What is the significance of unicellular organisms?

Unicellular organisms have several significant roles in biology and medicine as well. Unicellular organisms have crucial roles in ecological processes, such as decomposition and nutrient cycling. They decompose the dead and decaying organic matter and fix their components into the soil. Other types of bacteria break down heavy metals in waste-water. Pseudomonas strains have the capability to degrade oil spills in the soil and oceans. Cyanobacteria are able to undergo photosynthesis and thus play a role in the production of oxygen; this helps to keep the balance of oxygen in the earth’s atmosphere. Some archaea are used in pharmaceuticals to create antibiotics that are different in their structure and mechanism from bacterial antibiotics. This helps to treat patients by different means, and may possibly be a solution to the modern day problem of bacterial resistance to antibiotics. Unicellular organisms may also be used in biotechnology, such as bacteria being used to create insulin for diabetes patients.