Topic 7 - Biotechnology

Question 1

What is mycoprotein?

Answer 1

Mycoprotein is food made from the fungus Fusarium used to make high-protein meat substitutes for vegetarians

Question 2

How is mycoprotein made?

Answer 2

The fungus Fusarium is grown in aerobic conditions on glucose syrup which it uses as food. The fungal biomass is harvested and purified to produce mycoprotein.

Question 3

How can bacteria be genetically engineered to produce human insulin?

Answer 3

1) A plasmid is removed form a bacterium
2) The insulin gene is cut out of a human chromosome using a restriction enzyme. The cut leaves one of the DNA strands with unpaired bases - ‘sticky ends’
3) The plasmid is cut open using the same enzyme so is left with the same sticky ends
4) The plasmid and human insulin gene are mixed together
5) Lipase is added which joins the sticky ends together to produce recombinant DNA
6) The recombinant DNA is inserted into a bacterium
7) The modified bacterium is grown in a vat under controlled conditions. You end up with millions of these that produce insulin, which is harvested and purified

Question 4

What does a restriction enzyme do?

Answer 4

Restriction enzymes recognise specific sequences of DNA and cut the DNA at these points. The cut leaves one of the DNA strands with unpaired bases

Question 5

Why do some people not agree with Gm crops for better food supply and nutrition?

Answer 5

• Many argue that people go hungry because they can’t afford to buy food, not because there isn’t any so poverty should be tackled first
• There are fears some countries may become dependant on companies selling GM crops
• Sometimes poor soil is why crops don’t survive so GM crops won’t help