b7- industrial use of microbes
- Created by: superlouasaur
- Created on: 28-04-15 20:50
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- The industrial use of microorganisms
- Features that make them ideal
- They reproduce rapidly under the right conditions, so products can be made quickly
- They have plasmids- these can be genetically modified. So you can make the microorganisms produce the product you need
- They have simple biochemistry- fewer reactions happen in microorganisms than in humans
- This means you can make the microorganism produce things that they normally wouldn't without causing them major problems
- They can make complex molecules that are difficult to produce artificially
- There aren't any ethical concerns with using microorganisms
- Large scale microorganisms
- Antibiotics- some types of bacteria and fungi can be used to produce medicines (eg. penicilin from penicillium mould being fermented)
- Food from fungi- A type of single celled protein made by fungi is used to make meat substitutes
- Enzymes for making food- enzymes are needed to make some types of food
- Traditionally cheese is made using a mix of enzymes called rennet from the lining of a calf's stomach
- Now chymosin (important enzyme in in rennet) can be produced by genetically modified microorganisms in large quantites- veggie substitute
- Enzymes for washing powder- enzymes produced by bacteria can be used to make biological washing powders because they help break down stains
- Biofuels- microorganisms can be used to make fuel
- Yeast can be used to produce ethanol, a waste product of anaerobic respiration
- Microorganisms can be used to make biogas- used for heating, cooking and lighting- made by fermentation of plant and animal waste containing carbs
- Features that make them ideal
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