Microorganisms in food production

Overview

Why microorganisms suit industrial production, the speed, land use and waste substrates involved, mycoprotein from Fusarium, and the objections raised to microbial food.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1. 1

   Define biotechnology.

   Model answer

   Using whole organisms, or parts of them, industrially to make drugs, food and other products.

2. 2

   Why are rapid reproduction rates advantageous when using microorganisms in biotechnology?

   Model answer

   They allow quick production of large quantities of product in a short time.

3. 3

   Why is it advantageous that microorganisms have simple growth requirements?

   Model answer

   They can often use cheap waste materials as substrates, reducing production costs.

4. 4

   Why is fermenter-based production economically advantageous?

   Model answer

   Microorganisms can be grown at any time of year regardless of climate, and production can be easily scaled up.

5. 5

   Why is genetic modification of microorganisms relatively straightforward?

   Model answer

   They have simple genomes, reproduce rapidly, and readily take up foreign DNA, making them easy to engineer for specific products.

6. 6

   Why is high protein content an advantage of microbial food production?

   Model answer

   Microorganisms can provide a protein-rich food source, useful for supplementing diets.

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