Transcript Stinking Feet and Other Rotten Stuff

Stinking Feet and
Other Rotten Stuff
Georgia CTAE Resource Network
Instructional Resource Office
For use with Culinary Arts, Agriculture, Construction, Healthcare
and Biotechnology pathways.
Written By: Philip Ledford and Dr. Frank Flanders
July 2009
Objectives
 Students will be able to:
 Explain what makes things decompose.
 Evaluate conditions necessary for decomposition.
 Discuss the places bacteria and fungi thrive.
 Review helpful and harmful ways decomposers affect humans and
animals.
 Survey their chosen career for the effects of microorganisms
Enduring Understanding
 All organic matter eventually returns to
the Earth as nutrients through
decomposition by bacteria and fungi.
Essential Questions
 What would the world be like if organic
matter did not decompose?
 What effects does decomposition have
on the Earth’s environment?
Why Your Feet Stink.
 Everyone has
experienced smelly
feet. It may have
been someone else's
or your own.
 Why do you think
feet stink?
Why Your Feet Stink.
 The reason your feet stink is not because it is
stuck in a shoe all day. It is caused by bacteria.
 Bacteria breaks down the sweat your feet
release from the quarter of a million sweat
glands. The bacteria break down the sweat and
dead skin cells of your feet into sulfur
compounds.
Bacteria and Fungi
 The two major organisms that makes organic
matter decompose are bacteria and fungi.
 Bacteria and fungi decomposes organic matter
(living organisms i.e. plants and animals)
 Bacteria and fungi decompose wood, leaves,
plants, and many other living things.
Bacteria
 Bacteria – a prokaryotic or single celled
microorganisms
 Prokaryotic organisms are organisms that lack a cell nucleus.
 Bacteria thrive in every habitat on earth. The live in Earth’s water,
plants, dirt, even deep into the earth’s crust bacteria grows.
 Bacteria is the main decomposer of dead organic matter.
Fungi
 Fungi – a eukaryotic or multi cellular organism.

Eukaryotic organisms are organisms that have a cell nuclueus. (plant
cells and animal cells are eukaryotic).

Though fungi are not as destructive as bacteria it is still a very invasive
organism.

All fungi can be found in dark, warm and damp places such as under
dead trees, rocks, and other things. Some fungi like mushrooms and
lichen can grow on and next to trees and rocks.
Prokaryotic Cells
Notice the prokaryotic cell has no
nucleus and is usually very small in
size when compared to eukaryotic
animal or plant cells.
Archaebacteria are similar to normal
bacteria except that have no organelles
within their cells.
Most bacteria and archaebacteria are
prokaryotic cells.
Eukaryotic Cells
Notice that the eukaryotic cell has
a nucleus and is much larger in
size when compared to
prokaryotic cells.
Unlike a prokaryotic cell the
eukaryotic cell has more
organelles (parts of a cell the
serve a specific function) and is
more complex is structure.
Plant and animal cells are
eukaryotic cells.
Bacteria and Fungi
 Not all Bacteria and fungi are bad.
 Ways people use bacteria :



Antibiotics
Cleaning purposes
Digesting Food




Ways people use fungi :
Food
Medicine
Pesticides
How Stuff Decomposes

Decomposition is the break down of tissue of a
formerly living organism into simple forms of
matter.

Once a living thing has died bacteria from the
environment and from the living thing takes over
and slowly decays the once living material.

Bacteria and/or fungi feed on the nutrients from
the once living material and release different
chemicals (most of which give off odors).
Necessities for Decomposition

Certain environmental conditions play a huge role in decomposition.

When exposed to different environmental elements decomposition can be sped up
or slowed down.


Not all things decompose after death.
When plants and animals die they can be preserved under conditions

Why has the body of the Woolly Mammoth been preserved for millions of years in the Antarctic?
Necessities for Decomposition

When dead material is exposed to a hot and humid environment the
decomposition process is greatly sped up. This is because bacteria
thrives and grows better in warm, humid conditions.

When dead material is exposed to a cold dry climate decomposition can
be greatly slowed down even completely stopped if under the right
conditions.
Here is a large piece of oak that
has been preserved often being
buried in a peat bog (swamp
area)
Places Bacteria and Fungi
Can Be Found
 Humans and Animals have bacteria on and
inside them.

Animals such as cows and sheep have bacteria in their stomach to help
with digestion. If bacteria are not present in the cows stomach the animal
can not digest food.

A bacteria in the human stomach produces lactic acid which aids in
digestion. If this bacteria is not present it can cause digestive problems

Humans also have the same bacteria that is on Limburger cheese on their
skin. This bacteria decomposes skin and sweat causing body odor.
Places Bacteria and Fungi
Can Be Found

A fungi most people are familiar with is athletes foot. Athlete's foot is a fungal skin
infection that occurs on the human foot. Fungi need warm, moist places to grow, a
foot that is in a sweaty shoe is perfect for fungal growth.

A fungal infection of the skin is ring worms. A fungus that can grow from dead skin cells can
spread on the human skin or scalp in a circular form causing redness and an itching sensation.

Clean skin is the best prevention.
Places Bacteria and Fungi
Can Be Found

Another bacteria on the human skin can have a harmful effect on the human
body called Staphylococcus . Staph can cause infections to open or untreated
wounds. In extreme cases Staph has caused death.
Places Bacteria and Fungi
Can Be Found

Fuligo septica or dog vomit slime mold is a fungus like organism that grows in
mulch in gardens and parks.
Places Bacteria and Fungi
Can Be Found

Dog vomit slime mold in its fruiting stage is bright yellow but after a day or
two it turns into a pinkish color as seen below.
Places Bacteria and Fungi
Can Be Found

Bacteria and Fungi can grow in any
dark, damp and warm place. They can
also grow in and on plants and
animals.

