Biotechnology Overview Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What does biotechnology primarily focus on?

Indirect use of technology without biological entities

Animal biology only

Microorganisms’ biology directly (correct)

Plants and animals simultaneously

Which of the following best defines biotechnology?

Technology solely developed for plant improvement

Technology based on biology to benefit humankind (correct)

A method of conventional farming

Sustainable practices for cultivating animals

In what way do microorganisms facilitate food production?

Through chemical reactions in solid waste

By providing energy to plants

Via fermentation processes (correct)

By manufacturing synthetic chemicals

What is implied by the application of biotechnology at an industrial scale?

Scaling up products from research for practical use Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following processes represents traditional biotechnology?

Using microorganisms in composting for fertilizers Signup and view all the answers

How are microorganisms used in wastewater treatment?

To decompose unwanted organisms and toxins Signup and view all the answers

Which biological entities are primarily harnessed in biotechnology?

Microorganisms such as bacteria and archaea Signup and view all the answers

Which statement correctly describes synthetic biology?

It uses microorganisms as materials for synthesis Signup and view all the answers

Which method can be used for random mutagenesis to enhance gene function?

UV radiation Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of combinatorial biosynthesis in bioprocessing?

To alter a biochemical pathway for synthesis or biodegradation Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'transgenic microorganism' refer to?

A microorganism that has incorporated genes from a different species Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a potential source for producing compounds in microbial factories?

Fungi Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary benefit of changing regulatory components in genetic modification?

Enhanced gene expression and stability Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a pollutant that can be degraded using engineered microorganisms?

Phenols Signup and view all the answers

What technique is used to introduce heterologous genes into host microorganisms?

Recombinant DNA techniques Signup and view all the answers

Which of these is a characteristic of site-directed mutagenesis?

Specific mutation sites are chosen based on prior research Signup and view all the answers

Which organism is used to transform the naphthalene oxygenase gene for pathway engineering?

Pseudomonas Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of E. coli in the indigo synthesis example?

Converting tryptophan to indole Signup and view all the answers

What is a benefit of environmental gene mining?

It does not require cultivation of microbes. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary method used for screening genes from environmental samples?

Automated techniques for DNA extraction Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about heterologous gene expression is accurate?

It can include genes from animal origins expressed in transgenic bacteria. Signup and view all the answers

What challenge is faced when attempting to engineer specific pathways from environmental microbes?

Difficulty in cultivating all microbes Signup and view all the answers

What component is required to transform the naphthalene oxygenase gene into E. coli?

A plasmid vector Signup and view all the answers

Which step follows after cloning the naphthalene oxygenase gene onto vector DNA?

Transformation of E. coli with the vector DNA Signup and view all the answers

What role do probiotic strains play in the immune system?

They can be engineered to release therapeutic molecules. Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant drawback of traditional ethanol production from corn?

It competes with food supply and is not sustainable. Signup and view all the answers

How do microbial fuel cells generate electricity?

By using microbes to convert chemical energy in organic matter. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the bacteria Caldicellulosiruptor bescii?

It is an anaerobic and thermophilic organism helpful in biofuel production. Signup and view all the answers

What is a critical benefit of microbial transformation in energy production?

It provides renewable energy sources. Signup and view all the answers

What are biofuels primarily derived from in microbial transformations?

Waste products and organic matter. Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential consequence of relying solely on non-renewable energy sources?

Increased greenhouse gas emissions. Signup and view all the answers

How do probiotics aid in training the immune system?

By promoting tolerance towards beneficial microbes. Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary function of the Ti plasmid in Agrobacterium tumefaciens?

To carry heterologous genes into plant cells Signup and view all the answers

Why can't all animals be expressed in E. coli?

Post-translational modifications cannot be replicated Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a potential use of engineered bacteria?

To release drugs directly inside tumors Signup and view all the answers

What type of bacteria is primarily used for transferring genes into plants?

Agrobacterium tumefaciens Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the genes that are removed from the Ti plasmid?

Tumor-inducing genes Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic allows certain pathogens to be used for therapeutic delivery?

