Flashcards · Biology · Feeding the Human Race
Biotechnology and Food Production
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What is biotechnology?
Using living organisms, or parts of them, to make useful products.
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Which fungus is used to make mycoprotein?
Fusarium venenatum.
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What does the fungus use as an energy source in a fermenter?
Glucose syrup.
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Why is a nitrogen source added to the fermenter?
The fungus needs nitrogen to make proteins.
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Why is air bubbled through the fermenter?
To supply oxygen for aerobic respiration, and to mix the contents.
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Why is the fermenter cooled?
The fungus releases heat, and the temperature must stay near the optimum of about 30 degrees Celsius.
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Why is the fermenter sterilised?
To stop other microorganisms from growing and spoiling the product.
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Give two advantages of mycoprotein as a food.
High in protein and fibre, low in fat, and it needs less land than farming animals.
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Give one concern about mycoprotein.
Some people are allergic to it, or it needs costly equipment and energy.
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What are hyphae?
The thin threads that make up the body of a fungus.
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Which type of organism is used to make human insulin?
Genetically modified bacteria.
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What is golden rice?
A GM rice that makes beta-carotene in its grains.
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Why is golden rice useful?
The body turns beta-carotene into vitamin A, which reduces vitamin A deficiency.
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Give one concern about golden rice.
Ethical or environmental objections to GM crops, or that a varied diet would be a better solution.
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How can a GM salmon help to produce more food?
It has an extra growth hormone gene, so it grows to market size in about half the time.
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What can GM goats be used for?
To make human proteins, such as antithrombin, in their milk.
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Give one concern about GM livestock.
Animal welfare, or escaped GM fish breeding with wild fish.
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Name each part of the fermenter and say why it is needed. 
The inlet at the top left supplies glucose, minerals and a nitrogen source for growth. The air inlet supplies oxygen for respiration and mixes the contents. The cooling jacket keeps the temperature at the optimum. The outlet on the right lets the mycoprotein be harvested.
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Name the parts of the fermenter marked A, B and C. A is the fungus (Fusarium). B is the sterile air inlet. C is the outlet where the mycoprotein is harvested.