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Flashcards in B3 Biotechnology Deck (46)
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1
Q

What are micro organisms grown in

A

Fermenters

2
Q

What is a fermenter

A

A big container of liquid or culture medium it is controlled to have the correct conditions for microorganism so to grow

3
Q

Where in a fermenter is the food source

A

In the culture medium, carbohydrates and nitrates vitamins and minerals are in this liquid

4
Q

What else to micro organisms in the fermenter need

A

They need oxygen this is pumped in, they need the right temperature so they have a water jacket in this jacket water temperature is changed therefore changing the temp of the fermenter. They need the right pH to survive and aseptic conditions to stop other microorganism growing. A stirrer is needed to keep the culture mixed

5
Q

How can you test the effect of factors on yeast

A

When yeast respites anaerobically it turns sugar into co2 and alcohol. You can do an experiment to measure the rate of CO2 production. Boil water in test tube to remove dissolved oxygen, add yeast and put paraffin to keep oxygen. Add a bung with a tube going to limewater. Count the bubbles in the limewater over a set time to see the rate of CO2 production

6
Q

What is mycoprotein

A

It is use to make meat substitutes.

7
Q

What is a benefit of mycoprotein

A

It contains more protein and fibre and less fat

8
Q

What is fermentation

A

The breaking down of sugars to release energy yogurt is fermented milk

9
Q

How to make yogurt?

A

Sterilise equipment, pasteurise the milk . A starter culture of lactobacillus bacteria is added and the mixture is incubated. The bacteria ferment the lactose sugar in the milk forming lactic acid. This acid clots the milk creating yogurt

10
Q

What are the advantages of using micro organisms to make food

A

They grow very quickly so can make food fast. Easy to look after all they need is a space to grow food oxygen and the right temperatures. This means you can use them to make food anywhere. Waste products can be used as food for them this can make them cheaper

11
Q

What are non biological washing powders.

A

They contain chemicals that break up stains on your clothes

12
Q

What are biological washing powders

A

They contain the same chemicals as non biological washing powders but also contain a mixture of enzymes which break down stubborn stains

13
Q

How do biological washing powders work

A

They breaks down insoluble stains such as fats into soluble ones such as fatty acids, the water can then wash these away

14
Q

What is chymosin used in

A

The production of cheese

15
Q

How is cheese produced

A

Cheese is made using a substance called rennet. It is usually taken from the lining of a calfs stomach, it contains chymosin which clots the milk. Vegetarian cheese is made from chymosin made from genetically modified organisms

16
Q

What is invert axe used for

A

Manufacture of sweets

17
Q

How is invertase used in the manufacture of sweets

A

Invertase converts sucrose into glucose and fructose which tastes sweeter. This means less sugar is needed for the same sweetness meaning cheaper production and lower calories sweets

18
Q

Why immobilise an enzyme

A

So you don’t need to separate it from a mixture after the reaction

19
Q

How to immobilise an enzyme

A

Attach it to an insoluble material e.g fibres. Or they’re encapsulated in alignate beads. The insoluble material with attached enzymes can be washed and reused

20
Q

Why is lactose free milk important

A

Lactose is a sugar found in milk, it is broken down in the digestive system by lactase . Some people lack the enzyme lactase therefore they cannot break it down. Gut bacteria feed on it causing abdominal pain wind and diarrhoea

21
Q

How to produce lactose free milk

A

First you need to immobilise the enzyme lactase. Create a column of these immobilised beads. Add the milk slowly into the syringe at the bottom treated milk will come out. Use a glucose test strip to confirm

22
Q

How can you immobilise lactase

A

Mix sodium alignate and lactase in a syringe. Add the mixture one drop at a time to a beaker of calcium chloride. Beads will form with the lactase inside

23
Q

What is pectinase used for

A

Extracting apple juice

24
Q

How to genetically modify bacteria to produce insulin

A

A plasmid is removed from a bacterium. The insulin gene is removed from the human chromosome using a restriction enzyme creating sticky ends. Plasmid then cut open with same enzyme . Plasmid and insulin gene mixed together, ligaments is added which joins the sticky ends to produce recombinant DNA ( two different bits of DNA together) grow the bacterium in a fermenter

