Biotechnology & GMO ( 1 )

• Biotechnology is using living things like bacteria or cells to make helpful products or solve problems
• Yeast helps dough puff up by

  Making Tiny Bubbles which gives us soft and yummy bread
• Genetic modification


  Changing the DNA of living things like plants or animals to make them have specific traits or do certain things
• Bacteria


  • They have rapid reproduction rate
  • They can make complex molecules
  • There are only few ethical concerns over their manipulation and growth
  • There is the presence of plasmids
• Ethical concerns are relatively limited because bacteria are often simple organisms and their genetic changes are usually well controlled in Laboratories
• Plasmid


  A small circular piece of DNA which can be easily manipulated in the lab to add or modify specific genes
• Anaerobic respiration in yeast

  1. Yeast uses sugar

  2. Glucose gives ethanol and carbon dioxide
• Biofuel


  A type of fuel that's made from living things like plants or waste
• Plants are used to make ethanol

  Yeast turns the plants into ethanol by undergoing anaerobic respiration
• Bread making


  1. Yeast is mixed with sugar flour and water

  2. Yeast respires anaerobically to produce carbon dioxide and ethanol

  3. Carbon dioxide bubbles get trapped in the dough making it rise
• Pectin


  A protein located in plant cell walls that gives fruits their thickness and makes them difficult to squeeze
• Pectinase is applied in Industries


  It breaks down the pectin present in Fruit cell walls to make it simpler to extract juice from the fruit
• Biological washing powders


  Have enzymes similar to the enzymes in our digestive system which can break down certain biological stains like proteins, fats and oils
• Benefits of biological washing powders

  • They are good at removing stubborn stains
  • They work well in lower temperatures resulting in Energy savings since it doesn't require hot water
• Lactase


  An enzyme that breaks down lactose into simpler sugars
• Lactase is used to make lactose-free milk


  It breaks down the lactose in milk turning it into sugars that are easier to digest
• Fermenter


  Big containers used by bacteria and fungi to make useful products on a large scale
• Conditions controlled in a fermenter

  • Temperature
  • pH
  • Oxygen
  • Nutrient Supply
  • Waste products
• Insulin


  Made using bacteria, helps people with diabetes by regulating blood sugar levels
• Penicillin


  Made using a fungus called penicillium, an important antibiotic that fights bacterial infections
• Mycoprotein


  Made using fungi, a protein-rich food source used as a meat alternative