Lesson-2

Microorganisms

1. How can you see microorganisms?

Ans: We can see microorganisms with the help of a microscope.
2. Where are the microorganisms found?
Ans: Microorganisms are found in air, soil, water, foodstuffs, sewage as
well as inside the animals and human bodies. They are also present in
deep oceans, in snow, at Polar Regions and in hot springs.

3. Write a short note on different types of bacteria?

Ans: Bacteria are mainly of three types:
i) Coccus or round shaped: These are the bacteria which have
spherical shape.

Eg: Streptococcus
ii) Bacillus or rod shaped: The bacteria which are rod shaped are
known as bacillus.
Eg: Bacillus typhosus
iii) Spirillum or vibrio shaped: These bacteria are cork-screw shaped or
comma shaped. These may have one or more cilia or flagella on their
body surface.

Eg: Vibrio cholerae

(copy diagram of bacterias from TB pg 29)

4. What is Lactobacillus?
Ans: Lactobacillus are the bacteria which helps in the fermentation and
production of curd and cheese.
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Microorganisms
5. What is retting?
Ans: Retting is the process by which linen threads are obtained from
flax plant. Bacteria enter the stem of plant and destroy the stem
tissue and loosen the fibres which are used for making threads.
The stem of flax plant is cut and immersed in clean pond to soften
the fibre and to enable it to be removed from the stem.
6. How do cow dung and vegetable waste change into manure?
Ans: Cow dung and vegetable wastes are changed into manure by a
process called decomposition. Bacteria break down them by
feeding on them and by producing humus.

7. How are blue-green algae helpful?

Ans: Some blue-green algae can be used as fertilizer because they can
fix atmospheric nitrogen to usable compounds. This helps in the
growth of crop and improves the capacity of soil to hold water.
8. How do the microorganisms help in sewage treatment plants?
Ans: Humans generate tremendous volume of sewage and waste water
that requires treatment before discharge. In septic tank, sewage is
digested by anaerobic bacteria like Brocadia. Microorganisms break
down the organic matter of proteins, lipids and cellulose into small
substances. Methane gas is produced in this treatment that can be
burnt as a fuel. The remaining sludge is buried in a landfill as manure.
9. What are diatoms?
Ans: Diatoms are marine algae which float in water due to the presence
of light storage fats along with silica.
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Microorganisms
10. Write short notes on blue-green algae
Ans: Oscillatoria, Anabaena blue green algae are single celled, colonial
autotrophs. They have primitive cell structure. Some algae can be used
as fertilizers because they can fix atmospheric nitrogen to usable
compounds. This helps in the growth of crop and improves the capacity
of soil to hold water.