Biotechnology PG-64/65

Question 1

What is a fermenter?

Answer 1

A place where microorganisms are provided with exactly the right conditions to make them grow and produce the substances that we require. Typically on a large scale.

Question 2

What is the fungus Penicillium used to make?

Answer 2

The antibiotic Penicillin.

Question 3

What is done to assure no other microorganisms are grown in the fermenter?

Answer 3

The fermenter is blasted with very high pressure steam, as well as blasting all the equipment associated with the fermenter with steam.

Question 4

What is aseptic precautions?

Answer 4

Aseptic precautions is where the equipment is made completely sterile so that no other microorganisms can grow in the fermenter.

Question 5

What are the conditions the fermenter requires to produce lots of product in the shortest amount of time?

Answer 5

Nutrient levels: carbohydrates and nitrogen, sugar and ammonium ions.
Optimum temperature: so the enzymes grow instead of denature.
Optimum pH: allows enzymes to work efficiently.
Sterile Oxygen: bubbled into fermenter so enzymes can respire.
Agitation: stirring, to mix O2 and nutrients into the liquid.

Question 6

What is ‘Biotechnology’?

Answer 6

Biotechnology is the alteration of natural

biomolecules using science and engineering.