Pre-Midsem Flashcards
What is Environmental Biotechnology?
The application of Biotechnology to all aspects of the Environment
Focused on application in the environment and exploiting environmental information for greater goals.
What are the three main functions of Environmental Biotechnology?
- Understand the environment
- Intervene in environmental processes
- Improve environmental quality for sustainability
What are the principal aims of Environmental Biotechnology?
- Manufacture products in environmentally harmonious ways
- Minimize harmful outputs
- Clean up residual effects of human occupation
What improvements does Environmental Biotechnology provide?
- Prevention of environmental pollution
- Cleaning up contaminated environments
- Efficient mitigation of climate change
- Generation of valuable resources
List some challenges that Environmental Biotechnology aims to address in the 21st Century.
- Improved treatments for solid waste and wastewater
- Bioremediation and phytoremediation
- Ensuring environmental health through biomonitoring
- Cleaner production and energy from biomass
- Genetic engineering for environmental protection
How does Environmental Biotechnology enhance biological systems?
- Enhance or optimize conditions for existing biological systems
- Resort to alteration for desired outcomes
What is the significance of microbial biodiversity in Environmental Biotechnology?
It helps engineer large-scale systems for environmental quality
A detailed understanding of microbial biodiversity is crucial.
What factors are driving the growth of biotechnology in the 21st century?
- High price of petroleum
- Policies promoting alternatives to foreign oil
- Efforts to reduce net emissions of greenhouse gases
What are some of the applications of biotechnology in environmental processes?
- Alternative chemicals
- Feedstocks for fuels
- Commercial products
What traditional technologies have evolved into modern biotechnological methods?
- Traditional fermentative technologies
- Gene technology
- Recombinant DNA technologies
- Biochemistry
- Immunology
- Molecular and cellular biology
What are the key social, environmental, and economic benefits of Environmental Biotechnology?
They contribute to the development of a more sustainable society
Referenced from the Earth Summit and World Summit on Sustainable Development.
What are key features of biotechnology relevant to environmental applications?
- Majority of processes are microorganism-based
- Microbial biocatalysis is relatively inexpensive
- Flexibility in adapting to variable conditions
- Microbial species learn to metabolize various xenobiotics
What is the definition of Environmental Biotechnology according to the International Society for Environmental Biotechnology?
The development, use and regulation of biological systems for remediation of contaminated environments and for environment-friendly processes
Fill in the blank: Environmental Biotechnology relies on a detailed understanding of _______.
[microbial biodiversity]
Environmental Biotechnology is perceived as _______.
[green]
What are some scientific fields that interrelate with Environmental Biotechnology?
- Geo science
- Material science
- Energy
- Space science
What role does biotechnology play in sustainable development?
- Provides economic, social, and environmental benefits
- Attracts research evolution
What does the prefix ‘bio’ in Environmental Biotechnology signify?
Emphasis on biology and biological processes rather than chemical and physical processes
What is the definition of Biotechnology?
The integrated use of biochemistry, microbiology and engineering sciences to achieve applications of microorganisms, cultured animal cells or plant cells in various fields.
