Biotechnology and Genetic Modification

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering biotechnology applications, industrial fermenters, enzymes, and genetic modification techniques.

Plasmid

A small, circular piece of DNA found inside bacterial cells, separate from the main bacterial chromosome, which is easily removed and manipulated in genetic engineering.

Biofuel Production in Yeast

The process where yeast respires anaerobically according to $\text{C}_6\text{H}_{12}\text{O}_6 \rightarrow 2\text{C}_2\text{H}_5\text{OH} + 2\text{CO}_2$ to produce ethanol from plant material for use as a vehicle fuel.

Bread Dough Rising

The expansion of dough caused by carbon dioxide gas trapped inside it during the anaerobic respiration of yeast mixed with flour and water.

Pectinase

An enzyme added to chopped fruit in juice production to break down pectin in plant cell walls, releasing more juice and producing a clearer product.

Pectin

A polysaccharide inside plant cell walls that makes fruit juice appear cloudy until it is broken down into smaller molecules.

Biological Washing Powders

Detergents containing enzymes similar to digestive enzymes that quickly break down insoluble organic stains (fats and proteins) into soluble molecules at lower temperatures.

Lactose

A disaccharide sugar naturally found in milk and dairy products that is broken down by the enzyme lactase.

Lactase

An enzyme that breaks down the disaccharide lactose into glucose and galactose, used in the production of lactose-free milk.

Lactose Intolerance

A condition caused by the loss of the ability to produce lactase in older age, resulting in symptoms such as nausea, flatulence, and diarrhoea when consuming dairy.

Penicillin

An antibiotic discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1928, produced by the Penicillium mould, which interferes with bacterial cell wall construction causing cell rupture.

Industrial Fermenter

A large vessel used to grow microorganisms in large quantities under carefully controlled conditions such as optimum temperature, pH, and oxygenation.

Aseptic Precautions

Measures such as cleaning fermenters with steam to kill unwanted microorganisms and prevent chemical contamination, ensuring only desired microorganisms grow.

Water Jacket

A surrounding jacket in a fermenter through which water flows to monitor and maintain optimum temperature and prevent enzyme denaturation.

Stirring Paddles

Agitation devices in a fermenter used to ensure temperature, pH, nutrients, and oxygen are distributed evenly throughout the liquid culture.

Mycoprotein

A protein-rich food suitable for vegetarians, produced by culturing the fungus Fusarium under aerobic conditions with glucose syrup in fermenters.

Fusarium

The species of fungus cultured on an industrial scale in fermenters to produce mycoprotein.

Genetic Modification

The process of altering the genetic material of an organism by removing, changing, or inserting individual genes from another organism.

Transgenic Organism

An organism that contains genetic material transferred into it from a different organism through genetic modification.

Recombinant DNA

DNA formed artificially by combining genetic material from two or more different organisms.

Restriction Enzyme

An enzyme used to cut DNA strands at specific sequences, creating short sections of unpaired bases known as sticky ends.

Sticky Ends

Short sections of unpaired bases left at the cut ends of DNA strands after treatment with a restriction enzyme.

DNA Ligase

An enzyme that joins two separate pieces of DNA with matching sticky ends together into a single, unbroken molecule.

Golden Rice

A genetically modified crop containing genes from another plant and a bacterium that allow it to produce a chemical converted into vitamin A in the human body.