B3 Biotechnology Flashcards
What are micro organisms grown in
Fermenters
What is a fermenter
A big container of liquid or culture medium it is controlled to have the correct conditions for microorganism so to grow
Where in a fermenter is the food source
In the culture medium, carbohydrates and nitrates vitamins and minerals are in this liquid
What else to micro organisms in the fermenter need
They need oxygen this is pumped in, they need the right temperature so they have a water jacket in this jacket water temperature is changed therefore changing the temp of the fermenter. They need the right pH to survive and aseptic conditions to stop other microorganism growing. A stirrer is needed to keep the culture mixed
How can you test the effect of factors on yeast
When yeast respites anaerobically it turns sugar into co2 and alcohol. You can do an experiment to measure the rate of CO2 production. Boil water in test tube to remove dissolved oxygen, add yeast and put paraffin to keep oxygen. Add a bung with a tube going to limewater. Count the bubbles in the limewater over a set time to see the rate of CO2 production
What is mycoprotein
It is use to make meat substitutes.
What is a benefit of mycoprotein
It contains more protein and fibre and less fat
What is fermentation
The breaking down of sugars to release energy yogurt is fermented milk
How to make yogurt?
Sterilise equipment, pasteurise the milk . A starter culture of lactobacillus bacteria is added and the mixture is incubated. The bacteria ferment the lactose sugar in the milk forming lactic acid. This acid clots the milk creating yogurt
What are the advantages of using micro organisms to make food
They grow very quickly so can make food fast. Easy to look after all they need is a space to grow food oxygen and the right temperatures. This means you can use them to make food anywhere. Waste products can be used as food for them this can make them cheaper
What are non biological washing powders.
They contain chemicals that break up stains on your clothes
What are biological washing powders
They contain the same chemicals as non biological washing powders but also contain a mixture of enzymes which break down stubborn stains
How do biological washing powders work
They breaks down insoluble stains such as fats into soluble ones such as fatty acids, the water can then wash these away
What is chymosin used in
The production of cheese
How is cheese produced
Cheese is made using a substance called rennet. It is usually taken from the lining of a calfs stomach, it contains chymosin which clots the milk. Vegetarian cheese is made from chymosin made from genetically modified organisms
What is invert axe used for
Manufacture of sweets
How is invertase used in the manufacture of sweets
Invertase converts sucrose into glucose and fructose which tastes sweeter. This means less sugar is needed for the same sweetness meaning cheaper production and lower calories sweets
Why immobilise an enzyme
So you don’t need to separate it from a mixture after the reaction
How to immobilise an enzyme
Attach it to an insoluble material e.g fibres. Or they’re encapsulated in alignate beads. The insoluble material with attached enzymes can be washed and reused
Why is lactose free milk important
Lactose is a sugar found in milk, it is broken down in the digestive system by lactase . Some people lack the enzyme lactase therefore they cannot break it down. Gut bacteria feed on it causing abdominal pain wind and diarrhoea
How to produce lactose free milk
First you need to immobilise the enzyme lactase. Create a column of these immobilised beads. Add the milk slowly into the syringe at the bottom treated milk will come out. Use a glucose test strip to confirm
How can you immobilise lactase
Mix sodium alignate and lactase in a syringe. Add the mixture one drop at a time to a beaker of calcium chloride. Beads will form with the lactase inside
What is pectinase used for
Extracting apple juice
How to genetically modify bacteria to produce insulin
A plasmid is removed from a bacterium. The insulin gene is removed from the human chromosome using a restriction enzyme creating sticky ends. Plasmid then cut open with same enzyme . Plasmid and insulin gene mixed together, ligaments is added which joins the sticky ends to produce recombinant DNA ( two different bits of DNA together) grow the bacterium in a fermenter
What does transgenic mean
That the organism contains a gene transferred from another species such as bacteria that produce human insulin
What is Agrobacterium Tumefaciens
It is a pathogen that invades plant cells and inserts its genes into the plants DNA
When and how is Agrobacterium Tumefaciens used
It is used to modify plants, you find a gene that is resistant to herbicides. You insert the gene into the Tumefaciens circular loop of DNA. Allow the bacteria to infect a plant cells. Grow these infected cells to create an adult plant with the gene
What bacteria helps make plants resistant to insects
Bacillus thuringiensis
What does bacillus thuringiensis do
Produces a toxin which kills many of the inesects larvae that are harmful.
What is Bt used in
The gene for the Bt toxin is inserted into crops, this makes them resistant to insects. It is harmless to humans
What is a danger with using the Bt toxin
Insects may develop resistance and no longer be killed farmers try to avoid this by using different insecticides
How can biotechnology help reduce world hunger
Crops can be developed to be resistant to pests meaning a higher crop yield . They can be engineered to grow better in drought conditions. Some can be modified to combat certain deficiency diseases such as Golden a Rice which contains vitamin A
Why is biotechnology to decrease hunger not feasible
Some say they can’t afford to buy food not because there isn’t enough. Fears that countries become dependant on companies that sell GM seeds. Poor soil sometimes means crop fails even Gm seeds can fix that
What are flavonoids
Are molecules found in many plants that have antioxidant effects which are thought to protect against cancers and heart disease
What are purple tomatoes
They are genetically engineered tomatoes that contain flavonoid genes from the snapdragon plant. This is an easy way to get antioxidants
Why do people have problems with flavonoids
They believe it may change the flavour of the tomato slightly
Some are worried the flavonoid crops may have long term effects. (GM crops are made by the man to kill us all)
What is food security
The idea that everyone has the correct amount of nutrients they need every day
How can you reduce pest numbers
Using insecticides which kill pests, genetically modify plants to produce toxins that kill the pests. Crop rotation meaning changing what is grown in each section each year this means insects don’t build up. Use biological control such as ladybirds which eat aphid
How can you increase food production
Reduce pest numbers
Selectively breed plants
How can selectively breeding plants increase food production
Bred the best offspring of plants or the one that produce the greatest yield. Grow that crop it will grow largest
What are biofuels made from
Biomass such as plants animals or their waste products
What is biogas
Microorganism decompose waste material and produce this. It is usually 70% methane 30% carbon dioxide . It can be burned to power a turbine or heat water and produce steam for central heating systems
What is biodiesel
It is an alternative fuel, made from vegetable oils, animals fats or waste cooking oil
What is ethanol
It can be burnt as fuel, it is a cleaner fuel producing fewer pollutants. Produced by yeast fermenting glucose. Materials like sugar cane, corn and barley can be used as a source of glucose in ethanol production. Cars can run on a mixture of ethanol and petroleum (. Gasohol)
What are advantages of using biofuels
A “Greener alternative” . They are sustainable or renewable . Plants grown to make biofuels photosynthesis removing CO2 this balances the release of CO2 from burning biofuels so they don’t release as much C02 so not global warming. Fairly clean produce few participate. Doesn’t produce significant amount of sulphur dioxide which causes acid rain.
What are disadvantages of biofuels
You need to grow crops which take s a large a,punt of land stripping land available for food production. Things like power stations and vehicles have to be adapted to run on biofuels this takes time and money
