system than there are cells in the entire body. This is approximately 1kg of bacteria.
17. There are more microbes on one person’s hand than there are people on the planet.
18. Microbes generate at least half the oxygen we breathe.
19. Most microbes do not cause disease - less than 5% do.
20. Cattle belching and farting produce about 20% of the Earth’s methane.
21. A study found that 30% of all people didn't wash their hands after using a public bathroom—although 90% claimed they do. Just think what may be on their hands!
22. The toilet handle in most bathrooms at work has 400 times more germs than the toilet seat.
23. Botox is made from a deadly bacterial toxin which is used in very small doses to remove wrinkles.
24. Some dentists recommend that a toothbrush should be kept at least 2 metres away from a toilet to avoid air-borne particles resulting from the flush – what a large bathroom!
25. Dr Winkle Weinberg, an infectious diseases expert, reckons that when we have a cold and cough the virus particles can travel at 320 kilometres an hour and up to 900 metres. That is faster than a passenger jet at takeoff!
26. The largest organism in the world when measured by area is the Honey Mushroom fungus. It covers a whopping 8.9km2 of a national forest in the USA.
27. According to Dr. Charles Gerba, a microbiologist in Arizona the bathroom is cleaner then the kitchen in the average house. He says you're safer making a sandwich on top of the toilet bowl than in the kitchen.
28. The dirtiest spots in the kitchen are dishcloths, cutting boards, sponges, and sink handles. Surprisingly, the floor is often cleaner than the sink!
29. Bacteria is a single-celled or noncellular spherical or spiral or rod-shaped organisms lacking chlorophyll that reproduce by fission
30. The term bacteria was devised in the 19th century by the German biologist Ferdinand Cohn (24 January 1828 – 25 June 1898) who based it on the Greek word 'bakterion' meaning a small rod or staff.
31. Ferdinand Cohn classified bacteria into four groups based on shape:
32. Ferdinand Cohn is considered to be the father of modern bacteriology
33. Some types of bacteria can cause diseases and become harmful to the environment whilst other types others offer benefits
34. Bacteria are everywhere - in the air, sky, on mountains, in oceans, in humans, animals and on everything we touch
35. Bacteria are minute, on average most species of bacteria have diameters of 0.5 to 2.0 microns
36. Some bacteria can move
37. Anywhere that dead and decaying matter is present is a good home for bacteria
38.Examples of bacteria include:
39. Bacteria have flourished on earth for over three billion years
40. Some types can attack plants, causing diseases like leaf spot and fireblight
41. The term “friendly bacteria” is used to describe the types of bacteria that offer some benefit
43. People have millions of bacteria living on the skin surface and on the mucous membranes of the nose, mouth, and bowels
44.Humans spread bacteria from the mouth and nose
45. The virulence of the bacteria: Virulence = the capability of bacteria to cause infection by production of bacterial poisons
46. MRSA was discovered in 1961 in the United Kingdom and is often referred to in the press as a "superbug"
47. MRSA infections are responsible for more deaths in the U.S. each year than AIDS
48. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek was the first person to observe bacteria using a microscope
49. Robert Koch was a pioneer in medical microbiology and worked on cholera, anthrax and tuberculosis
50. The Gram Stain Is a very common technique in microbiology is the Gram stain. It is used to separate bacteria into two groups; Gram positive and Gram negative.
REFERENCE:
http://www.microbiologyonline.org.uk/students/fascinating-facts
http://www.ehow.com/info_8612805_interesting-microbiology-kids.html#ixzz2ziyz18h5
http://www.science.uwa.edu.au/courses/facts/microbiology#top
· Fungi - seen as moulds on bread and fruit, or used as yeast in the baking and brewing industries
· Algae - which often impart a green coloration to ponds, pools and rivers
· Protozoa - such as the malaria parasite
· Bacteria - some of which cause diseases, while others benefit mankind when present in the soil or used industrially
· Viruses - visible only under an electron microscope, are capable of infecting cells of higher life forms including humans, plants and bacteria.
2. Why are insulin dependent diabetics hooked on E. coli?
Previously insulin was extracted from the pancreas of animals including pigs. Today, the gene for insulin production has been incorporated into the Escherichia coli bacterium. E. coli replicates every 20 minutes. Production of insulin is rapid, requires less space, no pigs, and results in fewer complications for the patients, such as those allergic to porcine products.
5. What good is mouldy bread?
Most of us have benefited from that mould called Penicillium. When a Penicillium spore accidentally landed on Alexander Fleming's laboratory bench in 1928, it led to his discovery of the first antibiotic - penicillin. Most of our present antibiotics are produced by micro-organisms - one of the greatest triumphs of medical science!
6. Where did marscapone cheese begin?
Nature was way ahead of the cheese makers of today.
The nomadic tribes of the Mediterranean used the stomachs of calves as containers in which to carry their milk as they moved from place to place. The milk was curdled by rennin produced in a calf's stomach, and together with the gentle rocking, thickened to become the first soft cheeses.
7. Why is anthrax such a lethal tool for terrorists?
The organism Bacillus anthracis, which causes the disease anthrax, is very easy to grow and has its own protective mechanism. When dried, the organism produces fine, powdery spores that can survive for long periods. When these spores are distributed, they re-germinate in moist, nutritious environments - for example, the human lung - where they produce toxins that can kill the host relatively quickly.
8. Bacterias Are Everywhere
Because we can't see them with the naked eye, we often forget that bacteria are all around us. They can be found on our tables, in our shoes, on our skin, on our toilet seats and in our mouths! In fact, human beings, like any animal, are covered in bacteria. They can survive in almost any condition, too, from burning heat to freezing cold, from extremely low pH levels to extremely high ones.
