10.2.5 Biotechnology

• Biotechnology


  Technology that utilises living organisms (e.g. fungus or bacteria) to develop or create different products
• Biotechnology


  • Using yeast to make bread and biofuels
  • Using bacteria to make enzymes that help extract juice from fruits, are used in washing powders, help to make lactose-free milk
  • Using bacteria to make insulin for diabetics in genetic modification
  • Using a fungus to make penicillin (an antibiotic)
  • Making lactase
• Lactase


  Enzyme made by bacteria that breaks down lactose (found in milk) into glucose and galactose

  
• Lactose intolerance


  Some people do not make the enzyme lactase

  
• Lipase


  Enzyme made by bacteria that breaks down lipids into fatty acids and glycerol

  
• Protease


  Enzyme made by bacteria that breaks down proteins into amino acids
• Pectinase


  Enzyme made by bacteria in fermenters that breaks down pectin, a polysaccharide found in plant cell walls

  
• Uses of pectinase


  • Extract a larger volume of juice from fruit
  • Make juices clear rather than cloudy
• Bacteria and fungi


  • Useful for biotechnology as they can make complex molecules in large quantities in fermenters
• Fermenter


  Has ideal conditions to make microorganisms grow so they release enzymes
• Mycoprotein


  Protein product that can be made in a fermenter by fungi, used as a high-protein, high-fibre meat substitute
• Penicillin


  Antibiotic that can be grown in a fermenter using the fungus Penicillium

  
• Antibiotics are given to treat bacterial infections
• Why are bacteria so useful for biotechnology?

  1. They reproduce rapidly
  2. They can produce complex molecules (eg useful enzyme)
  3. There are no ethical concerns about their use
• Fermenter


  • Steam inlet
  • Nutrient inlet
  • Air inlet
  • Exhaust outlet
  • Water jacket with cooling water
  • Stirring paddles
  • Digital probes