Today everyone seems to be afraid of germs. It seems that the word germ is almost synonymous with evil! However, many things that we have in the world today actually are made with the help of microorganisms. Microbes also help our environment.

Ways Germs Help Us:

Yogurt - Bacteria curdles the yogurt.

Cheese - Bacteria curdles the milk that is used to make cheese products.

Detergent - Tiny microorganisms, called diatoms, give detergents their cleaning power.

Wine - Microorganism waste gives the wine its alcohol content.

Decaying, or causing to rot, leaves and plants in the soil and making it fertile. Also they are involved in production of foods turning cabbage into sauerkraut.

Mouth germs can prevent harmful germs from growing in the mouth.

Germs make vitamin K, which helps us stop bleeding when we are cut.

Some germs are used to make vaccines.

 Some U.S. government scientists have found a way to use a bacterium, called Deinococcus radiodurans, to help earth's environment. Scientists have added parts of different bacteria to this bacteria to form a new "super bug." This newly created bacteria will be used by the government to clean up dangerous waste on the earth. 

Medicines and vaccines are made from bacteria.

Some bacteria help us digest our food.

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