Bacteria Case

A living thing is called an organism. An organism is an individual form of life that is capable of growing, processing nutrients, and reproducing. Different forms of life have developed all sorts of amazing abilities--there are animals that can change their color, and plants that eat insects. Organisms come also be many different shapes and sizes. The largest known organism is a certain honey mushroom fungus in the Malheur National Forest in Oregon. This fungus grows underground. Its body is a mass of thin threads that spread through the soil. It kills trees that it inhabits. First, it absorbs water and nutrients from the tree's roots. Then, when the tree dies, the fungus gets nutrition from the dead tissue.

Not all bacteria are bad, though. For example, there's Lactobacillus delbrueckii. This organism changes milk to yogurt. When you eat yogurt, you swallow living Lactobacillus bacteria. But that's good because Lactobacillus makes substances that are harmful to other, less friendly, bacteria. Lactobacillus doesn't do this to help us. It does this to prevent other bacteria from moving in on its territory.

So when you think of Bacteria, don't always have a negative thought. Even thought bacteria can be harmful, it can also help you survive. Bacteria, like us humans, are just other organisms that adapt to survive. Whether it's fighting to survive or helping fight for us.