9. They're Not Alone
Not only are bacteria found on just about any surface, they're often found with a few million of their closest friends. In fact, the human body contains more bacterial cells than human cells! Scientists have estimated that there are more bacteria in your mouth alone than there are people on the planet. That's a LOT of bacteria. Even after you spray your house with a disinfectant, many millions of bacteria still lurk in the nooks and crannies.
10. Not All Bacteria Are Bad
Although it can be kind of gross to think about all the bacteria on your skin or in your mouth, we couldn't survive without these diverse little microbes. It's true that some bacteria can make you sick, but the majority of the bacteria in your body actually work to keep you healthy. They fight bad bacteria, help you break down food and regulate your digestive tract. We need some bacteria in our systems just to be healthy!
11.Some Are Pretty Nasty
Unfortunately, not all bacteria are looking out for our best interests. Some species can cause some pretty gross diseases. Bacteria are responsible for ailments like food poisoning, meningitis, the bubonic plague and strep throat. Other microorganisms can be pretty harmful, too. One species of fungus causes athlete's foot, and another causes ringworm. Diseases like the chickenpox or the flu are caused by very tiny but powerful pathogens called viruses. But don't worry! There are bacteria in your body designed especially to fight off these unpleasant pests.
12. If you pick up a handful of garden soil you will be holding hundreds if not thousands of different kinds of microbes.
13. One single teaspoon of soil contains 1 billion bacteria & 120,000 fungi & 25,000 algae
14. Microbes have been around longer than anything else on Earth, longer even than dinosaurs.
15. If you imagine Earth began as a single day:
Microbes appeared at 5am
Dinosaurs appeared at 10pm
... and humans appeared seconds before midnight
16. There are 10 times more bacteria in the average human’s digestive system than there are cells in the entire body. This is approximately 1kg of bacteria.
17. There are more microbes on one person’s hand than there are people on the planet.
18. Microbes generate at least half the oxygen we breathe.
19. Most microbes do not cause disease - less than 5% do.
20. Cattle belching and farting produce about 20% of the Earth’s methane.
21. A study found that 30% of all people didn't wash their hands after using a public bathroom—although 90% claimed they do. Just think what may be on their hands!
22. The toilet handle in most bathrooms at work has 400 times more germs than the toilet seat.
23. Botox is made from a deadly bacterial toxin which is used in very small doses to remove wrinkles.
24. Some dentists recommend that a toothbrush should be kept at least 2 metres away from a toilet to avoid air-borne particles resulting from the flush – what a large bathroom!
25. Dr Winkle Weinberg, an infectious diseases expert, reckons that when we have a cold and cough the virus particles can travel at 320 kilometres an hour and up to 900 metres. That is faster than a passenger jet at takeoff!
26. The largest organism in the world when measured by area is the Honey Mushroom fungus. It covers a whopping 8.9km2 of a national forest in the USA.
27. According to Dr. Charles Gerba, a microbiologist in Arizona the bathroom is cleaner then the kitchen in the average house. He says you're safer making a sandwich on top of the toilet bowl than in the kitchen.
28. The dirtiest spots in the kitchen are dishcloths, cutting boards, sponges, and sink handles. Surprisingly, the floor is often cleaner than the sink!
29. Bacteria is a single-celled or noncellular spherical or spiral or rod-shaped organisms lacking chlorophyll that reproduce by fission
30. The term bacteria was devised in the 19th century by the German biologist Ferdinand Cohn (24 January 1828 – 25 June 1898) who based it on the Greek word 'bakterion' meaning a small rod or staff.
31. Ferdinand Cohn classified bacteria into four groups based on shape:
- Sphericals
- Short rods
- Threads
- Spirals
32. Ferdinand Cohn is considered to be the father of modern bacteriology
33. Some types of bacteria can cause diseases and become harmful to the environment whilst other types others offer benefits
34. Bacteria are everywhere - in the air, sky, on mountains, in oceans, in humans, animals and on everything we touch
35. Bacteria are minute, on average most species of bacteria have diameters of 0.5 to 2.0 microns
36. Some bacteria can move
37. Anywhere that dead and decaying matter is present is a good home for bacteria
38.Examples of bacteria include:
- Acidophilus, a normal inhabitant of yogurt
- Clostridium welchii the most common cause of gas gangrene
- E. coli - found in the lower intestine. E. coli can be a threat to food safety
- Streptococcus, the human mouth and gut. Can cause diseases including strep throat
- Chlamydia which causes a sexually transmitted infection
39. Bacteria have flourished on earth for over three billion years
40. Some types can attack plants, causing diseases like leaf spot and fireblight
41. The term “friendly bacteria” is used to describe the types of bacteria that offer some benefit
- Helps produce food
- Keeps soil fertile
- Helps us to digest food
- Inhibits the growth of potentially harmful bacteria
43. People have millions of bacteria living on the skin surface and on the mucous membranes of the nose, mouth, and bowels
44.Humans spread bacteria from the mouth and nose
45. The virulence of the bacteria: Virulence = the capability of bacteria to cause infection by production of bacterial poisons
46. MRSA was discovered in 1961 in the United Kingdom and is often referred to in the press as a "superbug"
47. MRSA infections are responsible for more deaths in the U.S. each year than AIDS
48. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek was the first person to observe bacteria using a microscope
49. Robert Koch was a pioneer in medical microbiology and worked on cholera, anthrax and tuberculosis
50. The Gram Stain Is a very common technique in microbiology is the Gram stain. It is used to separate bacteria into two groups; Gram positive and Gram negative.
REFERENCE:
http://www.microbiologyonline.org.uk/students/fascinating-facts
http://www.ehow.com/info_8612805_interesting-microbiology-kids.html#ixzz2ziyz18h5
http://www.science.uwa.edu.au/courses/facts/microbiology#top