Their tendency to invade low-oxygen environments Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the herbicide resistance gene introduced into plants?

It gets incorporated into the chromosomal DNA of plants Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about plant pathogens is true?

They can transfer useful genes to plants Signup and view all the answers

What is a feature of pathogens engineered to release antigens?

They trigger a strong immune response Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'cloning' refer to in the context of genetic engineering?

Replicating DNA segments or organisms Signup and view all the answers

What effect does the replacement of lactate dehydrogenase with a bifunctional acetaldehyde/alcohol dehydrogenase have on C. bescii fermentation products?

It shifts 70% of the fermentation products to ethanol. Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary advantage of using anaerobic digesters fed with manure?

They can control methane production with high efficiency. Signup and view all the answers

What role do microbial biosensors play in detection processes?

They convert biological reactions into electrical currents. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of altering DNA to create synthetic genes or operons?

To fabricate entirely synthetic organisms with specific traits. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a benefit of engineering cyanobacteria or microalgae for TAG production?

They serve as a renewable precursor for biodiesels. Signup and view all the answers

What process occurs within methanogenic consortia?

Methane is produced in the presence of various microbes. Signup and view all the answers

What challenge is associated with the operation of microbial fuel cells?

Waste accumulation affecting ion transfer. Signup and view all the answers

What type of products is generated from the biological reactions in microbial biosensors?

Electrical currents. Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the key characteristics of synthetic biology?

Stitching together DNA fragments to construct new genetic entities. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Biotechnology

Biotechnology is technology based on biology/biological entities.
It harnesses cellular and biomolecular processes to develop technologies and products.
Application at an industrial scale is implied.
Research may be done to develop a product, but scaling up is needed for application to reach the phase of "biotechnology".
Biological entities can be plants, animals, fungi, bacteria, or archaea (microorganisms).

Technology Harnessing Microorganisms

Microorganisms' biology can be harnessed directly.
Other living things' biology can be harnessed indirectly by using recombinant DNA technologies in microorganisms.
Synthetic biology uses microorganisms as material for synthesis.

Microbes in Food Production (via Fermentation)

Fermented milk products primarily rely on lactic acid bacteria (LAB), belonging to genera Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, Leuconostoc, and Streptococcus.
These bacteria are gram-positive, tolerate acidic conditions, are non-spore-forming, and have a strictly fermentative metabolism.
Cheese production has a history dating back to 3100 BC, with approximately 2,000 distinct varieties.
Varieties are categorized based on texture and hardness (soft, semi-soft, hard, very hard).

Microbes in Waste/Wastewater Treatment

Composting is used for fertilizer production, which involves processing domestic wastewater.
Wastewater often has high organic content. Bacteria consume organic content to reduce it.
This process results in lower organic content wastewater that can be released into the environment.
Microbial activity in waste/wastewater treatment occurs in process tanks.

Microbes in Bioactive Compound Production

Microorganisms produce bioactive compounds, such as antibiotics, amino acids, organic acids, vitamins, biosurfactants, and biopolymers (e.g., PHA).
Industrial-scale fermenters with specific culture media and growth conditions are used for microbial activities in production.

Traditional Microbial Biotechnology Pattern

Certain microorganisms possess metabolic capabilities.
These capabilities can ferment food, reduce organic content in waste, and generate useful compounds.
Microorganisms are grown on a large scale in their natural sites (e.g., food/waste) under controlled conditions.
Alternatively, microorganisms can be grown in prescribed culture medium in controlled fermenters.

Growing Microbes Industrially

Stirred fermenters and continuous feed of nutrients are used.
Continuous feeding ensures no excess substrate, preventing accumulation of undesirable metabolic products.
Industrial growth methods are more energy-efficient, cheaper, produce higher yields, and have less toxic waste compared to chemical methods.

Traditional Biotechnology (Genetic Manipulation)

Traditional biotechnology relies on the natural metabolic capabilities of microorganisms.
Genetic manipulation via molecular techniques enhances and expands microbial capabilities.
This allows for creating "cheap microbial factories" to produce compounds that are not naturally produced by the original microorganism.

