microbes

• microbes are also known as micro-organisms
• microbe characteristics:

  Movement

  Respiration

  Sensitivity

  Growth

  Reproduction

  Excretion

  Nutrition
• unicellular - one cell, multicellular - many cells
• main microbes - fungi, bacteria, virus
• bacterias are larger than viruses
• bacteria contain - cytoplasm, loop of genetic info, cell wall
• bacteria make you ill by multiplying quickly and releasing poisons
• bacteria reproduction - binary fission (splitting)
• fungi have - nucleus, mitochondria, chloroplasts, cell wall
• fungi are joined with strands called hyphae
• viruses are made of genetic information and protein
• useful microbes - brewing, baking
• fermentation:

  glucose -> carbon dioxide + alcohol
• diseases can be spread: airborne, water, food, touch, animals, sexual contact
• microbes that cause diseases are called pathogens
• infectious diseases are ones that can be passed on
• possible symptoms of infections:

  • high temperature
  • headache
  • aches
  • spots
  • vomiting / diarrhoea
• phagocytes are white blood cells that engulf microbes and destroy them
• lymphocytes are white blood cells that produce antibodies with attack microbes
• antibodies only kill bacteria
• alexander fleming accidentally discovered penicillin when he left an agar plate uncovered
• zones of inhibition - the area around the bacteria where the antibiotic is effective
• some types of bacteria are now resistant to antibodies
• antibody-resistant bacteria are known as superbugs
• non-communicable diseases are diseases that are not transmissable
• non communicable diseases can be causes by:

  • genetics
  • lifestyle choices
  • environmental factors