BiotechnologyUse of living organisms and growth curve

The discovery of Penicillin

Starter - video

Learning Outcomes

• State that biotechnology is the industrial use of living organisms (or parts of living organisms) to produce food, drugs or other products.• Explain why micro organisms are often used in biotechnological

processes.

Biotechnology is....

• Industrial• Living organisms/parts of• Food, drugs, products

• Now remember some examples of Biotechnology from GCSE/own knowledge

• Yeast, bacteria, enzymes

Use the words to define the term Biotechnology

Biotechnology

• The industrial use of living organisms or parts of living organisms to produce food, drugs and other products.• Yeast to make bread and wine• Bacteria added to milk to make yoghurt• Enzymes: Rennet – make cheese; Lactase - to produce lactose free

produce, various for textiles, detergents

Using Micro organisms

• Features of micro organisms that make them suitable for large-scale industrial processes• Rapid life cycles• Reproduce asexually• Very specific and simple requirements for growth• Can be grown on waste materials from industry• Does not raise ethical questions• Bacteria have a single copy of each gene• Simple control of gene expressions• Wide range of metabolic pathways• Some evolved to survive at high temperatures

• Add a reason as to why each of these are considered to be useful features in Biotechnological processes. Use p159

Enzymes in Industry• describe how enzymes can be immobilised; • explain why immobilised enzymes are used in large-

scale production;

Large-Scale production

• Microorganisms are cultured in large containers called fermenters• The growing conditions within the fermenter are manipulated and

controlled• Precise growing conditions

• Temperature• Type and time of the addition of the nutrient• Oxygen concentration• pH

Learning Outcomes

• Describe, with the aid of diagrams, and explain the standard growth curve of a microorganism in a closed culture.

Standard Growth curve

Growth curve in a closed culture

• Lag phase• Bacteria adjusting to new

conditions• Takes a while for enzyme

production

• Log phase• Number of bacteria

increase rapidly

• Stationary Phase• Rate of growth is equal to

rate of death

• Decline Phase• Death rate is greater than

“birth rate”

• The first three stages represent a sigmoid growth curve

A batch fermenter

Large scale production

• Three examples are• The production of penicillin• The production of protease enzymes• The production of mycoprotein

Biotechnology uses microorganisms and enzymes to make useful products.

• Candidates should be able to:

• (a) state that biotechnology is the industrial use of living organisms (or parts of living organisms) to produce food, drugs or other products (HSW6a);

• (b) explain why microorganisms are often used in biotechnological processes;

• (c) describe, with the aid of diagrams, and explain the standard growth curve of a microorganism in a closed culture;

• (d) describe how enzymes can be immobilised;

• (e) explain why immobilised enzymes are used in large-scale production;

• (f) compare and contrast the processes of continuous culture and batch culture;

Read and complete worksheet

• Applications of enzymes

Exam Question Practice

• 157, 170 (Unit 5 Questions)