22.4 Microorganisms, medicines and bioremediation

Question 1

which medicines are biotechnology used to produce?

Answer 1

penicillin
insulin
bioremediation

Question 2

what is the fungus involved in penicillin production?

Answer 2

P. chrysogenum

Question 3

what does P. chrysogenum need to grow?

Answer 3

high oxygen levels
rich nutrient medium

Question 4

how is penicillin produced?

Answer 4

batch process which starts by growing the fungus in small fermenters

mixture is continuously stirred to keep it oxygenated alongside a rich culture medium

buffer solution maintains a pH of 6.5

temperature is maintained at 25 degrees

drug is extracted and purified

Question 5

what is penicillin used for?

Answer 5

is an antibiotic which prevents bacteria from growing and competing for resources

Question 6

how is insulin produced?

Answer 6

removal of the gene which codes for human insulin from a human cell

is then inserted into the DNA of genetically modified bacteria

bacteria grown on an industrial scale in fermenters and insulin is collected and purified

Question 7

what is insulin used for?

Answer 7

treating diabetes

Question 8

what is bioremediation?

Answer 8

microorganisms are used to break down pollutants and contaminants in the soil or water

Question 9

what are the two ways of bioremediation?

Answer 9

using natural organisms

GM organisms

Question 10

natural organisms for bioremediation

Answer 10

many microorganisms break down organic material such as sewage and crude oil

Question 11

GM organisms for bioremediation

Answer 11

GM bacteria is developed to break down specific contaminants which they are not naturally designed to deal with

Question 12

where does bioremediation occur?

Answer 12

at the site of contamination