NOBLE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL-DOHA, QATAR
NOTES (2025-2026)
Subject: SCIENCE Class: VIII
CHAPTER 2
MICROORGANISMS: Friend or Foe (Part I)
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I. Answer the following questions.
1. What are the major groups of microorganisms?
The major groups of microorganisms are bacteria, fungi, algae,
protozoa and viruses.
2. How do viruses differ from other micro-organisms?
Unlike other micro-organisms, viruses reproduce only inside the
cells of the host organisms, which may be a bacterium, plant or
animal. Outside the organism viruses are inactive.
3. Microorganisms are useful in our lives. Support the statement with
examples. Microorganisms are very useful in our lives. They are:
a. They are helpful in the preparation of curd, bread, cake and
alcohol.
b. They are helpful in the preparation of medicines.
c. They help in increasing soil fertility by nitrogen fixation.
d. They also help in making cheese, pickles and other edible items.
e. They help in cleaning the environment by decomposing
the waste materials.
4. How do microorganisms help in cleaning up of the environment?
Bacteria and fungi act as natural scavengers and they can
decompose the organic waste rapidly. Thus they help in the recycling
of nutrients in the biosphere.
5. Explain the uses of Bacteria
.
i) Lactobacillus bacteria promote the formation of cheese and
curd.
ii) It helps to produce wines and vinegar.
iii) It helps in the formation of manures by decomposing
the organic wastes.
iv) It helps to produce biogas.
v) Bacteria present in the intestine of ruminant animals
helps in the digestion of cellulose.
vi) Bacteria like rhizobium, azotobactor etc. help in nitrogen
fixation.
vii) Some bacteria help in the production of antibiotics,
Vitamin K, Vitamin B complex, etc.
6. What is the role of bacteria in increasing the soil fertility?
i) Bacteria like rhizobium which lives in the root nodules of
leguminous plants and free soil bacteria like azotobactor
help to convert atmospheric nitrogen into nitrates.
ii) Bacteria present in the soil decomposes the organic wastes
and add nutrients back to soil.
7. Draw the diagrams of;
i) Chlamydomonas
ii) Spirogyra
iii) Bread Mould
iv) Paramecium
v) Virus
Refer page No. 18 & 19
8. List any 2 beneficial uses of yeast.
a) Yeast is used in making bread and cakes.
b) It is used for the commercial production of alcohol and wine.
9. What is pasteurization?
Pasteurization is a food preservation method mainly used for milk. The
milk will be heated to 70°C for 15 seconds and then suddenly
chilled and stored. It helps to prevent the growth of disease-
causing bacteria.
10. . What are antibiotics? What precautions must be taken while taking
antibiotics? Antibiotics are the chemicals obtained from
microorganisms which are used to kill or stop the growth of
disease- causing microbes.
Antibiotics should be taken only when advised by a qualified
physician. They should also be taken when needed otherwise, they
become less effective and side effects may occur due to their long use.
11. . Define the following terms.
i) Vaccine: Vaccines are the dead or weak germs that
introduced in to the body to develop antibodies or resistance
against disease causing germs.
ii) Pathogens: The diseases causing micro-organisms are
called pathogens.
Eg; Bacteria, Viruses, fungi
iii)Carriers (Vectors): The organisms that carry pathogens
are called vectors.
Examples: Housefly, Mosquitoes
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