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positive, and talk about the many In science labs, researchers have
ways bacteria can be helpful. found ways to use bacteria to
produce medicines. For example,
First, decomposers help control some people with the disease
waste. Without these bacteria, the diabetes need insulin. Mass-
amount of waste in soil would produced insulin, made possible by
quickly make the soil a place where bacteria, has lowered the cost of
nothing could grow. Bacteria are insulin for people suffering from
even used in sewage treatment this disease.
plants to treat our waste.
Decomposers also help provide How Bacteria Hurt
organisms with nitrogen, as was
discussed earlier. Some bacteria are responsible for
diseases in humans and other
Bacteria also have an important organisms. Strep throat,
role in the foods we eat. Yogurt tuberculosis, pneumonia, and the
and some cheeses are made from black death are all the result of
using bacteria to ferment milk, and bacteria.
sauerkraut is made from using
bacteria to ferment cabbage. Figure 11 – The
bacterium
Streptococcus
pneumoniae
causes the
diseases
pneumonia,
bactermia and
meningitis. These
diseases, known
as pneumococcal
diseases kill more people in the United
States each year than all other vaccine-
Figure 10 – This yogurt advertises that it preventable diseases combined.
has “live cultures” of bacteria.
Bacteria can also be responsible for
Once we’ve eaten, bacteria food poisoning. Raw eggs and
continue to help us. Bacteria line undercooked meats can contain
the digestive tract and help us bacteria that can cause digestive
digest food. In your gut, the problems. One simple step
number of bacteria cells is greater everyone can take to reduce these
than the number of your own cells.
kinds problems is washing your
hands before cooking or eating.
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