microbe

Everyday

1. A microbe is a living thing too small to see without a microscope, such as a bacterium, a virus or some fungi like yeast. tree →
2. Some microbes cause diseases, but most are harmless and many are useful, helping us digest food, making bread rise and breaking down dead things. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons microbes come up in health and hygiene (washing hands removes harmful microbes, vaccines help the body fight them), food (yeast in bread, bacteria in yogurt and cheese) and decomposition (microbes rot leaves and food). Pupils learn about Louis Pasteur and Alexander Fleming, who found penicillin, a medicine made from a mould that kills bacteria. «Microbe» is the same as «micro-organism» or the everyday word «germ».

Examples

• Microbes are too small to see with your eyes. tree →
• Wash your hands to get rid of harmful microbes. tree →
• Yeast is a microbe that makes bread rise. tree →
• Microbes in the soil break down dead leaves. tree →
• Some microbes make us ill, but many help us. tree →
• Your stomach is full of helpful microbes. tree →
• Louis Pasteur showed that microbes spoil food. tree →

Note

Plural «microbes». Say «MY-krohb». «Germ» usually means a harmful microbe. Trap: antibiotics kill bacteria but do not work against viruses like a cold.