1. No Microbes – No Life on Earth Many of us know bacteria only as “germs,” invisible creatures that can invade our bodies and make us sick. – It's true that some microbes cause health problems such as strep throat, chickenpox and the common cold. Unfortunately, because a small number of microbes cause disease, all microbes get a bad rap. Many bacteria not only coexist with us all the time, but help us do an amazing array of useful things like make vitamins, break down some garbage, and even maintain our atmosphere.

2. Decomposers on land recycle dead organic carcasses and materials into reusable nutrients carbon, phosphorus, other Produce Oxygen Recycle Carbon Dioxide Microbes are essential for life on earth

3. Food Production Probiotics

4. bacteria and mold – produce natural antibiotics Microbial Products benefit us in daily life MICROBIAL ENZYMES MAKE DETERGENTS AND EXTRACT JUICE FROM FRUIT AND MAKE CHOCOLATE COVERED CHERRIES biofuels

5. MICROBIAL ACIDS ARE USED FOR ACID WASHING JEANS Aspergillus niger [fungus] and other species - After being grown in huge nutrient-filled tanks called fermenters, the beefed-up fungi make large quantities of enzymes that turn animal hide into leather

6. COCCOLITHS WE MAKE CHALK OUT OF THESE MICROBES WHITE CLIFFS OF DOVER ARE PROTISTS CALLED COCCOLITHOPHORES

7. DIATOMS ARE REMNANTS OF PROTISTS FROM ANCIENT SEAS. THEY ARE USED AS CLEANERS, MAKING DYNAMITE, AND ON REFLECTIVE SURFACES OF HIGHWAYS

8. Using Microbes for Genetic Manipulation

9. Methanotrophs – consume methane gas; clean up hazardous waste, landfills and pollution Oil spill – microbes such as Pseudomonas and many others consume oil and break it down into less toxic products Pseudomonas putida - Cleans waste from sewage water at water treatment plants Marine Bacteria - We're using bacteria as one of the tools to clean up oil spills. These bacteria chow on the oil, turning it into carbon dioxide and other harmless by- products Using Microbes for Bioremediation

10. Dairy Cows have rumens with different microbes that break down food they eat Symbiosis Termites and protozoa in gut 100 million year old mutualistic relationship Bacteria and mold live in roots of plants and help with nutrition

11. Dinoflagellates (other protozoa) harbored by marine invertebrates such as reef-building corals (anenomes), – provide organic carbon to host during photosynthesis Coral has pigments that protect protist/algae from UV radiation

12. Ubiquitous on/in Humans The GI tract has trillions of microbes/gm of feces – Protect us from pathogens – Make vitamins – Help immune system and digestive system develop and work