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A level Biology > Cloning and Biotechnology > Flashcards

Cloning and Biotechnology Flashcards

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1
Q

What is biotechnology?

A

The exploitation of biological processes for use in industrial processes

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2
Q

Give 4 reasons why microorganisms are useful for biotechnology

A
  • No welfare issues to consider
  • Can be easily genetically modified
  • Rapid growth rate
  • Conditions for growing and nutrient requirements are relatively cheap
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3
Q

What is indirect food production?

A

When products made by microorganisms are used to make food (i.e. the microorganisms themselves are not eaten)

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4
Q

Give 4 examples of indirect food production by microorganisms

A
  • Brewing beer
  • Baking bread
  • Cheese making
  • Yogurt making
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5
Q

What is direct food production?

A

The microorganism itself is eaten as food

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6
Q

Give an example of direct food production

A

Quorn is made from a single celled fungus

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7
Q

Give 5 advantages of using microorganisms to make food

A
  • Microorganisms can be grown quickly,easily, and cheaply
  • Microorganisms can be grown on unwanted/wast food
  • Products are easy to separate/pure
  • Microorganisms can produce products (such as protein) very quickly
  • Microorganisms can be grown at low temperatures
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8
Q

Give 4 disadvantages of using microorganisms to make food

A
  • if conditions are sub-optimal some microorganisms produce toxins
  • downstream processing of products is required
  • Sterile growing conditions are needed which increases cost
  • People dislike the thought of eating microorganisms
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9
Q

Define bioremediation

A

The use of microorganisms to break down polluntants and contaminants in soil or water

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10
Q

How can genetic modification be used in bioremediation?

A

Scientists are trying to genetically modify bacteria so they can break down contaminants they would not usually encounter e.g. scientists have modified a bacterium to remove mercury from water

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11
Q

Which 2 ways can microorganisms be grown in a lab?

A

Microorganisms can be grown by:

  • innoculating broth or
  • innculating agar
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12
Q

Outline how to inoculate a nutrient broth

A
  • suspension of bacteria is made
  • known volume is mixed with a sterile nutrient broth
  • flask is stoppered to prevent contamination from air
  • Incubate at a suitable temperature, shaking regularly
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13
Q

Outline how to inoculate agar

A
  • inoculating loop is sterilised by heating in a flame
  • loop is dipped in bacterial suspension
  • zig-zag streaks are made across the agar, taking care to keep the agar surface intact
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14
Q

What are aseptic techniques?

A

Techniques used to culture microorganisms in sterile conditions so they are not contaminated with unwanted microorganisms

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15
Q

Which stage of the standard growth curve does the red line represent?

A

Lag phase

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16
Q

What is the lag phase of the standard growth curve?

A
  • Microorganisms are adapting to their new environment
  • They are growing by synthesising enzymes takes time
  • Not yet growing at their maximum rate
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17
Q

Which stage of the standard growth curve does the green line represent?

A

Log/exponential phase

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18
Q

Which stage of the standard growth curve does the purple line represent?

A

Stationary phase

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19
Q

Which stage of the standard growth curve does the blue line represent?

A

Death/decline phase

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20
Q

What happens in the log/exponential phase of the standard growth curve?

A
  • Rate of bacterial reproduction is close to or at it’s theoretical maximum
  • sufficient space and nutrients for population, so little competition between individuals
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21
Q

What happens in the stationary phase of the standard growth curve?

A
  • Net growth in population is 0
  • Death rate=rate of cell division
  • Nutrient levels decrease and waste products build up
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22
Q

What happens in the death/decline phase in the standard growth curve?

A
  • Reproduction has almost ceased
  • Death rate of cells is increasing
  • Food is scarce and waste products are at toxic levels
23
Q

Give 5 factors which limit bacterial growth

A
  • Nutrients avaliable
  • Oxygen levels
  • Temperature
  • Build-up of waste products
  • Change in pH
24
Q

What is batch fermentation?

A

The Microorganisms and nutrients are placed in the bioreactor and not removed until fermentation is complete

25
Q

What is continuous fermentation?

A

When the microorganism is placed in the bioreactor and nutrient medium is added continually whilst culture broth is removed.

26
Q

What kind of metabolite is harvested from a batch culture?

