Explain how bacteria can be used by humans to recycle and br

Explain how bacteria can be used by humans to recycle and break down materials in the environment.

Solution

Apart from harmful bacteria, there are many beneficial bacteria which can help human beings in many ways.

In our day to day life bacteria are usseful in the production of Yogurt, Cheese, vinegar etc

Many of the bacteria are useful in the genetic engineering, Biotechnology , in the production of antibiotics etc.

Human beings are mainly responsible for the pollution that is being generated in the ecosystem now a days.

Some bacteria are ecofriendly in nature and help in the elimination of pollution caused in the ecosystem. they can be listed as follows.

1. Oil eating bacteria: these bacteria are found in places where there are oil spillages occuring in the environment.These bacteria feed on the oil which is spilled and helps in clearing it.Example include a specific strain called Aclanivorax.

2.Electricity generating bacteria: Thse are the one which are having appendages called nanowires. These bacteria can digect chemical solvents and produce electricity. These help in the clearing of sewage wastes .Example is Shewanella species.These are found in the deep sea water.

3. Radioactive contamination eliminating bacteria: These are the bacteria which help in the immobilization of Uranium, a Radioactive element . These bacteria can be used near nuclear plants to avoid spreading of Uranium .Example of this type of bacteria include Geobacter.

4.Plastic eating bacteria: These are the bacteria which helps in dealing with plastic , the major non biodegradable pollutant of the nature.There are some bacteria which help in the metabolization of non biodegradable plastic to biodegradable plastic, but the studies are still going on.

5.Nylon eating bacteria: surgical sutiures, tooth brushes are made of nylon.The byproducts produced are toxic in nature and are released in to the water.A type of bacterium Called Flavobacterium produce some enzymes which help in the digestion of these byproducts.

6.Methane metabolizing bacteria: The Methane gas ias a green house gas which is released from many industries, and by decomposition of our own wastes including live stock etc.some of the bacteria are having capability of metabolizing methane by using copper from the environment.

7.Recycling of news paper: Bacteria named T103 are found in the animal wastes and are helpful in the production of Butanol by eating paper.

8.Rocket fuel producing bacteria: there are some bacteria named Brocadia annamoxidans, which help in the production of Hydrazine, a rocket fuel from the human sewage.These are the bacteria which consume ammonia and produce Hydrazine.

9.Probiotic bacteria: some probiotic bacteria namely lactobacillus helps in decreasing Stress and anxiety in human body.

10.Decomposing bacteria: bacteria helps in the process of decomposing dead bodies and several wastes in the environment, producing useful organic elements to the environment.These are also called Biodegradable bacteria.

11. Bacteria in the gut: E.coli bacteria are friendly bacteria to the gut of the human body.They help in the digestion of food in the intestine by producing useful enzymes.