Enhancing/Expanding Microbial Capabilities

Modifying genes to change enzyme/active biomolecule structure improves efficiency of catalysis and pathway stability.
Altering regulatory components enhances gene expression, allowing operation under cheaper conditions.
This increases the overall yields of bioactive compounds.
Methods of modification may include random mutagenesis (UV, transposons, chemicals) followed by screening for desirable mutants, or site-directed mutagenesis (determining mutation sites from research on genes' functions).

Heterologous Gene Expression

Heterologous genes can be introduced into microorganisms using recombinant DNA, exploiting economical culture conditions of host microorganisms.
If the host is an animal or plant, the result is a transgenic animal or plant.

Pathway Engineering

Genes and their expression between organisms can create novel processes and products, improving existing biochemical pathways, especially where synthesis or biodegradation of industrially-important chemicals or pollutants are concerned.
Example of this - Using genes to enhance degradation of pollutants in water or increase the amount of useful products.

Pathway Engineering: (Indigo Synthesis Example)

Pseudomonas has Napthalene oxygenase gene.
This gene can be cloned and inserted into E . coli.
E . coli can then produce indigo from tryptophan.

Environmental Gene Mining

Environmental gene mining is a method to identify and isolate functional genes from environmental samples, which can't be grown in a lab.
To do it you can: Collect DNA, Construct genomic libraries in BACs, Transform host, Screen library.

Animal Gene Cloning and Expression

Animal genes (e.g., bovine somatotropin) can be cloned and expressed in transgenic bacteria for use in industrial production or other applications.

Bacteria in Producing Transgenic Plants

Agrobacterium tumefaciens, a plant pathogen, can be used to introduce foreign genes (e.g., herbicide resistance) into plant cells using its TI plasmid.
The Ti plasmid carries the foreign gene and can be transferred directly into plant cells, where it inserts into the plant's chromosome.

Engineered Bacteria for Therapeutic Delivery

Pathogens can be genetically modified to release drugs inside tumors (e.g., low-oxygen environments of tumors).
Pathogens can release tumor-cell antigens to stimulate antibody production and immune system destruction.
Probiotic bacteria can be engineered to deliver therapeutic molecules and train the immune system to tolerate beneficial microbes).

Microbial Energy Conversion

The world relies heavily on fossil fuels (petroleum, coal, natural gas) for energy but these are finite, contribute to greenhouse gases and climate change.
Microbial transformations provide alternative renewable energy sources (biofuels).
Microbial fuel cells and bioreactors that use microbes to change stored chemical energy into electricity are another example.

Microbial Biofuels

Ethanol, a biofuel, can be produced from corn using Caldicellulosiruptor bescii bacteria.
This altered bacteria's glycolytic pathway to produce more ethanol from glucose by replacing certain genes
TAGs can be generated from cyanobacteria and microalgae as biofuel precursors for diesel.
Anaerobic digesters can produce methane (CH4) from manure, similar to fossil fuel.

Microbial Fuel Cells

Microbial fuel cells capture electrons generated when microbes oxidize organic matter, which converts into electricity.
This process involves a continuously-fed rich diet of organic substances, which allows for protons to diffuse across the membrane, and electrons to flow to the cathode and generate electricity.

Microbial Biosensors

Microbial cells, enzymes, or organelles can act as receptors to detect specific substances, such as enzymes, antibiotics, or antigens.
The detection process triggers biological reactions that are converted into electrical signals in order to be measured .

Synthetic Biology and Genome Editing

Bits of DNA, genes, operons, or entire genomes can be stitched together (engineered) from various sources or organisms.
Allows existing organisms' properties to change or completely new organisms to be made
It is done by genetic engineering and assembly, inserting assembled biobricks into vector or chromosome, transform into a model microbe or plant)

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Description

Test your knowledge on the core concepts of biotechnology with this engaging quiz. Explore topics such as the role of microorganisms, synthetic biology, and the applications of biotechnological methods in industry. Perfect for students looking to solidify their understanding of this vital field.