5. Microorganisms, Medicines And Bioremediation

Question 1

How was penicillin produced?

Answer 1

From a mould- penicillium notatum

Commercial production= larger amounts- penicillium chrysogenum on a melon- needs lots of oxygen and nutrients and sensitive to pPH and temp
A semi-continuous batch process used
Stage 1: fungus grows
Stage 2: produces penicillin
Stage 3:drug extracted from medium and purified

• small fermenters so high oxygen lvls can be maintained
• mixture continuously stirred- kept oxygenated
• ditch nutrient medium
• medium contains buffer, PH= 6.5
• bioreactors 25-27 degrees

Question 2

How is insulin made?

Answer 2

Used to be taken from animals pancreas- production not regular due to reliance on animals. Some were allergic and used to be impure
Peak activity is several hours after injected, made calculating when to eat difficult
Unethical in some faith groups

Now genetically modified bacteria can make human insulin, grown in fermenter and downstream processing results in constant supply of pure insulin

Question 3

What is bioremediation?

Answer 3

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

Question 4

What are the different approaches to bioremediation?

Answer 4

Using natural organisms
Many microorganisms naturally break down organic molecules producing carbon dioxide and water
Soul and water pollutants are often biological, if naturally occurring microorganisms are supported they will they will break down and neutralise many contaminants
EG- nutrients added to oil spill, encourage microbial growth, oil split into smaller particles= max SA for microbial action

GM organisms- break down or accumulate contaminants which they wouldn’t normally encounter
EG- bacteria engineered to remove mercury contaminants from water, mercury is very toxic and accumulates in food chains = filtering

Question 5

When can bioremediation take place?

Answer 5

At site of contamination
Mineral removed for decontamination

Question 6

Which method of bioremediation is most effective?

Answer 6

Often natural microorganisms outperform GM ones

As our ability to change the genetic material of microorganisms = may be possible to make bioremediation even more efficient.