Introduction

Microbes play a crucial role in human welfare, providing food, medicine, and environmental benefits. NEET often asks questions on beneficial microbes, industrial applications, biofertilizers, antibiotics, biogas, and sewage treatment.

Understanding the use of microbes in everyday life and biotechnology is essential for scoring in MCQs and diagram-based questions.

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1. Microbes in Food Production

Definition:

• Microorganisms that enhance or produce food products

Examples:

• Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) → Bread, alcoholic beverages

• Lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus) → Yogurt, curd, cheese

• Acetobacter → Vinegar production

NEET Formula / Fact:

• Fermentation reaction:
  C₆H₁₂O₆ → 2 C₂H₅OH + 2 CO₂ (Alcoholic fermentation by yeast)

• Lactic acid fermentation: C₆H₁₂O₆ → 2 CH₃CH(OH)COOH

NEET Tip:

• Remember microbe + product table → Frequently asked in MCQs

2. Microbes in Industrial Products

Applications:

• Antibiotics production → Penicillin (Penicillium), Streptomycin (Streptomyces)

• Enzyme production → Amylase, protease, cellulase

• Vitamin production → Vitamin B12 by Propionibacterium

NEET Tip:

• Industrial microbiology questions → Link microbe → product → application

3. Microbes in Agriculture

A. Biofertilizers:

• Microorganisms that enrich soil nutrients

NEET Tip:

• Biofertilizers → Eco-friendly → Replace chemical fertilizers

B. Biopesticides:

• Microbes used to control pests

• Example: Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) → Insect pest control

4. Microbes in Sewage Treatment and Biogas Production

A. Sewage Treatment:

• Microbes decompose organic waste

• Stages:

  1. Primary → Settling of solids

  2. Secondary → Microbial decomposition → Aerobic bacteria convert organic matter to CO₂, H₂O

  3. Tertiary → Removal of pathogens and chemicals

B. Biogas Production:

• Anaerobic decomposition of organic matter by microbes → Methane-rich gas

• Reaction:
  C₆H₁₂O₆ → 3 CH₄ + 3 CO₂

• Uses → Cooking, electricity generation

NEET Tip:

• Biogas + biofertilizer production → Eco-friendly energy + soil enrichment

5. Microbes in Medicine

A. Antibiotics:

• Produced by microbes → Kill/inhibit pathogens

• Examples:

  • Penicillin → Penicillium notatum

  • Streptomycin → Streptomyces griseus

• NEET Tip: Only effective against bacteria, not viruses

B. Vaccines and Immunology:

• Microbes → Live attenuated or killed → Vaccines

• Example: BCG vaccine (Mycobacterium bovis)

C. Probiotics:

• Live microbes beneficial for gut health

• Example: Lactobacillus in yogurt

6. Microbes in Environmental Management

A. Bioremediation:

• Microbes degrade pollutants and toxic waste

• Example: Pseudomonas → Oil spill degradation

B. Recycling of Organic Matter:

• Microbes decompose dead plants/animals → Nutrient cycling

NEET Tip:

• Environmental application → Important for sustainable development questions

7. Microbes in Biotechnology

Applications:

• Genetically engineered microbes → Produce insulin, growth hormones

• Cloning and recombinant DNA technology → E. coli used for protein production

NEET Tip:

• Microbial biotechnology questions → Connect microbe → product → human welfare

8. NEET Important Formulas / Memory Aids

1. Fermentation: C₆H₁₂O₆ → 2 C₂H₅OH + 2 CO₂ (Alcohol)

2. Lactic acid: C₆H₁₂O₆ → 2 CH₃CH(OH)COOH

3. Biogas: C₆H₁₂O₆ → 3 CH₄ + 3 CO₂

4. Biofertilizer function: Microbes → Nitrogen/phosphorus enrichment

5. Antibiotic production: Microbe → Drug → Pathogen inhibition

Mnemonic for Microbial Applications:
“Food, Industry, Agriculture, Medicine, Environment, Biotechnology → F-I-A-M-E-B”

9. NEET Exam Tips

• Memorize microbe → product → application table

• Focus on fermentation reactions, antibiotics, biofertilizers, and biogas

• Diagram-based questions → Fermentation, sewage treatment, nitrogen fixation

• Conceptual questions → GMO microbes, probiotics, bioremediation

Conclusion

Microbes play a key role in human welfare by contributing to food, medicine, agriculture, energy, and environmental management. Mastery of beneficial microbes, fermentation, antibiotics, biofertilizers, biogas, and bioremediation is essential for NEET success.

With this StudentBro.in guide, students can efficiently revise microbial applications, formulas, and industrial processes, enhancing speed and accuracy in NEET exams.

Remember: Microbes = Food + Medicine + Agriculture + Energy + Environment + Biotechnology → Essential for human welfare.