6 - MZH - Use of microorganisms in biotech

Question 1

What is biotechnology?

Answer 1

Biotechnology = The industrial use of living organisms, or their products to produce resources such as food, drugs and other products

Question 2

Why type of living organisms are involved biotech + Why? (4)

Answer 2

Mostly microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) because:

• Their ideal growth conditionsa re easy to create
  
  • Microorganisms generally grow successfully as long as they have the right nutrients. temp, pH, moisture levels and availabilityof gases (some need O₂)
• Short life cycle ∴ they grow rapidly under the right conditions ∴ product is made rapidly
• Can grow in a range of inexpensive materials
  
  • Makes them economical to use
• Can be grown any time of the year

Question 3

Apart from whole organisms what else can be used in biotech?

Answer 3

Enzymes

Question 4

• What type of enzymes are used in biotech?
• Where are they found?
• Which type is the cheapest to use?

Answer 4

Intracellular enzymes = Enzymes contained within the cells of microorganisms

Extracellular enzymes = Enzymes secreted by the microorganisms

Isolated enzymes = Enzymes used that aren’t contained within cells

Naturally secreted enzymes are the cheapest to use - can be expensive to extract enzymes from cells

Question 5

Use of microorganisms in biotech:

Brewing (making beer) (3)

Answer 5

1. Yeast (e.g. Saccharomyces cerevisiae) is added to a type of grain (e.g. barley) and other ingredients
2. Yeast respires anaerobically by alcoholic fermentation to produce ethanol + CO₂
3. CO₂ provides the fizz for sparking wines

Question 6

Use of microorganisms in biotech:

Baking (3)

Answer 6

1. Anaerobic respiration of yeast (alcoholic fermentation) produces CO₂ which makes bread rise
2. Ethanol is not used in the process of making the bread rise but it makes the bread smell good!
3. Many flat breads like tortillas are made without yeast

Question 7

Use of microorganisms in biotech:

Cheese making (4)

Answer 7

1. Rennet contains the enzyme chymosin, which clots milk
2. Traditionally chymosin is obtained by extracting rennet from the stomach lining of calves but now chymosin is obtained from yeast cells that are GM to produce the enzyme
3. Involves lactic acid bacteria e.g. Lactobacillus which converts lactose in milk → lactic acid
   
   • This makes it turn sour and contributes to it solidifying
4. Production fo blue cheeses also involve the addition of fungi to make the characteristic blue veins

Question 8

Use of microorganisms in biotech:

Yoghurt production (2)

Answer 8

1. Like making cheese, uses lactic acid bacteria e.g. Lactobacillus to clot the milk by converting lactose in milk → lactic acid
2. That’s the base of a plain yoghurt, any additional flavourings are then added afterwards

Question 9

Use of microorganisms in biotech:

Penicillin (3)

Answer 9

1. Produced in industrial fermenters (bioreactors)
2. When under stress, fungi from the penicillium genus produces the antibiotic penicillin to stop bacteria from growing and competing for resources
3. One of the most common antibiotics used in medicine

Question 10

Use of microorganisms in biotech:

Insulin (3)

Answer 10

1. Crucial hormone for people w/ Type 1 diabetes
2. Produced by GM E.Coli which has had the gene inserted into its DNA
3. Bacteria is grown + produced in a industrial fermenter (bioreactor), collected then purified

Question 11

What is biomediation?

Give 2 examples

5 points overall

Answer 11

Biomediation = using microorganisms to break down pollutants

• Most commonly, pollutant removing bacteria that occur naturally at a site are provided with extra nutrients and enhanced growing conditions to alllow them to multiply and thrive
• These bacteria break down the pollutants into less harmful products

Examples:

1. Oil spills
   
   • ​​Disperses oil to increase SA for microorganisms to act on
2. GMO’s to perform a function it doesn’t naturally do e.g. removing mercury from water or digestion of plastics

Question 12

• What is a single cell protein?
• Give 2 examples

Answer 12

Single cell protein = produced by various microorganisms

• Valuable food source for humans + other animals
• Examples:*
• Quorn (from a fungus) - meat substitute
• Spirulina (from a bacteria) - complete protein ∴ very good for vegetarians/ vegans

Question 13

Advantages and disadvantages:

Using microorganisms in food production

4 of each

Answer 13

Advantages:

• Microorganisms used to make single-cell protein can be grown using many different organic substrates including waste materials e.g. molasses (byproduct of sugar processing). Could be used to eliminate waste products
• Grown quickly, easily and cheap
  
  • Low production costs since microorganisms have simple growth requirements, less land is required in comparision to growing crops or rearing feedstock
• Can be cultured anywhere if you have the right equipemnt
• Often considered a healthier alternative to animal protein

Disadvantages:

• Conditions needed to grown is also ideal for other microorganisms to grown ∴ a lot of effort is needed to ensure it doens’t become contaminated
• People may not like the idea of eating food that’s produced from waste products
• Single-cell protein doesn’t have the same texture or taste as real meat
• If single-cell protein is consumed in high quantities, heath problems could be caused
  
  • High levels of uric acid released when large amounts of amino acids are broken down