MICROBES IN HUMAN WELFARE - Complete NEET Guide
20-Year NEET Trends Analysis + NCERT Based PYQs (2004-2024)
🦠 3 MUST-KNOW FACTS FOR NEET 2025
🧫 MICROBIAL APPLICATIONS - NEET NCERT Highlights
| Application Area | Key Microbes | NEET Example |
|---|---|---|
| Household Food | Lactobacillus (curd), Yeast (bread) | Role of LAB in curd (NEET 2019) |
| Industrial | Penicillium (antibiotics), Saccharomyces (ethanol) | Statins from Monascus (NEET 2021) |
| Sewage Treatment | Aerobic & anaerobic bacteria | BOD concept (NEET 2017) |
| Biocontrol Agents | Bacillus thuringiensis, Trichoderma | Bt cotton (NEET 2020) |
NEET 2025 Tip: Remember the 3 main biofertilizers - Rhizobium, Azospirillum, Mycorrhiza (asked 5 times in last decade)
🍞 HOUSEHOLD FOOD PROCESSING
- Curd Formation: Lactobacillus converts milk to curd
- Dough Fermentation: Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Baker's yeast)
- NEET Focus: LAB increases vitamin B12 (NEET 2016, 2022)
- Cheese Making: Propionibacterium shermanii (Swiss cheese)
🏭 INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION
- Antibiotics: Penicillium notatum (Penicillin)
- Organic Acids: Aspergillus niger (Citric acid)
- NEET Favorite: Cyclosporin A from Trichoderma (NEET 2018, 2021)
- Bioactive Molecules: Statins from Monascus purpureus
💧 SEWAGE TREATMENT & ENERGY
Sewage Treatment Process
- Primary: Physical removal of particles
- Secondary: Biological treatment (aerobic bacteria)
- NEET Example: BOD measurement significance (NEET 2019)
- Final Step: Anaerobic sludge digestion
Energy Generation
- Biogas: Methanobacterium in anaerobic conditions
- Biofuel: Saccharomyces in ethanol production
- NEET Special: Gobar gas composition (60% methane)
- Future Focus: Algal biofuels
NEET Special: Remember the biogas plant components - Digester, Gas holder, Inlet, Outlet (Diagram based question in NEET 2020)
🌱 BIOCONTROL & BIOFERTILIZERS
Biocontrol Agents:
- Bt Cotton: Bacillus thuringiensis (cry genes)
- Fungal Control: Trichoderma against pathogens
- NEET Focus: Biological vs Chemical control (NEET 2021)
- Other Examples: Ladybird for aphids
Biofertilizers - NEET Pattern:
- Nitrogen Fixers: Rhizobium (legumes), Azospirillum (cereals)
- Phosphorus: Mycorrhiza (fungal association)
- Cyanobacteria: Anabaena in paddy fields
- NEET Favorite: Root nodule formation (NEET 2020)
NEET Must-Know: Difference between biocontrol agents and biofertilizers - Asked 3 times in last 5 years
📜 NEET PYQ TRENDS (2014-2024)
2023: Which microbe is used for production of Swiss cheese?
Propionibacterium shermanii (Correct Answer)
2021: Which bacteria is present in root nodules of legumes?
Rhizobium (NCERT based)
2019: Which fungus is used as biocontrol agent?
Trichoderma (Direct NCERT line)
