GMO

• Traits which GMO can be used to create;

  • Increase yield
  • Drought resistance
  • Disease and pest resistance
  • Flood resistance
  • Tolerating herbicides
  • Producing specific protein
• Mycoprotein - is a protein made by fungi (called Fusarium) in aerobic respiration with glucose syrup, and is used as a substitution for meat.
• How mycoprotein is made;

  • The fungus (fusarium) is kept in fermenters and are kept at a optimum pH and temperature, which is done by having water jackets.
  • The fungus is given distilled oxygen and stirred constantly. This ensure that aerobic respiration occurs in all fungi.
  • It is also given glucose syrup as a food source.
  • The mycoprotein is harvested and purified.
• Why do the fermenters which have the fungi to create mycoprotein need to have water jackets?

  Because the fungi will respire and that is an exothermic reaction, meaning energy is released.

  If temperature is not control/ kept constant it could cause the fungi to die or the enzymes to denature.
• Why does the fungi used to create protein need to be stirred?

  It ensures an even distribution of glucose and oxygen.

  Because if it's not stirred then some fungi may respire anaerobically, which could produce toxic waste products.
• Bt toxin;

  • It was naturally produced by bacteria and killed pests.
  • So some plants were genetically modifies to have the gene for Bt toxin, which makes them resistant to pests.