Biotechnology and Genetic engineering

Question 1

State 3 reasons why bacteria is important in biotechnology?

Answer 1

• They have a rapid growth rate
• The can produce lots of complex molecules quickly
• They are cheap to grow

Question 2

State 3 further reasons why bacteria is important in biotechnology.

Answer 2

• There are no ethical concerns about how they are used
• They have the same universal genetic code
• They contain plasmids which can be used to transfer genes

Question 3

Write the word equation for anaerobic respiration.

Answer 3

Glucose → alcohol + carbon dioxide + energy

Question 4

State 2 uses of anaerobic respiration in yeast/

Answer 4

• Making bread rise (Co2 helps it rise)

- Making ethanol for biofuels

Question 5

Describe the use of enzyme pectinase in making fruit juice

Answer 5

• Pectinase breaks down pectins in the cell wall of fruits

- By breaking the cell walls will release the juice from within the cells.

Question 6

Describe the use of enzymes in biological washing powders.

Answer 6

Biological washing powders contain enzymes like lipases that break down lipids and proteases that break down proteins into smaller water-soluble molecules that are easier to wash away

Question 7

How is lactase used to produce lactose free milk?

Answer 7

When the enzyme lactase is added into milk which contains lactose, the lactase enzymes break down the lactose into simple sugars that can be consumed by people who are intolerant to lactose.

Question 8

What is the name of the fungus that produces penicillin?

Answer 8

Penicillium.

Question 9

What is the name of the fungus that produces penicillin?

Answer 9

Penicillium.

Question 10

How are fermenters used in the commercial production of penicillin?

Answer 10

Fermenters are used to produce lots of fungus Penicillium quickly and cheaply by controlling the conditions to maximise growth.

Question 11

What is genetic engineering?

Answer 11

Altering the genome of organisms by adding, removing or changing genes

Question 12

State 4 examples of genetic engineering.

Answer 12

• Inserting the human insulin gene into bacteria to produce insulin industrially.
• Inserting genes for herbicide resistance into plants
• Inserting genes for pesticide resistance into plants
• Inserting genes into crops to provide them with extra vitamins.

Question 13

How are new genes introduced into an organism?

Answer 13

• The organisms genes are cut using restriction enzymes to create sticky ends
• The DNA from a bacterium is also cut to produce sticky ends.
• The gene is inserted into the plasmid and joined together by DNA ligase enzymes to make a recombinant plasmid
• The plasmid is placed back into the bacterium

Question 14

Give 3 benefits of genetically modified crops?

Answer 14

• The plants are resistant to herbicides and disease
• The plants grow more bigger and more quickly
• The crops can grow in harsher enviroments and without the need to top up constantly with new nutrients

Question 15

Give 2 disadvantages of genetically modified crops.

Answer 15

• The new genes can easily spread to new plants in the enviroment.
• We don’t know what long term effects GM crops cause on health.