... highlights how biodiversity has gradually increased since anaerobic bacteria evolved. Scientific evidence shows that the sun's temperature has increased by 30% during the past 4-5 billion years. By microbial activity changing original carbon dioxide to the present oxygen atmosphere, temperature remains around 13ºC, whereas a lifeless earth would be around 250ºC. 1.2. Microbes and Biotechnology 'The majority of microorganisms make crucial contributions to the welfare of the world's inhabitants by helping to maintain the balance of living organisms and chemicals in the environment', (Tortora, Funke and Case, 2004: 1). They form the basis of the food chains, break down waste and recycle chemical elements such as nitrogen and phosphorus. Microbes such as unicellular algae have a role in photosynthesis, and many microbes live in the digestive of humans/ animals to aid digestion and synthesise certain vitamins. 'Biotechnology is the application of biological systems, organisms or processes in manufacturing or service industries...it ...

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