Farming Microbes

Question 1

Why is producing food from microbes better than from raining cattle?

Answer 1

Because 10kg of yeast can produce 250 tonnes of protein in 24 hours: one cow weighing 1 to one only produces 100g.

Question 2

Why may some companies find it hard to sell SCP?

Answer 2

People associate bacteria with illness, rather than food.

Question 3

Why can some companies over come the problems of SCP?

Answer 3

It can be marketed as vegetarian food: Quorn: made into meat like pieces or mince.

Question 4

Why is a stirrer needed in a fermenter?

Answer 4

To keep the food and oxygen mixing in with the culture.

Question 5

Why are fermenters shut down and cleaned?

Answer 5

In case a microorganism other than Penicillum because the penicillin that is going to be made will be contagious/contamination.

Question 6

Why can microorganisms be used for producing complex chemicals because:

Answer 6

• they have relatively simple biochemistry
• can reproduce very quickly
• can be farmed on a larger scale to produce more complex useful molecules
• can be genetically engineered to produce further valuable chemicals.