Textbook Question
Show where airborne microbes ended up in Pasteur’s experiment.
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Ch. 1 - The Microbial World and You
Tortora14th EditionMicrobiology: An IntroductionISBN: 9780138200398
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Table of contents
- Ch. 1 - The Microbial World and You18
- Ch. 2 - Chemical Principles20
- Ch. 3 - Observing Microorganisms Through a Microscope18
- Ch. 4 - Functional Anatomy of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells21
- Ch. 5 - Microbial Metabolism20
- Ch. 6 - Microbial Growth20
- Ch. 7 - The Control of Microbial Growth20
- Ch. 8 - Microbial Genetics19
- Ch. 9 - Biotechnology & DNA Technology20
- Ch. 10 - Classification of Microorganisms15
- Ch. 11 - The Prokaryotes: Domains Bacteria and Archaea14
- Ch. 12 - The Eukaryotes: Fungi, Algae, Protozoa, and Helminths17
- Ch. 13 - Viruses, Viroids, and Prions20
- Ch. 14 - Principles of Disease and Epidemiology21
- Ch. 15 - Microbial Mechanisms of Pathogenicity19
- Ch. 16 - Innate Immunity: Nonspecific Defenses of the Host20
- Ch. 17 - Adaptive Immunity: Specific Defenses of the Host20
- Ch. 18 - Practical Applications of Immunology20
- Ch. 19 - Disorders Associated with the Immune System19
- Ch. 20 - Antimicrobial Drugs19
- Ch. 21 - Microbial Diseases of the Skin and Eyes21
- Ch. 22 - Microbial Diseases of the Nervous System19
- Ch. 23 - Microbial Diseases of the Cardiovascular and Lymphatic Systems20
- Ch. 24 - Microbial Diseases of the Respiratory System20
- Ch. 25 - Microbial Diseases of the Digestive System20
- Ch. 26 - Microbial Diseases of the Urinary and Reproductive Systems19
- Ch. 27 - Environmental Microbiology20
- Ch. 28 - Applied and Industrial Microbiology19
Tortora14th EditionMicrobiology: An IntroductionISBN: 9780138200398Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 1, Problem 7
It has been said that bacteria are essential for the existence of life on Earth. Which of the following is the essential function performed by bacteria?
a. Control insect populations
b. Directly provide food for humans
c. Decompose organic material and recycle elements
d. Cause disease
e. Produce human hormones such as insulin
Verified step by step guidance1
Read the question carefully to understand what is being asked: identify the essential function performed by bacteria that supports life on Earth.
Review each option and consider the role of bacteria in the environment and human life:
a. Control insect populations – While some bacteria may affect insects, this is not their primary or essential ecological role.
b. Directly provide food for humans – Bacteria are not a direct food source for humans, although they contribute indirectly through fermentation and nutrient cycling.
c. Decompose organic material and recycle elements – Bacteria break down dead organic matter, releasing nutrients back into the environment, which is crucial for nutrient cycling and ecosystem sustainability.
d. Cause disease – Although bacteria can cause disease, this is not an essential function for the existence of life on Earth.
e. Produce human hormones such as insulin – Some bacteria can be engineered to produce insulin, but this is a biotechnological application, not a natural essential function.
Conclude that the essential function of bacteria is best described by option c, as decomposition and nutrient recycling are fundamental to maintaining life-supporting ecosystems.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Role of Bacteria in Decomposition
Bacteria play a crucial role in breaking down dead organic matter, converting it into simpler substances. This decomposition process recycles essential elements like carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus back into the environment, maintaining ecosystem balance and supporting life.
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Introduction to Bacteria
Bacteria and Nutrient Cycling
Through decomposition and other metabolic activities, bacteria facilitate nutrient cycling, which is vital for soil fertility and plant growth. This cycling ensures that nutrients are continuously available in ecosystems, supporting various life forms including humans.
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Misconceptions about Bacterial Functions
While bacteria can cause diseases and be used in biotechnology (e.g., insulin production), their essential ecological function is not disease causation or direct food provision. Understanding these distinctions helps clarify bacteria’s fundamental role in sustaining life.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
What type of microorganism has a peptidoglycan cell wall, has DNA that is not contained in a nucleus, and has flagella?
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Textbook Question
Which of the following is a beneficial activity of microorganisms?
a. Some microorganisms are used as food for humans.
b. Some microorganisms use carbon dioxide.
c. Some microorganisms provide nitrogen for plant growth.
d. Some microorganisms are used in sewage treatment processes.
e. all of the above
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Textbook Question
Spallanzani’s conclusion about spontaneous generation was challenged because Antoine Lavoisier had just shown that oxygen was the vital component of air. Which of the following statements is true?
a. All life requires air.
b. Only disease-causing organisms require air.
c. Some microbes do not require air.
d. Pasteur kept air out of his biogenesis experiments.
e. Lavoisier was mistaken.
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Textbook Question
It is possible to purchase the following microorganisms in a retail store. Provide a reason for buying each.
a. Bacillus thuringiensis
b. Saccharomyces
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Textbook Question
Which of the following is an example of bioremediation?
a. Application of oil-degrading bacteria to an oil spill
b. Application of bacteria to a crop to prevent frost damage
c. Fixation of gaseous nitrogen into usable nitrogen
d. Production by bacteria of a human protein such as interferon
e. All of the above
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