Bacteria and fungi are on almost all
surfaces in our environment, including
our bodies.

Humans and often animals have
different bacteria’s that live in their
intestines that aid in digestion.

Bacteria and fungi also grow on food.
Places Bacteria and Fungi
Can Be Found

In addition to growing on trees and plants, bacteria and fungi can grow
in buildings and homes.

The moisture from splashing rain and around this bath tub provide a perfect
growing environment for bacteria and fungi.
Paint protects wood from moisture, but once the paint seal is broken water may enter and cause wood to rot.
Helpful and Harmful
Bacteria and Fungi

Botulism is a type of food poisoning caused by botulinum toxin A. This
organism is one of the most deadliest poisons on earth, even more
poisonous than cyanide.

Though botulinum toxin A is very poisonous it is used in Botox procedures
to remove wrinkles.

Botulinum toxin A paralyzes the part of the body it is injected into. If that
part of the body can not move then it can not wrinkle.
Helpful Bacteria and Fungi
 Contrary to popular belief, most bacteria are
either harmless or helpful. Only a handful of
bacteria cause illnesses in humans and
animals. Those that cause illness are called
pathogenic bacteria and those that are illness
cause are called nonpathogenic bacteria.
 Many bacteria, molds, and fungi are used to
help people rather than harm them.
Helpful Bacteria and Fungi

Penicillin – Discovered in 1928 penicillin quickly became a
“miracle drug” that simply grew from mold.
In the 1940’s it was used in World War II
and saved many lives.
Penicillin is used to cure many bacterial
infections like staph, strep throat,
gonorrhea, etc.
Helpful Bacteria and Fungi
 E. Coli – Found in the lower
intestines of humans and warm
blooded animals. E Coli
produces vitamin K and prevents
several different pathogenic
bacteria from infecting the human
body.

E. Coli can be dangerous when
different strands of e.coli like
strands from other animals are
ingested.

Washing your hands is the best
prevention.
Helpful Bacteria and Fungi
 Rhizobium – A soil
bacteria that aids in nitrogen
fixation after being established in
different types of roots.
To the left are soy bean roots. Each
root contains billions of Rhizobiums
to keep nitrogen levels stable.
How Professions are
Affected Bacteria and Fungi
 Most professions are affected by bacteria and
fungi.

Some of the areas are the medical, culinary, agriculture and construction
areas.

Some bacteria and fungi are used in making medicines.

Some are used in the food we eat.

While some bacteria and fungi are used in developing ways to prevent
other bacteria and fungi from growing.
How Professions are
Affected Bacteria and Fungi
 Agricultural Professionals

One example is the use of bacteria and fungi in pesticides. A fungi is mixed into
a liquid form and when sprayed on an insect and the fungus grows on the
insect eventually killing it.
Fungal pesticides covering grasshoppers
and a maggot.
How Professions are
Affected Bacteria and Fungi
 Agricultural Professionals

Fish hatcheries sometimes use a bacteria that eat fish waste and algae and turn it
into useful nutrients.
How Professions are
Affected Bacteria and Fungi
 Medical Professionals

In the medical industry most vaccines are made from bacteria. Some antibiotics
are made from bacteria and fungi to keep people and animals healthy.

Some mushroom fungi are used in the medical field because they posses nutrients
that fight infection and some diseases.
Shiitake mushrooms are sometimes used in
treatment for cancer
A ganoderma mushroom used to
help fight against certain viruses
How Professions are
Affected Bacteria and Fungi
 Culinary (food) Professionals

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Professionals in the Culinary industry use fungi and bacteria in hundreds of ways.
One way is the use of Saccharomyces cerevisiae or baker’s yeast. It is used to
make breads and wheat produce like pizza crust and dumplings.
The organism feeds on the bread
and gives off CO2 as a part of
digestion.
The CO2 causes the bread to rise.
Saccharomyces cerevisiae or yeast
How Professions are
Affected Bacteria and Fungi
 Culinary Professionals

Other bacteria is used in the
fermentation of pickles, wine, cheese,
yogurt and vinegar.
A fungus is made in
Limburger cheese that
gives it the distinct smell
and flavor.
Blue cheese is made with a
fungus that shows up as the
blue part of the cheese.
How Professions are
Affected Bacteria and Fungi
 Construction
Professionals

Professionals in the Construction
industry have developed materials
that can resist certain fungal growth.

Lumber used out doors must be
treated to resist rot.
Recently a type of paint has been developed that can literally disinfect
what ever it covers. Not only does it disinfect but it also fights against
super bug bacteria as well keeping the inside of walls from growing fungus
and mold.
How Professions are
Affected Bacteria and Fungi
 Biotechnology
Professionals in the
biotechnology field
sometimes cultivate
hundreds of different
bacteria and
pathogens.

Sometimes bacteriologists create new products for fighting pathogenic
diseases. Bacteriologists also study bacteria and its biology to better
predict behavior and prevent the spreading of harmful bacteria.
How Professions are
Affected Bacteria and Fungi
 Forensic Science

Forensic scientists have to know
the effects of decomposition very
well.

Forensic scientists determine
how long something has been
dead and the cause of death.

Knowing how bacteria and fungi
affect decomposition helps
forensic scientists estimate the
time and date of death.
Summary
 What have we learned?

Bacteria and fungi decomposes organic matter.

Decomposition is necessary.

Conditions for bacteria and fungi grow.

People use bacteria and fungi.

Bacteria and fungi can be helpful and harmful.

The work in many professions are affected by bacteria, fungi, and
decomposition.