Biology Chapter on Fermentation and Breeding

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary purpose of fermentation in food production?

To eliminate all microorganisms from food

To add artificial flavors to products

To increase the nutritional value of food

To convert sugars into energy (correct)

Which scientist is credited with developing the germ theory related to fermentation?

Louis Pasteur (correct)

Alexander Fleming

Charles Darwin

Gregor Mendel

How did traditional medicine sometimes utilize moulds before modern antibiotics were discovered?

To enhance flavor in cooking

To create pain relief medication

To prevent spoilage in foods

To treat infections with natural antibiotics (correct)

What is selective breeding primarily intended to achieve?

Development of organisms with desired traits Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of an outcome from domestication through selective breeding?

Uniformity in species characteristics Signup and view all the answers

Which natural substance was first extracted by Alexander Fleming in 1928?

Penicillin Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic did early humans favor when selectively breeding dogs?

Specific traits for tasks Signup and view all the answers

What key role do microorganisms play in fermentation beyond producing energy?

Preserving food and enhancing flavors Signup and view all the answers

What does white biotechnology primarily focus on?

Food and drink production Signup and view all the answers

What is one key benefit of grey biotechnology?

Decreases environmental impact Signup and view all the answers

Which type of biotechnology is concerned with developing drought-resistant plants?

Brown biotechnology Signup and view all the answers

What is the main role of transgenic Escherichia coli in biotechnology?

To produce human insulin Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following processes primarily utilizes microorganisms for environmental cleanup?

Grey biotechnology Signup and view all the answers

Yellow biotechnology is associated with which of the following functions?

Food production and pest control Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant characteristic of products developed through white biotechnology?

They are easily degradable Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of selective breeding in cattle farming?

To ensure desirable traits are passed to offspring Signup and view all the answers

What was the first rationally designed enzyme introduced in 1988 used for?

Breaking down fat in detergents Signup and view all the answers

Which plant is the source of cabbage, broccoli, and kale?

Brassica oleracea Signup and view all the answers

How did early teosinte plants compare to modern corn?

They had smaller cobs with fewer kernels Signup and view all the answers

What significant scientific advancement did James Watson and Francis Crick contribute to in 1953?

The discovery of DNA structure Signup and view all the answers

Red biotechnology primarily focuses on which of the following?

Pharmaceutical applications and gene therapy Signup and view all the answers

What does blue biotechnology primarily involve?

Aquatic organisms for pharmaceuticals and cosmetics Signup and view all the answers

What is a key focus of green biotechnology?

Enhancing resistance of plants to diseases Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a characteristic trait targeted in selective breeding?

Size, strength, and disease resistance in livestock Signup and view all the answers

What does CRISPR stand for?

Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the Cas9 enzyme in CRISPR technology?

To cut the faulty gene out of a DNA strand Signup and view all the answers

What is one method of genetic modification described?

Knocking off or silencing unwanted genes Signup and view all the answers

What type of modification does genetically modified Bt corn undergo?

Transgenic modification to insert insecticidal proteins Signup and view all the answers

What is a key consideration for the use of biotechnology in agriculture?

Maintaining ecosystem health and biodiversity Signup and view all the answers

Who are the stakeholders involved in the proposed regulatory framework for GMOs?

Scientists, policymakers, farmers, and consumers Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a purpose of developing biopesticides?

To reduce the chemical impact of nitrogen on the environment Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the evolution of biotechnology?

It indicates advancements in our ability to manipulate biological systems. Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the gene after the Cas9 enzyme cuts out the faulty part?

A synthetic version of the gene is inserted Signup and view all the answers

What do genes generally carry?

Physical traits and characteristics of organisms Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary aim of the study conducted at the University of Rwanda?

Improving students' understanding of biotechnological concepts Signup and view all the answers

What method was used to analyze qualitative data in the study?

Thematic analysis Signup and view all the answers

How does genetically modified corn promote crop health?

By killing harmful insects without chemicals Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of biotechnology does modern practice focus on compared to traditional methods?

Genetic engineering techniques and innovative solutions Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is true regarding international guidelines in GMO regulation?

They aim to standardize regulation and trade practices globally. Signup and view all the answers

What was the sample size of the participants in the study at UR-CST?

Two teachers and 109 students Signup and view all the answers

What is one specific genetic modification suggested for addressing vitamin deficiencies in crops?

Inserting genes responsible for beta-carotene into rice Signup and view all the answers

What is the main goal of selective breeding in livestock mentioned in the context?

To enhance wool quality and disease resistance in sheep Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a scientific consideration in the analysis of biotechnology?

Implementing ongoing monitoring and research on GMOs Signup and view all the answers

What ethical concern is addressed regarding the use of biotechnology?

Transparency about GMO content in food products Signup and view all the answers

What is a socio-economic consideration regarding biotechnology?

Supporting equitable access to GMO technology among farmers Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following represents a potential ethical issue in biotechnology?

Preventing exploitation of small-scale farmers Signup and view all the answers

What is a recommended approach for dealing with the unintended spread of GMO traits?

