View source for Microbes

Microbes are minute organisms that can not be seen by the naked [[Eye|eye]] and yet occupy a wide variety of habitats. Microbes tend to be referred to as [[Virus|viruses]], [[Bacteria|bacteria]], [[Fungi|fungi]] or [[Protozoa|protozoa]] and are known to cause infectious diseases. Many microbes, however, form a close co existence with us as humans, often benefiting our health rather than damaging it&nbsp;<ref>What Are Microbes, April 2012. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. [online] Available at: http://www.niaid.nih.gov/topics/microbes/pages/default.aspx/Pages/default.aspx [Accessed 16th October 2014]</ref>.

Microbes predate us greatly, appearing approximately three and a half billion years ago compared to our just-over 100,000. It is due to their [[Metabolism|metabolic activities]] that the uninhabitable conditons on Earth became fit for animal life. For example, microbes are the only known species to have the ability to [[Nitrogen fixation|fix nitrogen]]&nbsp;<ref>Ingraham, John L., 2010. March of the Microbes. Belknap Harvard</ref>.<br> 

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