Your friend believes that prokaryotes are always detrimental and pathogenic. How would you explain to them that they are wrong?

Asingle-celled organism, which isdevoid of a membrane-bound nucleus and other organelles is known as a prokaryote. Despite some of the prokaryotes being pathogens, they also play essential roles in the process of decomposition,nitrogen fixation, movement of nutrients, and the process of bioremediation.

Theatmospheric nitrogen is converted into usable forms like ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates with the help ofnitrogen-fixing bacteria. Some of the prokaryotes like cyanobacteria, Azotobacter, and rhizobium play an essential role in nitrogen fixation. Rhizobia is used asfertilizer for the cultivation of plants.

Some of the species of bacteria, like E.coli work as a symbiont in the gut of humans, as they help in the process of digestion, as well as, helps to eradicate harmful pathogens from the body.

Some of the species of bacteria also work as decomposers, which dissociates dead animals and plants into nutrients and transfer them into thebiogeochemical cycles. Some of the prokaryotes are also used in food processing industries like in the formation of fermented foods like bread, wine, cheese, and yogurt. Some of the species of bacteria are also used in the process of bioremediation, that is, in the removal of pollutants from the surface of water and soil.