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NEET Biology: Microbes In Daily Life Made Easy

NEET Biology: Microbes In Daily Life Made Easy

Edited By Irshad Anwar | Updated on Mar 07, 2022 10:55 AM IST | #NEET
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Microbes include bacteria, fungi, protozoa, some algae, viruses, viroids, and also prions. Usually, microbes are considered harmful as they cause various diseases in humans, such as cholera, dysentery, Corona, Hepatitis, HIV, etc. However, not all microbes are harmful; some are beneficial and contribute to human welfare. They help us in our day-to-day activities, without us realizing their roles in our lives. Their usage can be broadly divided into the following categories:

  • Antibiotics and Vaccination

  • Chemicals, Enzymes and other Bioactive Molecules

  • Food and Beverages

  • Waste Management

  • Biocontrol

  • Bio-fertilizers

Antibiotics And Vaccination

Antibiotics are sourced from microbes such as bacteria or fungi and kill or stop the growth of the disease-causing microbes. Penicillin, Streptomycin, Tetracycline and Erythromycin are some of the commonly known antibiotics which are made from fungi and bacteria. Antibiotics have greatly improved our capacity to treat deadly diseases such as plague, whooping cough, diphtheria and leprosy, which used to kill millions all over the globe.

Vaccines are dead or weakened microbes, which are introduced in a healthy body to generate an immune response by producing suitable antibodies. The antibodies remain in the body and protect us from the disease-causing microbes. Several diseases, including cholera, tuberculosis, polio, smallpox and hepatitis can be prevented by vaccination.

Chemicals, Enzymes And Other Bioactive Molecules

Background wave

Microbes are also used for commercial and industrial production of certain chemicals like organic acids, alcohols and enzymes which are used in a variety of industrial processes. For e.g. Bacterium Acetobacter aceti and Lactobacillus helps in production of acetic acid and lactic acid respectively. Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) is used for the commercial production of ethanol. Lipases are used in detergent formulations and are helpful in removing oily stains from the laundry. Streptokinase produced by the bacterium Streptococcus is used as a ‘clot buster’ for removing blood clots. Another bioactive molecule, cyclosporin A, produced by the fungus Trichoderma polysporum, is used as an immunosuppressive agent. Statins produced by the yeast Monascus purpureus have been commercialized as blood-cholesterol lowering agents.

Food And Beverages

A number of traditional drinks and foods are also made by fermentation by microbes. Micro-organisms such as Lactobacillus and others commonly called lactic acid bacteria (LAB) grow in milk and convert it to curd. Sugar is converted into alcohol by yeast, by the process of fermentation. The dough used for making foods such as dosa and idli is fermented by bacteria. The dough used for making bread is fermented using baker’s yeast. It is used for fermenting malted cereals and fruit juices to produce ethanol as well. Microbes are also used to ferment

fish, soybean, and bamboo shoots to make food. Bacteria and fungi are used to impart particular texture, taste, and flavor to the cheese. The large holes in ‘Swiss cheese’ are due to the production of a large amount of CO2 by a bacterium named Propionibacterium shermanii.

Waste Management

Microbes are used to treat sewage (wastewater) by the process of activated sludge formation and this helps in the recycling of water. In sewage treatment plants, useful aerobic microbes grow on this organic matter and consume it, significantly reducing the BOD (biochemical oxygen demand) of the effluent, thereby reducing the pollution potential of wastewater. Further, some bacteria can grow anaerobically on the sewage, to produce a mixture of gases such as methane, hydrogen sulfide, and carbon dioxide. These gases form biogas and can be used as a source of energy.

Biocontrol

Biocontrol refers to the use of biological methods for controlling plant diseases and pests and is considered a better alternative to weedicides and pesticides. Bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis can be introduced into fields in order to control butterfly caterpillars. Fungus Trichoderma are free-living fungi that are very common in the root ecosystems and are effective biocontrol agents against several plant pathogens. Baculoviruses are pathogens that attack insects and other arthropods and have shown to have no negative impacts on plants, mammals, birds, fish or even on non-target insects.

Biofertilizers

Biofertilizers are organisms such as bacteria, fungi, and cyanobacteria, that enrich the nutrient quality of the soil. The root nodes of leguminous plants contain Rhizobium bacteria, which can fix atmospheric nitrogen into organic forms, which are used by the plant as a nutrient. Fungi can absorb phosphorus from soil and pass it to the plant. Cyanobacteria are autotrophic microbes widely found in aquatic and terrestrial environments, many of which can fix atmospheric nitrogen. In paddy fields, cyanobacteria serve as an important biofertilizer. Blue-green algae also add organic matter to the soil and increase its fertility.

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Questions related to NEET

Have a question related to NEET ?

Hello,

Regarding your query there is no "best" option between online or offline for NEET preparation the choice depends on you what suits you better and makes you understand better. Both has it's advantages and disadvantages that you can check out here: Advantage and Disadvantage

Hello,

yes you can change your category from general to PwD after the NEET exam if you have a valid PwD certificate. however, the change is subject to NTA and MCC guidelines, and modifications are usually allowed during the correction window or counseling. check official notifications for exact procedures and deadlines.

