Prokaryotes are important to all life on Earth for a number of reasons. They play a critical role in the recycling of nutrients by decomposing dead organisms and allowing their nutrients to be re-used.
They are also important for many metabolic processes. Bacteria in our guts and mouth help with the digestion of food by breaking down difficult to digest carbohydrates and other compounds. Recent research has suggested that the microbial community in our guts can be a significant factor contributing to obesity.
