biotechnology + genetic modification Flashcards
why are bacteria useful in biotechnology + genetic modification
- rapid reproduction rate
- ability to make complex molecules
- few ethical concerns over their manipulation + growth
- the presence of plasmids
2 ways anaerobic respiration of yeast is used
- bread making
- biofuel production
how is yeast used in bread making
the yeast respires anaerobically and the co2 forms bubbles making the dough rise, the microbe is killed while the bread bakes at high temperature
how is yeast used in biofuel production
- during anaerobic respiration of yeast ethanol is
produced - this ethanol can be purified and used as a fuel
what is used in fruit juice production
pectinase
how is pectinase used in fruit juice production
- breaks down pectin found in plant cell wall
- then it is easier to break down cell wall + more
juice can be squeezed
how does biological washing powder work
- enzymes in it remove tough stains
- protease: proteins to amino acids in blood + egg
stains - lipase: fats to fatty acids + glycerol in oil stains
use of lactase
produce lactose-free milk
how is lactase used to produce lactose-free milk
lactose is broken down into soluble sugars which are absorbed by intestines without symptoms
insulin production
- bacteria is genetically modified to produce the human insulin gene
- the bacteria is grown in a fermenter
- insulin is removed + purified to treat diabetes patients
what produces penicillin
a fungus called penicillium
penicillin + mycoprotein production
- large fermenters are used
- collected + purified
conditions to be controlled in fermenter
- temperature
- pH
- oxygen
- nutrient supply
- waste products
temperature
- monitored using sensors
- must be maintained to provide optimum conditions for enzymes
pH
monitored using sensors to provide optimum pH for growth of microbes
oxygen
air blown through fermenter as it is needed for respiration
nutrient supply
- needed for respiration + growth
- sugar-based products are added as a carb source
- urea/ammonia is added as a nitrogen source
waste products
accumulation will inhibit growth of microbes so it is removed from fermenter
genetic modification
changing the genetic material of an organism by removing, changing or inserting individual genes
the process of genetic modification using bacterial production of a human protein as an example
- isolate DNA from a human gene using restriction
enzyme + forming sticky ends - cut bacterial plasmid DNA with same restriction
enzymes + forming complementary sticky ends - insert human DNA into bacterial plasmid DNA
using DNA ligase to form recombinant plasmid - insert recombinant plasmid into bacteria
- bacteria containing recombinant plasmid multiply
- the human gene to make the human protein is
expressed in the bacteria
4 examples of genetic modification
- insertion of human genes into bacteria to produce
human proteins - insertion of genes into crop plants to give
resistance to herbicides - insertion of genes into crop plants to give
resistance to insect pests - insertion of genes into crop plants to improve
nutritional qualities
advantages of genetically modifying crops
reduced use of herbicides + pesticides
- less environmental damage
- cheaper for farmers
increased yield
- not competing with weeds
- mot suffering from pest damage
disadvantages of genetically modifying crops
- increased cost of seeds as GM seed development
is high cost - risk of inserted gene transferred to wild by
pollination which can reduce usefulness if weeds
gain gene that makes them herbicide-resistant - increased dependency on certain chemicals such
as herbicides that crops are resistant to -
produced by same company as GM seeds +
expensive - reduced biodiversity as herbicides are used, this
can impact insects
