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Medical and Economic importance of Bacteria

Bacteria consist of a wide range of microorganisms that show exciting differences based on their nutrition, morphology, habitat, and reproduction. Bacteria play a role in our day-to-day lives, such as assistance in digesting food. However, the majority of individuals link bacteria as disease and death-causing mediums and associate them with dirt. As a result, a question arises, ‘’should bacteria be considered friend or foe to humans?’’ In my opinion, bacteria are beneficial to our daily ways of life; for example, they assist in the nitrogen cycle in leguminous crops, applied in biotechnology in gene cloning, and used to decompose organic matter.

Firstly, bacteria help in nitrogen fixation in legumes. Document D (Nitrogen cycle) gives details about the role bacteria undertake in converting nitrogen from the air into nitrates and ammonia. These nutrients are essential in crops as they are easily absorbed by roots and transformed into nucleic acids and amino acids. The absorption of nitrogen by the rhizobium bacteria present in the roots also assists crops in growing in nitrogen-deficient soils. The nitrogen introduced into the food chain is later absorbed by human beings through digestion and ingestion as they consume food from these crops. Benefits go two both ways as crops and humans gain.

Secondly, bacteria are used in genetic-engineering procedures. Document F (Uses in Biotechnology) explains how bacteria are used in biotechnology in the gene cloning when genes are copied and expressed from giver organisms. They are used as cloning vectors in the transfer of a given specific gene into the bacterial cell plasmids using restriction enzymes. The restriction enzymes bind both vector and chromosomal DNA to the inverted palindrome, thereby dividing the DNA and producing sticky ends. DNA ligase combines both the sticky ends of both DNAs forming a recombinant DNA. Proteins produced from this recombinant technology profit most people as they are used to produce medicines, synthetic vaccines, and substances such as insulin used by individuals with diabetes. Thus, the application of bacteria in the biotechnology industry acts as a benefit to human health and the economy by reducing production costs.

Lastly, bacteria act as decomposers as they break down organic matter into carbon dioxide and other nutrients such as nitrogen. Document E (Decomposition) shows the procedures under which decomposition takes place. Fats, cellulose, and proteins are first turned into soluble compounds, then into organic acids, and lastly, forming methane, water, and carbon dioxide. The process of decomposition is essential since it releases excess nutrients into the soil, enhancing plant growth. Absence of this process, some of the nutrients taken up by plants would remain intact in leaves and other tissues resulting in insufficient nutrients in the soil. They ensure that nutrients are recycled. Also, many grounds would remain covered by wood and dead leaves forever. Thus they help in maintaining the ecosystem and ensure it is clean. Also, plants use carbon from carbon dioxide and water released from decomposition to process their food. Therefore, decomposition, as a process caused by bacteria, is of advantage to humans and plants. Bacteria have a positive impact on the lives of individuals.