genetic modification Flashcards
What is fermentation
A process by which MICROORGANISMS break down GLUCOSE to produce ENERGY, which can happen both anaerobically and aerobically
Word equation for fermentation
Glucose —-) ethanol + carbon dioxide
Give three examples of microorganisms
Virus, bacteria, protoctists
Explain how the conditions are kept anaerobic in beer making
Carbon dioxide produced creates froth which prevents oxygen from entering
Explain how conditions are kept anaerobic in wine production
A water filled air lock is placed on top
So that it allows carbon dioxide to escape but doesn’t allow oxygen to enter
Explain how beer is made
Barley grains left to germinate which activates the enzyme amalyze to break down starch— maltose
Yeast ferments maltose in barley grains by respiring anaerobically, producing alcohol and carbon dioxide
Explain why yeast respire anaerobically during bread making
Because the oxygen is all used up as the yeast use it to rapidly reproduce
Thus in order to survive they begin to anaerobically respire
Explain how bread is made
1)flour, water dough and yeast are added and kneaded to make the dough
2) the yeast has used up all the oxygen (to reproduce) , thus produces enzymes that break down the flour to produce sugars, which it uses to anaerobically respire
3) this produces ethanol and carbon dioxide, where the carbon dioxide trapped inside the bread causes the bread to rise
4) the bread is baked where the gas bubbles expand and the high temperature kill the yeast, and the ethanol evaporates.
Explain how to make yogurt (8)
1)sterilize all equipment to prevent microorganisms from growing and to prevent chemical contamination
2) Pasteurize the milk at 85-95degrees for 15 seconds , to prevent harmful microorganisms from growing which can slow down the growth of the yogurt as they will compete with each other, and could spoil the taste
3)Homogenize the milk, so that the flat globules are distributed
4)Cool the milk at 40-45
5)inoculate with culture of bacteria (lactobaccilus bulgaricus) and incubate for a few hours
The bacteria ferment the lactose(milk sugars) into lactic acid which:
-prevents the growth of harmful microorganism’s so perseveres the nutrients in the milk
-and coagulates the milk.
-The PH also denatures enzymes in milk proteins, causing them to turn into semi-solids.
-gradually halts the reproduction of yeast
6)the yogurt is cooled to 5 degrees and stirred
7)flavorings and colorings can be added before packing
Explain what effects lactobaccilus has on yogurt production (3)
ferments lactose into lactic acid which,
-this low ph prevents other harmful microorganisms which preserves the nutrients
-coagulates the milk to make it thicken
-denatures milk proteins so that they turn into semi-solids
Explain why milk is pasteurized in yogurt production
-to kill harmful microorganisms which slow the production of yogurt as they create competition with lactobacillus
-so that other microorganisms do not spoil the milk
Why does lactobacillus stop reproducing eventually in yogurt production?
-because the lactic acid has a low pH which gradually reduces their reproduction
Meaning of biotechnology
The use of microorganisms to produce us useful products for humans
Give two reasons why microorganisms are useful for biotechnology
1)Because they use an external food source to produce waste products, which can be used and useful for humans
2)there are no moral or ethical concerns
What is the function of the steam Inlet in a fermenter(2)
To sterilize the fermenter, inorder to prevent the growth of harmful microorganisms:
-because if microorganisms enter they can compete with the cultured microorganisms, reducing their yield efficiency
-to prevent contamination, as the microorganisms could release other waste products
What is the function of the water jacket surrounding a fermenter(2)
-Continuously circulates cool water around, to prevent the culture from overheating at to keep it at its optimum for enzymes to function for its growth
-Because fermentation releases heat
What is the function of the paddles in a fermenter
-Distributes the heat to keep enzymes of the microorganisms at optimum temperature for growth
-keeps the microorganisms In exposure to the nutrients of the culture for optimum growth
What is the function of the air inlet in a fermenter
So microorganisms need to respire aerobically, so it gives them access to oxygen at all times
Why is the air inlet filtered in a fermenter?
To prevent the air from becoming contaminated
Which type of materials are fermenters made of and why?
