ABBOTTS COLLEGE

ECONOMIC USES OF BACTERIA PAGE 2.14
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Degrade herbicides
 Herbicides are chemicals which kill weeds
 Bacteria clean contaminated groundwater
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Neutralise toxic waste in soil
 Eg oil and diesel
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Synthesize riboflavin
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One of the Vitamin B’s

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ECONOMIC USES OF BACTERIA PAGE 2.14
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Hemp fibre
Flax

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ECONOMIC USES OF
BACTERIA
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 Eg control of moth caterpillars
 Replace pesticides
 Have no effects on humans and most other beneficial insects
PAGE 2.14

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ECONOMIC USES OF
BACTERIA
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PAGE 2.14

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ECONOMIC USES OF
BACTERIA
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 Eg making cheese
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ECONOMIC USES OF
BACTERIA
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Make probiotics
 Dietary supplements which contain beneficial bacteria that will assist digestion
 Eg Lactobacillus and Bifido bacterium
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TEXTBOOK PAGE 2.14
LEARNING ACTIVITY 12: ECONOMIC USES OF
BACTERIA

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ECONOMIC USES OF
ALGAE
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Seaweed extracts include:
 Phycocolloids found in algal cell walls have gelling properties
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Used as gelling agents in food products eg instant puddings and also in cosmetics, medical drugs and insecticides
Thickening and stabilizing agents eg dairy products, artificial dairy toppings and canned pet food
To make agar plates used in laboratories for culturing bacteria
PAGE 2.14
agar plate

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ECONOMIC USES OF
ALGAE
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 Plant growth regulators which control growth and development of plants
 Iodine from kelp can be included in mineral salt tablets
 Natural pigments can be used as an alternative to chemical dyes and colouring agents
 Nutrient extracts used in plant fertilizers

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ECONOMIC USES OF
ALGAE
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Some seaweed is cultivated as a crash crop
 Eg Nori used in Sushi rolls
 Excellent source of minerals and vitamins
Freshly harvested kelp is used to feed cultured abalone
Nutritional supplements can be made from cultivated algae abalone kelp
Nori

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ECONOMIC USES OF
ALGAE
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Diatomaceous earth
 A fine sediment from the walls of dead diatoms
 Used in toothpaste, sink cleaners and polishes with low abrasive properties
Crude oil and natural gas are the remnants of photosynthetic products of ancient algae
Oil producing algae are being grown as a potential alternative to fossil fuels

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ECONOMIC USES OF
ALGAE
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Seaweeds have the potential to contribute to sustainable employment opportunities and socioeconomic upliftment
South Africa has an advantage when it comes to the marketing of seaweed and its products because our coasts are pollution free and we have a high biodiversity of seaweeds

FOR REVISION
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TEXTBOOK PAGE 2.15
LEARNING ACTIVITY 13:
ECONOMIC USES OF ALGAE

ECONOMIC USES OF FUNGI
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As a direct food source eg mushrooms
For the production of biological products such as:
 Alcohols
 Plant growth regulators for plant and fruit development
 Enzymes
 Eg cellulases for industrial use and proteases – the active ingredient of detergents proteases

ECONOMIC USES OF FUNGI
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To produce drugs
 Eg antibiotics to fight bacterial and fungal diseases – penicillin
Penicillin is one of the most wellknown and widely used antibiotics

ECONOMIC USES OF FUNGI
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 Drugs to control haemorrhage after birth eg ergometrine
 Drugs to control colestrol levels and ward off coronary heart disease eg statins

ECONOMIC USES OF FUNGI
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 In the making of yoghurt, maas, bread, beer and wine

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FOR REVISION
TEXTBOOK PAGE 2.16
LEARNING ACTIVITY 16:
ECONOMIC USES OF FUNGI

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