Hello,

Regarding your query there is no single "best" between JEE and NEET the choice depends on individuals understanding, interests, and career aspirations. While JEE s for aspiring engineers NEET is for aspiring doctors.

Here's a breakdown to help you decide:

JEE (Joint Entrance Examination):
  • For: Students passionate about mathematics, physics, and chemistry, who enjoy problem-solving and logical reasoning, and aspire to careers in engineering, architecture, or related fields.

  • Career Options: Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and more.

  • Exam Focus: Emphasizes mathematics, physics, and chemistry, with a focus on problem-solving and analytical skills.


NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test):
  • For: Students passionate about biology, chemistry, and physics, who aspire to careers in medicine, dentistry, or related healthcare fields.

  • Career Options: MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery), BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery), and other medical specializations.

  • Exam Focus: Emphasizes biology, chemistry, and physics, with a focus on understanding and applying scientific principles.

You can find NEET previous year question papers online, which can help you prepare for the exam. Here are some resources where you can download the papers:


- NEET 2024 Question Paper: You can download the official question paper for NEET 2024 in PDF format for all codes.

- Other Previous Year Papers: Additionally, you can search for previous year papers from 2023, 2022, and other years to practice and get familiar with the exam pattern.

Download here


Remember to practice these papers to enhance your preparation levels and get a feel for the actual exam. Good luck with your NEET preparation!

Hello Rahul,

yes, the NEET 2018 cutoff fot the SC category in west  bangal was around 360 marks for the state quota. however the exact cutoff may vary slightly depending on factors like the number of applicants and seat availability. its always good to refer to the official counselling details for precise information.

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Column I ( Salivary gland)

 

Column II ( Their location)

Parotids

I

Below tongue

Sub-maxillary / sub-mandibular

Ii

Lower jaw

Sub-linguals

Iii

Cheek

Option: 1

a(i), b(ii) , c(iii)

 


Option: 2

a(ii), b(i), c(iii)

 


Option: 3

a(i), b(iii), c(ii)


Option: 4

a(iii), b(ii), c(i)


Ethyl \; ester \xrightarrow[(excess)]{CH_{3}MgBr} P

the product 'P' will be ,

Option: 1


Option: 2


Option: 3

\left ( C_{2}H_{5} \right )_{3} - C- OH


Option: 4


 

    

           

 Valve name                            

             

Function

    I   Aortic valve     A

Prevents blood from going backward from the pulmonary artery to the right ventricle.

    II   Mitral valve     B

 Prevent blood from flowing backward from the right ventricle to the right atrium.

    III   Pulmonic valve     C

 Prevents backward flow from the aorta into the left ventricle.

    IV   Tricuspid valve     D

 Prevent backward flow from the left ventricle to the left atrium.

 

Option: 1

I – A , II – B, III – C, IV – D


Option: 2

 I – B , II – C , III – A , IV – D


Option: 3

 I – C , II – D , III – A , IV – B


Option: 4

 I – D , II – A , III – B , IV – C 

 

 


Column A Column B
A

a) Organisation of cellular contents and further cell growth.  

B

b) Leads to formation of two daughter cells.

C

c) Cell grows physically and increase volume proteins,organells.

D

d)  synthesis and replication of DNA.

Match the correct option as per the process shown in the diagram. 

 

 

 

Option: 1

1-b,2-a,3-d,4-c
 


Option: 2

1-c,2-b,3-a,4-d


Option: 3

1-a,2-d,3-c,4-b

 


Option: 4

1-c,2-d,3-a,4-b


0.014 Kg of N2 gas at 27 0C is kept in a closed vessel. How much heat is required to double the rms speed of the N2 molecules?

Option: 1

3000 cal


Option: 2

2250 cal


Option: 3

2500 cal


Option: 4

3500 cal


0.16 g of dibasic acid required 25 ml of decinormal NaOH solution for complete neutralisation. The modecular weight of the acid will be

Option: 1

32


Option: 2

64


Option: 3

128


Option: 4

256


0.5 F of electricity is passed through 500 mL of copper sulphate solution. The amount of copper (in g) which can be deposited will be:

Option: 1

31.75


Option: 2

15.8


Option: 3

47.4


Option: 4

63.5


0.5 g of an organic substance was kjeldahlised and the ammonia released was neutralised by 100 ml 0.1 M HCl. Percentage of nitrogen in the compound is

Option: 1

14


Option: 2

42


Option: 3

28


Option: 4

72


0xone is

Option: 1

\mathrm{KO}_{2}


Option: 2

\mathrm{Na}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{2}


Option: 3

\mathrm{Li}_{2} \mathrm{O}


Option: 4

\mathrm{CaO}


(1) A substance  known as "Smack"

(2) Diacetylmorphine

(3) Possessing a white color

(4) Devoid of any odor

(5) Crystal compound with a bitter taste

(6) Obtained by extracting from the latex of the poppy plant

The above statements/information are correct for:

Option: 1

Morphine


Option: 2

Heroin


Option: 3

Cocaine


Option: 4

Barbiturates


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