The discussion on the role of microbes in human welfare may be divided under two headings - good and bad. Microbes as we know are capable of both good and bad as for as human life is concerned. We will now list both the harm and benefit by microbes and then let us draw a conclusion as to how microbiology has helped us to control or kill the bad microbes and make maximum use of good microbes. .
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Harmful effects
Many of the microbes may be regarded as man's worst enemies. They cause a wide array of diseases that not only in threatens the existence of plants and animals on which he depends, but his own existence also directly. Viral, bacterial and fungal diseases of human beings have taken a heavy toll of human life, destruction of domesticated animals and total loss of agricultural crops. Before the discovery of microbes and before they were connected to diseases (germ theory of disease), the reasons for these diseases were not known and man continued to suffer. But the development of microbiology gave man an insight into the life of microbes. Study of the structure and life history of microbes and their physiology, metabolism genetics etc. will help us to control them so that diseases can be prevented and if it occurs can be cured.
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Beneficial activities
The benefit that man can derive from the activities of microbes are immense. Study of these in microbiology helps us to improve (both in quality and quantity) these activities so that man can be benefited. Medical microbiology, Agricultural microbiology, Environmental microbiology, Industrial microbiology, biotechnology are all branches of microbiology that tell us as to how in various human