A

Secondary metabolite

27
Q

What kind of metabolite is harvested from a continuous culture?

A

Primary metabolite

28
Q

At what stage in the standard growth model are products harvested from in batch culture?

A

Stationary phase

29
Q

At what stage in the standard growth model are products harvested from in continuous culture?

A

Exponential/log phase

30
Q

Give 2 advantages of batch culture over continuous culture

A
  • The risk of contamination is low
  • Aseptic conditions are easier to maintain as the bioreactor is sterilised when it has been emptied
31
Q

Give an advantage of continuous culture over batch culture

A

The process is more efficient as product is continuously produced

32
Q

What is a primary metabolite?

A

A substance formed as part of normal growth

33
Q

What is a secondary metabolite?

A

A substance not produced as part of normal growth i.e a substance produced when an organism is experiencing stress

34
Q

Does the production of primary metabolites follow the standard growth curve?

A

Yes

35
Q

Does the production of secondary metabolites follow the standard growth curve?

A

No, production begins in stationary phase

36
Q

What is downstream processing?

A

The recovery and purification of biosynthetic products, including the recycling of salvageable components and proper treatment and disposal of waste

37
Q

How do bioreactors maintain ideal growing conditions?

A
  • Cooling jacket prevents bioreactor getting too hot
  • Contains pH, temperature, and Oxygen probes
  • Mixing blades ensure good oxygenation of the nutrients
  • Air entering the bioreactor is sterilised
38
Q

Why are isolate enzymes better than using whole organisms?

A
  • less wasteful
  • more efficient
  • more specific
  • less downstream processinf required
39
Q

Why are extracellular enzymes used more than intracellular enzymes in biotechnology?

A
  • extracellular enzymes are easier to isolate
  • fewer extracellular enzymes are produced so it is easier to isolate them
  • extracellular enzymes are more robust
40
Q

What are immobilised enzymes?

A

Enzymes which are attached to an inert support system over which the substrate can pass and be converted to product

41
Q

Give 4 advantages of using immobilised enzymes

A
  • enzymes are resuable so reduces cost
  • can be easily separated from products, making downstream processing easier
  • Purer product can be formed
  • enzyme stability increased so can work at a higher temperature, increases rate of reaction
  • Enzyme works in changed pH
42
Q

Give 3 disadvantages of using immobilised enzymes

A
  • reduces the efficiency of the enzymes
  • higher initial cost
  • requires more complex reactors
43
Q

What are the 4 methods of immobilisation?

A
  • Ionically bond to solid support e.g. ceramic beads
  • Covalent bond to substances e.g. other enzymes, collagen
  • Entrapment e.g. in gel based polysaccharides or cellulose
  • Membrane separation
44
Q

Give 3 advantages of membrane entrapment of immobilised enzymes

A
  • Relatively small effect on enzyme activity
  • Relatively simple to do
  • Widely applicable to different processes
45
Q

Give a disadvantage of membrane entrapment of immobilised enzymes

A
  • diffusion of substrate to and product from active site can be slow
46
Q

Give an advantage of entrapment of immobilised enzymes

A

Widely applicable to different processes

47
Q

Give 2 disadvantages of entrapment of immobilised enzymes

A
  • May be difficult to entrap
  • diffusion of substrate to and product from active site can be slow
48
Q

Give 2 advantages of covalent/ionic bonding to inorganic carriers for immobilised enzymes

A
  • enzymes very accessible to substrate
  • enzymes strongly bonded so unlikely to be lost
49
Q

Give an advantage of covalent/ionic bonding to inorganic carriers for immobilised enzymes

A

Active site of enzyme may be modified in the process, making it less effective

50
Q

Give 2 advantages of adsorption to inorganic carriers for immoblised enzymes

A
  • can be used for many different processes
  • enzymes are easily accessible
51
Q

Give a disadvantage of adsorption to inorganic carriers for immoblised enzymes

A

Enzymes can be lost from the matrix relatively easily

52
Q

What is the funciton of glucose isomerase?

A

Converts fructose to glucose

53
Q

What is the function of penicillin acylase?

A

Makes semi-synthetic penicillins

54
Q

Give 3 examples of use of immobilised enzymes in biotechnology

A
  • Penicillin acylase
  • Glucose isomerase
  • Lactase

A level Biology (12 decks)

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