Made of materials that do not corrode such as stainless steel, because many microorganisms produce acidic waste products
Why can wine not be made with an alcohol concentration higher than 15%
When yeast respire anaerobically they produce ethanol, but high amounts of ethanol inhibit the growth of yeast
Thus as more ethanol is produced, it kills the yeast
Explain why the water is boiled in the experiment to investigate anaerobic respiration of yeast with a test tube
To ensure that any air present in the water is removed
What color does hydrogen carbonate indicator turn in the presence of carbon dioxide
From orange—) yellow
Describe how you could measure the rate of reaction, of anaerobic respiration of yeast, using hydrogen carbonate indicator and lime water
With lime water, you can count the number of bubbles produced
With hydrogen carbonate indicator, you can time how long it takes for it to change colour to yellow
Give a more accurate way of measuring the rate of reaction of anaerobic respiration in yeast, instead of counting bubbles or seeing how long hydrogen carbonate takes to change colour
Measure the volume of gas collected in a gas syringe
Give for ways in which humans make demands on the environment:
1)make space for living and for waste
2)use fuel for powering vehicles and heating homes
3)food to sustain an ever growing population
4)materials to build homes with
Give three ions + magnesium that plants need and their functions
Nitrates—) needed to make amino acids for proteins which aid in cell growth
Phosphates—) needed to make DNA and cell membranes
Potassium—-) needed to help enzymes for respiration and photosynthesis
Magnesium—) makes chlorophyll which is needed for photosynthesis
Explain for each of the three +magnesium important ions that a plant needs, what happens if it lacks in them
Nitrates—-) poor plant growth and yellowed leaves
Phosphates—-) poor root growth and purple or discolored leaves
Potassium—-) poor flower or fruit growth with brown spots
Magnesium—) yellowed leaves
Give three ways that a farmer can maximize crop yield in terms of soil
1)soil structure—) can plough to break apart compacted soil, so that it has better drainage and aeration for better mineral uptake
2)soil ph—-) can add like for example to acidic salts because if salt is too acidic this can reduce mineral uptake
3)control amount of ions—-) add fertilizers so that extra minerals are taken up for better crop growth
Explain why a farmer may want to plough his field
This breaks apart compacted soil
so that there is more aeration and drainage
Thus better mineral uptake and better crop growth
Why are acidic soils not good
Because they reduce the uptake of minerals
What is hydroponics
Growing plants without soil
What are the benefits of using fossil fuels for heating in a green house?
They produce carbon dioxide and water vapour
Where the carbon dioxide is crucial for photosynthesis
And the water vapour reduces water loss by transpiration
Explain how greenhouses are heated naturally by the greenhouse effect
Short wave infrared radiation enters
And is re-radiated back out as long wave infrared radiation
But cannot escape through the glass, so heats up the green house
What are the three main factors that limit the rate of photosynthesis
-temperature
-light intensity
-carbon dioxide
Give four ways greenhouses can optimize photosynthesis
1)can control heat as it absorb heat because of the green house effect, keeping at the optimum temperature, and in the winter can use paraffin heaters
2) can control carbon dioxide levels using a paraffin heater
3) can control the light intensity, where even at night light can be switched on to optimize time for onto synthesis
4)keeps in an enclosed space to protect from pests
Give two examples of organic fertilizers
Manure
Compost
Explain why organic fertilizers are not as effective at restoring nitrogen to the soil as inorganic fertilizers are
Because they are made of faaces and so only contain a portion of nitrogen (because it’s a waste product)
Explain why organic fertilizers are better at improving soil structure, compared to inorganic fertilizers
Inorganic fertilizers do not contain decaying matter, which is an essential to soil
What is one way of returning nitrogen back to the soil apart form using fertilizers?
Grow a legume crop which contains nitrogen fixing bacteria
What is a pest
An organism that reduces the yield of a crop
What do molluscicides kill
Snails and slugs
Give four disadvantages of pesticide
1)can create resistance where they become useless
2)can build up in the fatty tissues of organisms as bio accumulation, and can become more concentrated throughout the food chain, called bio magnification
3) are slow to decompose so persitant in the environment
4) can kill other other unharmful organisms
Explain how bio accumulation works in pesticides
Pesticides are soluble fats so when a herbivore eats a plant with pesticide on it,
This is absorbed into the fatty tissue instead of being broken down
So the carnivore that eats this also has pesticide build up in their fatty tissues
Explain how pesticides such as DDT spread around the world
Pesticides are persistent and so stay sprayed for long periods of time
And winds can carry them with them
Some farmers control pests by instead of growing the same type of crops all at the same time of year, they grow different crops at different times.
Explain how this reduces damage by pests
Pests usually have a preference for a specific type of crop, so if their crop is not there then they are likely to leave
Give four criteria that an idea, pesticide should have
Should be biodegradable
Should be easy to apply
Should only target the specific organism
should be safe to transport and store
Give an example of a pest for tomatoes
Whiteflies
Explain how when using biological control, pests can never fully b eliminated
Because if the biological control agent did kill all the pests, it itself would die out because it would have no food supply
Give four examples of biological control agents
-natural predator
-parasite
-pheromone(natural chemicals that attract mates)
-sterile males(so that no offspring can be born)
Give four disadvantges of biological control
-doesn’t kill all the pests
-acts very slowly
-could become a pest itself
-may not be able to adapt to new environments or may move out itself
Two Advantages of using chemical pesticides
-quick and easy
-wipe out entire population
4 Advantages of biological control
Does not create resistance
Does not need to be reapplied because organism can keep reproducing
Can be specific to organism
Does not lead to bio accumulation in food chains