A micro-organism or microbe is an organism that is so small that it is invisible to the naked eye. The term is synonymous by usage to single-celled organism, and unicellular organism, even though some consist of more than one cell, some unicellular protists are visible to the naked eye, and some colonial species are microscopic. All unicellular organisms are able to reproduce themselves without help of other organisms, as opposed to viruses.

Micro-organisms may be found almost anywhere in the taxonomic structure. Bacteria and archaea are always or almost always microscopic, as are most protists. Even some fungi, a primarily macroscopic taxon, are micro-organisms.

Micro-organisms are found everywhere in nature, owing to the existence of extremophiles, micro-organisms that have adapted to generally hostile environments. Extremophiles may be found in environments such as the poles, deserts, geysers, just beneath the surface of rocks, and the bottom of the deep sea . Some are known to survive prolonged time in vacuum, or to be unusually resistant to radiation.

Micro-organisms can be helpful in recycling other organisms' remains and waste products, or when employed in biotechnology, e.g., for brewing and bakery. They can also be harmful as pathogens when, as parasites, causing infections. Micro-organisms were probably the first form of life that appeared on earth. Today they have an important place in all ecosystems and in most higher multicellular organisms. For mankind they are important for participating in driving the earths main element cycles, and for the creation of certain types of food, medical substances and biological weapons.

See also

• biology
• prokaryote
• eukaryote
• archaea
• cell
• Nanobacterium

External links

• Microbe News from Genome News Network http://www.genomenewsnetwork.org/categories/index/microbes.php
• BBC News, 28 September, 2001: The microbes that 'rule the world' http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/1569264.stm Citat: "... The Earth's climate may be dependent upon microbes that eat rock beneath the sea floor, according to new research....The number of the worm-like tracks in the rocks diminishes with depth; at 300 metres (985 feet) below the sea floor, they become much rarer..."
• BBC News, 10 July, 2000, Snow microbes found at South Pole http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/827063.stm Citat: "...able to survive the large doses of ultraviolet radiation, extreme cold and darkness...The microbes have DNA sequences similar to a category of bacteria known as Deinococcus..."
• BBCNews: 16 January, 2002, Tough bugs point to life on Mars http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/1764716.stm Citat: "...This research demonstrates that certain microbes can thrive in the absence of sunlight by using hydrogen gas..."
• BBCNews: 17 January, 2002, Alien life could be like Antarctic bugs http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/1765792.stm