Develop strategies for prevention and containment Signup and view all the answers

Which genetic modification example was incorrectly suggested as a strategy to combat vitamin deficiencies?

Boosting fiber content in wheat for health benefits Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Biotechnology Exploration

Title: An In-Depth Exploration of Old and Modern Biotechnology
Presenter: Cristine Pongasi

Lesson Outline

Section 1: Old Biotechnology
Section 2: Modern Biotechnology
Section 3: Ethical Implications

Old Biotechnology

Fermentation: A process used by microorganisms (yeasts, molds, and bacteria) to convert sugars into energy, used in making bread, beer, and yogurt. This process also preserves food and enhances flavors.
Scientific Basis: Louis Pasteur described the scientific basis for fermentation in the late 1800s with his Germ Theory. This showed the existence of microorganisms and their effect on fermentation.
Traditional Medicine: Natural substances from plants and animals used for healing (e.g., Chinese using mouldy soybean curds to treat boils). Ancient cultures observed the effects of moulds on preventing infection, though penicillin was isolated much later.

Modern Biotechnology

DNA Discovery: The 1953 discovery of DNA structure by Watson and Crick laid a foundation for modern biotechnology.
Applications: Understanding DNA structure and function paved the way for genetic engineering, gene editing tools, and DNA sequencing technologies.
Meeting Human Needs: Biotechnology plays a role in medicine (e.g., red biotechnology: gene therapy, stem cell research, drug development), agriculture (e.g., crop modification), forensics, bioremediation, biocontrol and biosecurity.

Ethical Considerations

Ethical and Moral Issues: Violet biotechnology considers ethical and moral issues in the modification of genes and resultant problems, such as patent rights.
Transgenerational Impact: Biotech innovations may have unforeseen effects on future generations, requiring consideration of their well-being and interests.
Stakeholder Involvement: Transgenerational consequences of biotechnology necessitate considering the needs of stakeholders involved, including consumers, farmers, scientists, and policymakers.

Specific Biotechnologies

Red Biotechnology: Deals with biotechnology techniques like gene therapy (replacing defective genes), stem cell research (e.g., fighting leukemia), genetic engineering (modifying organisms), and the development of drugs. Tissue engineering is a specific area under red biotechnology.
Blue Biotechnology: Focuses on aquatic organisms for pharmaceutical drugs, cosmetics, research (E.g., using algae for food, drugs, and biofuels), and research on neurons (by exploiting jellyfish fluorescence).
Green Biotechnology: Deals with genetic modification of plants to achieve characteristics such as drought resistance, enhanced yields, and resistance against viral diseases. Biopesticides/biofertilizers are developed to reduce chemical impact.
Grey Biotechnology: Includes all biotechnological procedures used for preparing drinking water, purifying sewage, restoring contaminated land, and cleaning exhaust gases.
Yellow Biotechnology: Develops products for use in green, red, and white biotechnology (e.g., pest control through peptides, gluten-free food through enzyme inhibition).
Brown Biotechnology: Focuses on the development of drought-resistant plants in light of climate change and related issues.
Gold Biotechnology: Includes nanobiotechnology, working with tiny organisms and materials relevant to industry. It also addresses understanding the expression of genes within immune cells.
Orange Biotechnology: Examines teaching and communication strategies for biotechnology due to its complexity and interdisciplinary nature.
White Biotechnology: Focuses on using biotechnological processes for producing food and drinks, using easily degradable and energy-efficient products, and reducing waste production.

Additional Concepts

Selective Breeding: A process used to develop new organisms with desired characteristics (e.g., in livestock and agriculture). Examples include dogs, cattle, and crops like corn, and cabbage.
Domestication: Selective breeding of animals (e.g., dogs) by humans for favored traits for tasks.
Crop Modification: Examples include the genetically modified Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corn. This produces insecticidal proteins, which protect the crop from insects without requiring the use of chemicals.
Genetic Modification: Involves altering gene expression or structure of genes for desired traits by methods like knocking off unwanted gene, or by transgenic modification (isolating and inserting desired genes into a host organism).

Learning Checks

Nutritional Content Improvement: Aiming to improve the nutritional content of staple crops in regions with nutritional deficiencies by considering genetic modifications.
Livestock Selection: Provide an example of a type of livestock that a farmer can selectively breed.
Considerations: Include scientific factors (safety and efficacy, long-term effects on health and environment) and ethical factors (transparency, consumer awareness of GMOs, small-scale farmer rights, exploitation). Environmental factors (preventing spread to wild populations, sustainable agricultural practices) and Socio-economic factors (equitable access to technology, reaching vulnerable populations) should also be discussed.

CRISPR

CRISPR-Cas9 is a gene-editing technique used for identifying and eliminating faulty genes from cells.

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Description

Test your knowledge on fermentation's role in food production, the germ theory, and how selective breeding has shaped domestication. This quiz also explores the contributions of microorganisms and early medical practices with moulds. Perfect for biology enthusiasts looking to deepen their understanding!