A thought about microorganisms

[Enzyme]

Text in English (translated by me, so it will have many fouls... ).

Have you ever thought how would be the Earth without microorganisms?

As a first impression, it would suppose a great profit for the mankind because it would not exist infectious diseases for humans, animals and plants. Terrible epidemies as AIDS, cholera and tuberculosis would dissapear. Mortality would decrease and the production of crops would increase.

But it is not true. Without microorganisms life would not exist in the Earth because they have been the origin of life in this planet. 3 800 million of years ago, the first live being appeared, one chemoautotrophic, anaerobic and thermophilic prokaryotic cell which is capable of survive in the most extreme conditions (without oxygene, in high temperatures, etc). This ancestral microbe is the 'mother' of all the species and, with it, started the marvellous adventure of Evolution to Homo sapiens.

If we imagine the world without microbes, we would believe having a nightmare: the Earth would be a huge garbage dump with accumulated corpses, toxic waste and an unbreathable atmosphere. Microorganisms are in here from the beginnings of life and they have practised a big influence, creating the actual environmental conditions (temperature, oxygene, etc) favorables for this life.

Due to its metabolic activity, they take part in biogeochemical cycles (they are the first recyclers of our planet). They transform organic material contributing to the elimination of corpses, the degradation of vegetables and the depuration of water. Also they can degradate toxic components as radioisotopes and more, unpolluting the environment of that dangerous waste.

Its role in nutrition is very important. Thanks to them, humans enjoy food as bread, wine, beer, cheese, yogourt and sausage. Furthermore, the intestinal bacteria is needed for a better assimilation of nutrients and it supplies us vitamins. We shouldn't forget that microorganisms supply to people a large variety of industrial and sanitary products that without them we can't prescind: antibiotics, vitamins, esteroids, lipases, inmunosupresors, vaccines, etc.

We may recognise that without this microscopic beings, life would not exist in the Earth and humans, 'Kings of creation', need them to their survivance.

Text written by Mª Carmen de la Rosa Jorge (Ph. D. and titular professor of Microbiology. Complutense University of Madrid).
_____________________________________________________________

Text in Spanish:

¿Habéis pensado alguna vez cómo sería la Tierra sin microorganismos?

La primera impresión es que supondría un gran beneficio para la humanidad ya que no existirían las enfermedades infecciosas, no sólo del hombre y los animales sino también de las plantas. Desaparecerían terribles epidemias como el cólera, la peste, el SIDA, la tuberculosis, disminuiría la mortalidad y aumentaría la producción ganadera y agrícola.

Sin embargo, sin los microorganismos no existiría vida en la Tierra porque ellos han sido el origen de la vida en este planeta. Hace 3.800 millones de años apareció el primer ser vivo, una célula procariota, quimioautótrofa, anaerobia y termófila, capaz de sobrevivir en las condiciones extremas de la Tierra, sin oxígeno y con altas temperaturas. Este microbio ancestral es, pues, la "madre" de todas las especies y con él comenzó la maravillosa aventura de la evolución, hasta llegar al Homo sapiens.

Si imaginamos un mundo sin microbios, creeríamos tener una pesadilla: la Tierra seria un inmenso estercolero con cadáveres acumulados, residuos tóxicos y una atmósfera irrespirable. Los microorganismos están en ella desde el comienzo de la vida y ejercieron una gran influencia, creando las condiciones ambientales actuales de temperatura y oxígeno, favorables para la vida.

Debido a su actividad metabólica intervienen en los ciclos biogeoquímicos, de forma que son los principales recicladores de nuestro planeta. Transforman la materia orgánica, contribuyendo a la eliminación de los cadáveres, la degradación de los vegetales y la depuración de las aguas. También son capaces de degradar compuestos tóxicos como metales pesados y radioisótopos, descontaminando el ambiente de estos residuos peligrosos.

Su papel en la alimentación es importante. Gracias a ellos el hombre disfruta de alimentos como el pan, el vino, la cerveza, los quesos, yogures y embutidos. Además, la microbiota intestinal es necesaria para una mejor asimilación de los nutrientes y nos proporciona vitaminas. Sin olvidar que los microorganismos proporcionan al hombre gran variedad de productos de importancia industrial y sanitaria de los que actualmente no podríamos prescindir: antibióticos, vitaminas, esteroides, lipasas, inmunosupresores, vacunas.

Humildemente debemos reconocer que sin estos seres microscópicos la vida no existiría en la Tierra y que el Hombre, "Rey de la Creación", los necesita para su supervivencia.

Cedido por Mª Carmen de la Rosa Jorge, Profesora Titular de Microbiología de la Universidad Complutense de Madrid.

[victor]

My opinion, what the world will be without microorganisms? simple, just take one example, there will be soooooo many organic waste undegraded..
So, it'll be me (microbe) who fix all the things..

[Enzyme]

My opinion, what the world will be without microorganisms? simple, just take one example, there will be soooooo many organic waste undegraded..
So, it'll be me (microbe) who fix all the things..

OK then. Only I want to explain my laugh due to this comment: 'there will be soooooo many organic waste undegraded [...]'.

Sorry for my mistake, Poison .

[victor]

*psst..psst hey Enzyme...I suggest you not to post only smilies in you post without putting up some usable sentences...or a Poison named Poison will blame you..*psst..psst..

[Poison]

Are you talking about someone I know?

[Enzyme]

Hey, I rectified and modified my post :D. Don't tell me off...

[Poison]

I haven't seen anything.
By the way, victor why are you trying to make mods look like evil?

[Enzyme]

He he he he, Victor, don't be a squealer. Don't give me away! :lol:.

[victor]

I haven't seen anything.
By the way, victor why are you trying to make mods look like evil?

The third post of this topic previously is only filled with smilies (without any sentence) so I warned Enzyme to put on some sentences into it..I did that because I remember that you're the one who wrote "so, don't only put up some useless smilies..." (IMMSMR)..
beside, in the other post also you like an antagonist in drama Poison.. (I think I've ever written it somewhere on this forum.. )

[Poison]

Ok then. Thanks for warning others and helping us.

[Enzyme]

I'll take it in account for the next time .

[victor]

[quote="Enzyme]OK then. Only I want to explain my laugh due to this comment: 'there will be soooooo many organic waste undegraded [...]'.
.[/quote]

What do you mean by that Enzy?? do you think that I'll become a lazy microbe??