Beneficial Microbes, Hydrogen Loving Microbes and 2 More
Gold does exist in two forms i.e. gold-ore deposits and dissolved gold. Dissolved gold is found in sea water and thermal springs. Despite the fact that gold in all these forms is toxic, some bacteria have been discovered by scientists for example Ralstonia metallidurans to metabolize oxidized gold. These bacteria reduce the gold and they encase themselves in solid gold the moment they are put in a solution containing oxidized gold. Enzymes play various roles in the process of metabolism. These include; Para-amino, Pantothenic and Niacin acid are involved in metabolism of one carbon compound and synthesis of nucleic acid. Purines, pyrimidines are used in transamination synthesis of amino acids. Riboflavin is used in decarboxylation reactions. Organisms require certain amounts of organic chemicals that cannot be synthesized in addition to those providing carbon and energy. These organic chemicals are known as growth factors for instance vitamins are growth factors for certain microorganisms. Growth factors for most microbes include amino acids, pyrimidines, purines, NADH, cholesterol, and heme. In addition to the chemical nutrients, organisms also have physical requirements for growth for example specific temperature conditions, Ph, pressure and osmorality. Temperature plays a significant role in microbial life through its three-dimensional configurations.
Hydrogen-loving microbes; at Yellowstone National Park, it is believed that microorganisms living in those springs used sulphur as a primary energy source. Researchers have however discovered that most of the microorganisms live off hydrogen. The gene bacterial sequences collected from the springs matched the other gene bacterial sequences known to metabolize hydrogen. These results made sense given the high temperature environment at the springs. The temperature in those springs is over 70°C, this makes it understandable that the microbes in that environment rely on hydrogen but not sulphur.
Prokaryotic Operons play roles in regulation of genes. They normally consist of a promoter, a series of genes for enzyme coding, structures like protein channel proteins and a regulatory element known as an operator. Vibrio vulnificus infection is caused by a Vibrio vulnificus bacterium that normally lives in salty and warm water. This bacterium can penetrate can penetrate directly into a wound, a cut or a tiny scratch. This bacterium multiplies and emits quorum sensing molecules. As the cells sense a quorum, some of their genes are turned on thriving in the body hence causing the disease.
- It is necessary for Vibrio vulnificus to turn on different genes as long as the bacterium finds an open place to penetrate in.
- The term turning on means being attacked
- The related microbe is unable to infect through the skin because the skin tough and cannot allow it to penetrate into the genes not unless there is a passage.
Scientists replicate cells’ DNA for many tasks for example gene action, elucidation of cells’ relationship, hereditary disease detection, determination of genetic fingerprints, detection of pathogens, and diagnosis of infectious diseases. These studies use a variety of DNA that are produced in the process known as polymerase chain reaction (PCR).The process of PCR can generate 100 billion DNA in a single afternoon. However the process requires a very high temperature of around 94°C. The temperature of almost boiling water is required so as to break the hydrogen bonds of DNA. But again this temperature can denature most polymerase enzymes of the DNA.
