Questions and Answers
Which method is primarily used for the genetic modification of microalgae?
What is the primary role of Phage Display Libraries (PDLs) in biotechnology?
What type of plasmid does Agrobacterium tumefaciens use to modify plant genomes?
Which of the following is identified as a primary application of blue biotechnology?
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What key contribution did bacteriophages provide to biotechnology?
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Who coined the term 'biotechnology' and in what year?
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Which type of biotechnology is primarily concerned with the health sector?
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Which biotechnology type involves the use of marine resources?
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What is the main goal of grey biotechnology?
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What does yellow biotechnology specifically focus on?
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Which technology sparked significant advancements in biotechnology during the 1970s?
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What is the primary function of gold biotechnology?
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What is the main purpose of white biotechnology?
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Which type of biotechnology is characterized by methods to fight agricultural pests?
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What characterizes novel microorganisms used as biotechnological tools?
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What by-products are produced by yeast during fermentation?
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Which microorganism is primarily responsible for milk fermentation?
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What was the first eukaryotic genome to be sequenced?
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What medical discovery is Alexander Fleming known for?
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Which enzyme was the first characterized type II restriction endonuclease?
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What type of microorganisms play a significant role in producing various therapeutic proteins?
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What is one limitation of using E. coli for eukaryotic protein production?
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Which type of products were the first to be mass-produced using deep fermentation techniques?
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For which application is the enzyme HindIII primarily used?
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Which of the following is NOT a product of fermentation?
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Study Notes
Biotechnology Overview
- Biotechnology involves using living organisms to create products or processes, spanning genetic engineering, molecular biology, and industrial applications.
- Complex proteins (e.g., antibodies) are produced in eukaryotic cells such as Chinese hamster ovary and human cell cultures, often utilizing microbes for methods requiring viral vectors.
Phage Display Libraries
- Originated from bacteriophage studies; critical tools for understanding protein interactions.
- Introduced in 1985, PDLs incorporate genes for proteins of interest into phage coat protein genes to display them externally.
- Applications include studying protein-protein, protein-peptide, and protein-DNA interactions, contributing significantly to vaccine and drug discovery.
Microalgae Use
- Blue biotechnology focuses on renewable bio-oils produced from photosynthetic microalgae as alternatives to fossil fuels.
- Working with microalgae involves techniques similar to those used with other microorganisms, with genetic modification achieved through cell transformation.
Agrobacterium Tumefaciens
- An important organism for advancing genetic engineering in plants via the Ti plasmid.
- The Ti plasmid transfers specific genes into the plant genome, enabling genetic modifications in crops, such as cereal plants.
Major Applications of Biotechnology
- Beer, Bread, and Wine: Yeast, particularly Saccharomyces cerevisiae, has been pivotal in fermentation processes, producing ethanol and carbon dioxide, and is historically linked to ancient Egyptians.
- Milk Products: Fermentation of milk by Lactobacillus and fungi (like Penicillium for blue cheese) has ancient roots, dating back over 14,000 years.
- Antibiotic Production: Fungi have been exploited for their antimicrobial properties since historical applications of moldy bread. Key development initiated by Alexander Fleming in 1928 with penicillin.
- Restriction Enzymes: Initially discovered in the 1970s, restriction enzymes like HindIII are vital for DNA modification and gene cloning techniques.
- Protein Production: Utilization of E.coli for producing recombinant proteins began with insulin in 1978, changing the landscape of protein biotechnology.
- Eukaryotic Viruses: Eukaryotic proteins are primarily expressed in eukaryotic cells due to limitations of E.coli in post-translational modifications and larger proteins.
Scope and Types of Biotechnology
- Red Biotechnology: Focuses on healthcare advancements, including vaccines and therapeutic drugs.
- Green Biotechnology: Employed in agriculture worldwide to enhance crop resilience against pests and environmental stress.
- White Biotechnology: Related to industrial applications; aims at sustainable manufacturing and biofuel development.
- Yellow Biotechnology: Centers on improving food production techniques, including reducing saturated fats in oils.
- Blue Biotechnology: Involves marine resources for aquaculture and biofuel production from microalgae.
- Grey Biotechnology: Environmental focus, dedicated to bioremediation and ecosystem restoration.
- Gold Biotechnology: Concerned with bioinformatics, focusing on gathering and analyzing biological data related to DNA and protein sequences.
Historical Context
- The term biotechnology was coined by Karl Ereky in 1917; it encompasses a blend of traditional and modern biological techniques.
- Advances since the 1970s in genetic engineering have catalyzed significant research and applications across multiple disciplines, reshaping medicine and agriculture.
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Description
Explore the fascinating world of biotechnology, focusing on the production of complex proteins in eukaryotic cells and the use of microbes in genetic engineering. This quiz also delves into phage display libraries and the molecular biology tools that utilize bacteriophages. Test your knowledge on the techniques that drive advances in biotechnology!
