Microorganisms & Human Health
Bacteria, viruses, fungi, immunity, vaccines, diseases
Key Concepts
- Bacteria: prokaryotes; reproduce by binary fission; gram-positive vs gram-negative
- Viruses: protein coat (capsid) around nucleic acid; require host cell to replicate
- Beneficial microbes: Lactobacillus (yogurt), Rhizobium (N₂ fixation), Aspergillus (citric acid)
- Harmful microbes: Plasmodium (malaria), Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB), Vibrio cholerae (cholera)
- Antibiotics: produced by microbes; kill or inhibit bacteria; penicillin from Penicillium notatum
Important Formulae
| Bacterial growth (exponential phase) | N = N₀ × 2ⁿ (n = number of generations) |
Quick Tips
- Koch's postulates: 4 criteria to establish causative link between microbe and disease.
- Pasteur's experiment disproved spontaneous generation using swan-neck flask.
- Biogas: mixture of methane (~70%) and CO₂ produced by anaerobic bacteria from organic waste.
Sample Practice Questions
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The discovery of antibiotics (penicillin) was made by:
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Answer: Alexander Fleming
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Aflatoxins are toxic compounds produced by:
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Answer: Aspergillus flavus (fungus)
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Baker's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) ferments glucose to produce:
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Answer: Ethanol and CO₂
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Vaccines work by:
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Answer: Stimulating immune memory without causing disease
Practice Questions
Practice 20 randomly selected NEET questions on Microorganisms & Human Health. Answers are revealed after each question.
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What are the key concepts in Microorganisms & Human Health for NEET?
Bacteria: prokaryotes; reproduce by binary fission; gram-positive vs gram-negative; Viruses: protein coat (capsid) around nucleic acid; require host cell to replicate; Beneficial microbes: Lactobacillus (yogurt), Rhizobium (N₂ fixation), Aspergillus (citric acid); Harmful microbes: Plasmodium (malaria), Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB), Vibrio cholerae (cholera); Antibiotics: produced by microbes; kill or inhibit bacteria; penicillin from Penicillium notatum.
Which formulae are important for Microorganisms & Human Health in NEET?
Bacterial growth (exponential phase): N = N₀ × 2ⁿ (n = number of generations).
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