25
Q

What does transgenic mean

A

That the organism contains a gene transferred from another species such as bacteria that produce human insulin

26
Q

What is Agrobacterium Tumefaciens

A

It is a pathogen that invades plant cells and inserts its genes into the plants DNA

27
Q

When and how is Agrobacterium Tumefaciens used

A

It is used to modify plants, you find a gene that is resistant to herbicides. You insert the gene into the Tumefaciens circular loop of DNA. Allow the bacteria to infect a plant cells. Grow these infected cells to create an adult plant with the gene

28
Q

What bacteria helps make plants resistant to insects

A

Bacillus thuringiensis

29
Q

What does bacillus thuringiensis do

A

Produces a toxin which kills many of the inesects larvae that are harmful.

30
Q

What is Bt used in

A

The gene for the Bt toxin is inserted into crops, this makes them resistant to insects. It is harmless to humans

31
Q

What is a danger with using the Bt toxin

A

Insects may develop resistance and no longer be killed farmers try to avoid this by using different insecticides

32
Q

How can biotechnology help reduce world hunger

A

Crops can be developed to be resistant to pests meaning a higher crop yield . They can be engineered to grow better in drought conditions. Some can be modified to combat certain deficiency diseases such as Golden a Rice which contains vitamin A

33
Q

Why is biotechnology to decrease hunger not feasible

A

Some say they can’t afford to buy food not because there isn’t enough. Fears that countries become dependant on companies that sell GM seeds. Poor soil sometimes means crop fails even Gm seeds can fix that

34
Q

What are flavonoids

A

Are molecules found in many plants that have antioxidant effects which are thought to protect against cancers and heart disease

35
Q

What are purple tomatoes

A

They are genetically engineered tomatoes that contain flavonoid genes from the snapdragon plant. This is an easy way to get antioxidants

36
Q

Why do people have problems with flavonoids

A

They believe it may change the flavour of the tomato slightly
Some are worried the flavonoid crops may have long term effects. (GM crops are made by the man to kill us all)

37
Q

What is food security

A

The idea that everyone has the correct amount of nutrients they need every day

38
Q

How can you reduce pest numbers

A

Using insecticides which kill pests, genetically modify plants to produce toxins that kill the pests. Crop rotation meaning changing what is grown in each section each year this means insects don’t build up. Use biological control such as ladybirds which eat aphid

39
Q

How can you increase food production

A

Reduce pest numbers

Selectively breed plants

40
Q

How can selectively breeding plants increase food production

A

Bred the best offspring of plants or the one that produce the greatest yield. Grow that crop it will grow largest

41
Q

What are biofuels made from

A

Biomass such as plants animals or their waste products

42
Q

What is biogas

A

Microorganism decompose waste material and produce this. It is usually 70% methane 30% carbon dioxide . It can be burned to power a turbine or heat water and produce steam for central heating systems

43
Q

What is biodiesel

A

It is an alternative fuel, made from vegetable oils, animals fats or waste cooking oil

44
Q

What is ethanol

A

It can be burnt as fuel, it is a cleaner fuel producing fewer pollutants. Produced by yeast fermenting glucose. Materials like sugar cane, corn and barley can be used as a source of glucose in ethanol production. Cars can run on a mixture of ethanol and petroleum (. Gasohol)

45
Q

What are advantages of using biofuels

A

A “Greener alternative” . They are sustainable or renewable . Plants grown to make biofuels photosynthesis removing CO2 this balances the release of CO2 from burning biofuels so they don’t release as much C02 so not global warming. Fairly clean produce few participate. Doesn’t produce significant amount of sulphur dioxide which causes acid rain.

46
Q

What are disadvantages of biofuels

A

You need to grow crops which take s a large a,punt of land stripping land available for food production. Things like power stations and vehicles have to be adapted to run on biofuels this takes time and money