Question 5 of 14intermediate💡 UnderstandLong Answer5 marks

In which way have microbes played a major role in controlling diseases caused by harmful bacteria?

Correct Answer

Microbes have played a major role in controlling diseases caused by harmful bacteria primarily through the production of antibiotics.

Antibiotics like penicillins are produced by useful microbes. These antibiotics are used to kill disease-causing harmful microbes in the body. They work by targeting and destroying the harmful bacteria responsible for infections.

These antibiotics have played a major role in controlling infectious diseases such as diphtheria, whooping cough (kali khansi), pneumonia, plague, and leprosy (kusht rog). Before the discovery of antibiotics, these deadly diseases used to kill millions of people all over the globe.

After the discovery of Penicillin, other antibiotics were also purified from other microbes. This greatly improved our capacity to treat deadly diseases effectively.

Today, we cannot imagine a world without antibiotics. They have become an essential tool in modern medicine for treating bacterial infections and saving countless lives from diseases that were once considered fatal.

Exercise: EXERCISES | Q: 5 | (Page 11)
For More Understanding

Explanation

The textbook context specifically addresses this question in sections discussing antibiotics. The key points are: (1) Antibiotics like penicillins are produced by useful microbes, (2) These antibiotics kill disease-causing harmful microbes, (3) They have controlled diseases like diphtheria, whooping cough, pneumonia, plague, and leprosy, (4) These diseases previously killed millions worldwide, (5) Post-Penicillin, many other antibiotics were discovered from various microbes. This directly answers how microbes help control bacterial diseases - through antibiotic production.

Solution Steps

  1. Step 1: Identify that microbes produce antibiotics like penicillins

  2. Step 2: Explain that antibiotics kill disease-causing harmful microbes

  3. Step 3: List the diseases controlled - diphtheria, whooping cough, pneumonia, plague, leprosy

  4. Step 4: Mention the historical impact - these diseases killed millions before antibiotics

  5. Step 5: Conclude with the importance of antibiotics in modern medicine

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