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Microorganisms in polluted environments degrade petroleum differently, both qualitatively and quantitatively. This means that if there is an oil spill, it may be tackled by seeding microorganisms in the water to contain the spill. This is because biodegradation of petroleum in water is influenced by a number of complex ecological factors.
Effects of petroleum on microorganisms are just being understood. However, the effect of petroleum on microbial chemotaxis has been documented and it has been seen that microorganisms in water change because of the pollution caused by petroleum. In addition, it has also been documented that microorganisms in petroleum polluted environments behave differently compared to microorganism in petroleum-free environments. However, at the moment the effects of petroleum on the structure, species succession and interactions have not understood completely and studies are still ongoing. But with the data that is available there are clear indications that petroleum does affect microorganisms and they do undergo certain changes.
The fact remains that if petroleum has adverse effect on most living things, it can be concluded that petroleum has effect on microorganisms too, and most probably this effect is not for the better as petroleum causes changes in their growth, disrupts their chemical structure and cause disappearance of the microorganisms. On the other hand certain microorganisms seem to get stimulated in the presence of petroleum and it becomes their food source.
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Gasoline is made from crude oil. The oil is pumped out of the ground in the form of a black liquid. This oil contains hydrocarbons, and the carbon atoms link together to form chains of different lengths. 
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