Food Biotechnology - MICR3215 Flashcards
What are some flaws of current food technology globally?
Current food technology globally has flaws such as heavy reliance on fossil fuels and synthetic pesticides and chemical
fertilizers in industrialized countries, leading to environmental concerns.
Despite attempts to increase food production efficiency, what issues still persist in the developing world?
hunger and malnutrition
What are some challenges faced by food production worldwide?
- Arable land becoming scarce,
- erosion and salinization stressing crops,
- the continuous growth of the human population
Is foodborne illness incidence increasing or decreasing globally?
Foodborne illness incidence is increasing in many parts of the world.
How can biotechnology potentially improve food production systems?
Biotechnology has the potential to improve food production systems by reducing reliance on chemical pesticides and fertilizers, enhancing food safety, and improving overall efficiency.
What is the purpose of recombinant DNA technology in relation to food?
Recombinant DNA technology can be used to directly modify an organism’s genetic structure, allowing control over insect pests, improving nutritional qualities, and enhancing processing characteristics of plant foods.
Apart from modifying organisms, what other role does biotechnology play in food safety?
Biotechnology can develop enhanced diagnostic systems to detect pathogens and toxins in food, thereby improving food safety.
How is microbial biotechnology applied in the food industry?
Microbial biotechnology is increasingly important in the food industry for obtaining valuable enzymes, amino acids, and polysaccharides from bacteria and fungi.
What are some global food problems?
- overreliance on fossil fuels,
- synthetic pesticides, chemical fertilizers,
- hunger and malnutrition,
- depletion of arable land,
- increase in salinization and erosion,
- increasing food production,
- an increase in foodborne illness.
How does biotechnology help address these issues?
- the development of transgenic plants which reduce reliance on chemical pesticides
- the use of diagnostic systems to detect pathogens.
What are some benefits of genetically modified (GM) crops?
GM crops have several benefits, including:
- increased crop production,
- reduced carbon dioxide emissions,
- the alleviation of poverty for farmers and their families,
- increased productivity of plants like soybean, canola, corn, and cotton,
- resistance to pests and diseases,
- the production of more nutritious foods like golden rice.
Why is food biotechnology controversial?
- consumer hostility towards transgenic crops in Europe, Britain, and Japan,
- concerns about potential risks to human health and the environment,
- the perception that it primarily benefits companies rather than the general public,
- public concern stemming from incidents like the contamination of “Starlink” corn in 1999,
- criticism of the industry’s use of Golden Rice as a PR tool,
- consumer misunderstanding of biotechnology,
- the lack of awareness about less controversial aspects such as microbe-derived food additives and DNA-based diagnostic techniques.
What are some examples of food biotechnology that are free from controversy?
- the use of recombinant chymosin in cheese making,
- xanthan gum in salad dressing,
- production of ethanol by organisms,
- diagnostic biotechnology,
- insulin production.
Why is food security important for every nation?
Food security is important for every nation because it is a crucial aspect of economic and political security.
What is the difference in food security between developed and developing countries?
Developed nations generally have abundant and high-quality food, while developing countries often face low food security due to a lack of resources and overall food unavailability.
How can biotechnology contribute to improving food security?
Biotechnology can improve food security through initiatives such as the development of transgenic plants and better diagnostic systems for detecting and addressing food-related issues.
In how many countries are GM crops grown?
GM crops are grown in more than 30 countries around the world.
What is the trend in the global biotech crop area?
The global biotech crop area has been increasing for 25 consecutive years, reaching 191.7 million hectares in 2020.
Which countries are the top five in planting GM crops?
The top five countries planting GM crops are the United States, Brazil, Argentina, Canada, and India.
What are some commonly grown GM crops?
-soybeans,
- corn,
- cotton,
- canola,
- alfalfa.
What are some benefits and applications of GM crops?
GM crops have been developed to resist pests, tolerate herbicides, improve nutrition, and provide other benefits in agriculture.
How do consumer attitudes toward GM crops differ?
Consumer attitudes toward GM crops vary widely, with some expressing concerns about potential health and environmental impacts, while others view them as a promising tool for sustainable agriculture.
What is the role of lactic acid bacteria in cheese manufacture?
Lactic acid bacteria in the starter culture ferment carbohydrates to produce lactic acid.
What happens in the absence of chymosin during cheese production?
In the absence of chymosin, decreased pH causes coagulation of casein, resulting in a soft cheese (e.g., cottage cheese).
Why is chymosin required for the production of hard cheese?
Chymosin is required for hard cheese production because it increases coagulation by cleaving the casein at amino acids that are attached to carbohydrates.
