biotechnology

  • The use of microorganisms in industries to produce certain products and improve the products

  • The application of biological organisms, systems and processes to the manufacturing and service industries

 

  • The use of microorganisms which are

    • Bacteria

      • The ones mostly utilised in biotechnology

        • Because they have plasmids

          • Plasmid is the DNA

          • Has the gene for that particular bacteria

        • No ethical implications

          • Unlike using rats

        • Rapid reproduction (+/- 20 minutes )

        • Share the genetic code with various organisms

    • Fungi

 

  • Biotech process

    • Biofuel production

    • Bread making

    • Fruit juice making

    • Lactose free milk

    • Biological washing powder

    • Honourable mention - yoghurt

 

The use of fermenter

  • A huge vessel which we then use in manufacturing industries to make products

 

Mycoprotein

  • This is a protein rich and low fat, edible, meat substitute

  • Trade name is Quorn

  • Made up of a fungus

    • Fusarium

  • The fungus is placed in the fermenter together with glucose syrup  aerobic conditions/oxygen

  • The fungus grows in the fermenter

    • It has all optimum conditions

  • Once growth has occurred, mycoprotein is harvested and purified for distribution

Condition

Why needed

How controlled

Temperature

  • To maintain an optimum temperature

    • Certain bacteria, if it is not at that ideal temperature, it will not be able to function or enzyme will denature

  • This is done using a water jacket

    • Inside it has a continuous flow. As the temperature gets high, it comes in cool and when it gets heated it goes out

  • Probes are used to check if temperature is high or low

pH

  • To ensure that it is an optimum pH

  • pH probes are used to monitor changes in pH

  • Could use a buffer to reduce intensity of some substance pH's

Nutrient supply

  • To provide raw materials for respiration

  • Might need to go under binary fission for reproduction

  • Nutrients include carbohydrates, glucose, etc.

  •  

Oxygen

  • Raw material for aerobic respiration for reproduction and growth

  • There is an inlet for oxygen

Waste products

  • Carbon dioxide resulting from respiration is removed from the vessel via an outlet pipe

  • To avoid lowering pH

  • Having an opening for the carbon dioxide to escape

Stirring/agitation *

  • We don't want everything at the bottom of the vessel

  • For distribution of nutrients

  • To ensure that all components are well distributed within the fermenter

  • Achieved by using paddles /stirrers

Sterile conditions *

  • To ensure that the inside of the fermenter is kept clean to avoid contamination

  • To kill unwanted microorganisms

  • Clean out fermenter

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