UDGAM SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN
Std. VIII – Science (2025-26)
Ch-2 Microorganisms: Friend & Foe Notes
Name: ______________________________ Std/ Sec: ____ Roll No.:_____ Date:________
1. What are microorganisms? Name their major groups with examples of each.
Tiny organisms which cannot be seen through the naked eye are called microbes
or microorganisms. There are four major groups of microbes:
i. Bacteria (singular: bacterium): e.g.- rod shaped bacteria, spiral bacteria
ii. Fungi (fungus): yeast, mould, Penicillium, Aspergillus
iii. Protozoa (protozoan) : Amoeba, Paramecium
iv. Algae (alga): Chlamydomonas, Spirogyra
2. Write about the harmful effects of microorganisms.
Microorganisms are harmful in many ways.
- Some of the microorganisms cause diseases in human beings, animals and
plants.
- Some of them spoil food, clothing, and leather objects.
3. List out the uses of microorganisms in food.
The uses of microorganisms in food are as under:
i. For setting curd (lactobacillus which converts lactose sugar into lactic acid)
ii. For making breads and cakes, idli and dosa (with the help of yeast)
iii. For making wine and alcohol
iv. For making vinegar (acetic acid)
4. List out the uses of microorganisms in medicine.
Uses of microorganisms in medicine are as under:
i. Preparing Antibiotics:
-The medicines produced from bacteria & fungi which kill or stop the growth of disease-
causing microorganisms, are called antibiotics.
-E.g. Penicillin, Erythromycin, Streptomycin, Tetracycline.
-Specific microorganisms are cultured on a large scale to produce specific antibiotics.
-They are even mixed with the feed of livestock & poultry birds to control microbial
infections.
-Antibiotics are not effective against viral diseases.
ii. Preparing Vaccines:
-When a disease-causing microorganism (pathogen) enters our body, the body produces
anti-bodies which fight against the pathogen & kill them.
-Vaccines contain a suspension of dead, inactive or weakened germs.
-When they are injected into the body, they stimulate the body to produce antibodies which
can kill them.
-These antibodies remain in the body for a long time & protect the body from the germs.
-Vaccines are produced on a large scale from microorganisms to protect the body from
infectious diseases.
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5. What precautions should be taken while taking antibiotics?
Following precautions should be taken while taking antibiotics:
i.Antibiotics should be taken only on the advice of a qualified doctor.
ii.Complete course of the antibiotics should be taken.
iii.Overdose of antibiotics may kill the beneficial bacteria [e.g. Escherichia
coli(E.coli)] in the body.
iv.Underdose of antibiotic will make the drug less effective.
6. What is meant by food-preservation?
-Storing of raw or cooked food-items by adding some substances, heating or drying to
prevent the microbial attack is called food-preservation.
-The substances added to the food for its preservation are called ‘food
preservatives’.
7. List out the methods of food preservation.
Common methods of food preservation are:
i.By adding salt & sugar: Salt & sugar removes water from the cells & prevents
the growth of microorganisms.
ii.By adding oil, vinegar & spices: Oil prevents air from coming into contact with the food
and thus, avoids oxidation of food. Vinegar is an acid and bacteria cannot survive in such
an acidic medium. Spices limit the growth of bacteria by creating a toxic environment.
iii.By adding chemicals: Chemicals like Benzoic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium
Metabisulphite etc are added to jams, jellies & sauces etc for preservation. These
chemicals inhibit the growth of microbes like yeast.
iv.Food packaging (canning): N2 gas is filled in the packets so that the food in the
packets remain fresh for a long-time.
v.By heating: Heating or boiling kills many microorganisms.
vi.By pasteurisation: In this method, milk is heated to about 70° C for 15-30 seconds and
immediately cooled down to kill pathogens and to increase shelf life of milk. This process
is known as pasteurisation.
vii. By refrigeration & freezing: A refrigerator (5°C) keeps the food fresh for a few days.
A freezer (-18°C) stops microbial activities & keeps the food fresh for many months.
8. What are communicable diseases? Give few examples. How do they spread in
humans?
-The diseases that are transmitted from one person to another are called
communicable or infectious diseases.
e.g. cholera, common cold, measles, chicken pox, T.B., anthrax, malaria, Covid-19.
-They spread in humans through air, water, blood, food, direct contact.
9. Explain Nitrogen Cycle.
-78% N2 is present in the atmosphere.
- Nitrogen is one of the essential constituents of all living organisms as part of proteins,
chlorophyll, nucleic acids and vitamins.
- The atmospheric nitrogen cannot be taken directly by plants and animals.
- Certain bacteria and blue green algae present in the soil fix N2 from the atmosphere and
convert it into nitrogenous compounds, so that plants can absorb them through their roots.
- Then this N2 is used for the synthesis of plant proteins and other nitrogen compounds.
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- Animals feeding on plants get these nutrients.
- When plants and animals die, bacteria and fungi present in the soil convert the
nitrogenous wastes into nitrogenous compounds so that it can be used again by the plants.
- Certain other bacteria convert some part of them to nitrogen gas which goes back into
the atmosphere.
- As a result, the percentage of nitrogen in the atmosphere remains almost constant.
10. Draw a neat, labelled diagram of Nitrogen Cycle in nature.
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