Question

2.    List and explain one beneficial effect and one detrimental effect of bacteria.

Answer 1

In nature, many types of bacteria exist among which some causes harm, while some are beneficial for the ecosystem, humans.

Bacteria play many beneficial roles in our life. One particular example can be Streptomyces griseus used for the production of an antibiotic streptomycin. Antibiotics are useful against harmful bacteria as antibiotics kill or cease the spread of pathogenic bacteria. The particular antibiotic streptomycin is generally used to treat tuberculosis.

Another beneficial bacterium is Lactobacillus sp which is used in the food industry. This particular bacterium which is capable of producing lactic acid is used for the fermented food products such as curd.

Also, nitrogen-fixing bacteria such as Azotobacter, Rhizobium are capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen into the soil which is used by the plants for their proper growth. These bacteria play an important role in the nitrogen cycle.

Harmful bacteria:

Apart from the beneficial bacteria, several bacterial species exist which are detrimental to us. One particular harmful bacterium is Clostridium botulinum responsible for the botulism disease. These bacteria are gram-positive bacilli. They produce a neurotoxin known as botulinum toxin which causes nausea, vomiting, muscle weakness and may lead to death. The disease is foodborne.