cloning and biotechnology

• Biotechnology = applying biological organisms or enzymes to the synthesis, breakdown , or transformation of materials in the service of people
• Microorganisms are used because:

  • there are no welfare issues
  • there is an enormous range of microorganisms capable of carrying out many different chemical syntheses or degradations that can be used
  • they can be genetically engineered
  • they have a short life cycle and rapid growth
  • their food supplies are generally simple and cheap
  • the conditions needed for them to grow are relatively simple and cheap
• Microorganisms are used in indirect food production in:

  • baking
  • brewing
  • cheese-making
  • yoghurt-making
• Microorganisms are also used in direct food production. An example of this is SCP which is used to make Quorn. This is made of the fungus Fusarium venetatum, a single celled fungus that is grown using glucose syrup as a food source.
• Advantages of using microorganisms to produce human food:

  • they have a fast reproduction rate and protein production rate
  • have high protein content with little fat
  • microorganisms can use a wide variety of waste materials
  • can be genetically modified to produce protein required
  • production of microorganisms is not dependent on weather
  • no welfare issues
  • can be made to taste like anything
• Disadvantages of using microorganisms to produce human food:

  • some microorganisms can produce toxins if the conditions are not maintained at the optimum
  • need carefully controlled sterile conditions adding to costs
  • often concerns over eating GM food
  • has little natural flavour-needs additives
  • many dislike the idea of eating microorganisms grown on waste
  • microorganism has to be separated from nutrient broth and processed
  • protein has to be purified to ensure it does not contain toxins
• Biotechnology describes a range of processes, from the traditional production of cheese, yoghurt, wine, bread and beer to the latest molecular technologies using DNA manipulation to produce genetically engineered microorganisms synthesising drugs such as insulin and antibiotics, and the use of biological systems to remove soil and water pollution in processes known as bioremediation.