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Engineering Life: Miracles in Biotechnology - Microbes as Tools in Biotechnology-advanced

Grade 9CBSE

Review the key concepts, formulae, and examples before starting your quiz.

🔑Concepts

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Biotechnology is the use of living organisms or their components to produce products and processes for human welfare. Advanced biotechnology includes Genetic Engineering and Tissue Culture.

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Microbes act as 'Cell Factories'. For example, bacteria like LactobacillusLactobacillus are used for curdling milk by converting lactose into lactic acid.

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Fermentation is the anaerobic process where microbes like Yeast (SaccharomycesSaccharomyces cerevisiaecerevisiae) convert sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide: C6H12O6→2C2H5OH+2CO2C_{6}H_{12}O_{6} \rightarrow 2C_{2}H_{5}OH + 2CO_{2}.

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Genetic Engineering involves the manipulation of DNA. A specific gene (e.g., the Cry gene from BacillusBacillus thuringiensisthuringiensis) is inserted into a plant's genome to create pest-resistant Bt Crops.

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Antibiotics are secondary metabolites produced by microbes (like PenicilliumPenicillium notatumnotatum) that inhibit the growth of or kill pathogenic bacteria.

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Bioremediation uses specialized microbes to clean up environmental pollutants. For instance, AlcanivoraxAlcanivorax borkumensisborkumensis and PseudomonasPseudomonas are used to degrade oil spills in oceans.

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Biofuels like Ethanol are produced through the fermentation of biomass (molasses or corn) using microbial tools, reducing dependency on fossil fuels.

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Microbial production of organic acids: Citric acid is produced using the fungus AspergillusAspergillus nigerniger, and Acetic acid (vinegar) is produced using AcetobacterAcetobacter bacteria.

📐Formulae

C6H12O6→Yeast/Anaerobic2C2H5OH+2CO2+EnergyC_{6}H_{12}O_{6} \xrightarrow{\text{Yeast/Anaerobic}} 2C_{2}H_{5}OH + 2CO_{2} + \text{Energy}

C12H22O11(Lactose)+H2O→Lactobacillus4CH3CH(OH)COOH(Lactic Acid)C_{12}H_{22}O_{11} (\text{Lactose}) + H_{2}O \xrightarrow{\text{Lactobacillus}} 4CH_{3}CH(OH)COOH (\text{Lactic Acid})

C2H5OH+O2→AcetobacterCH3COOH+H2OC_{2}H_{5}OH + O_{2} \xrightarrow{Acetobacter} CH_{3}COOH + H_{2}O

💡Examples

Problem 1:

During the industrial production of Ethanol, a factory processes 180180 g of Glucose (C6H12O6C_{6}H_{12}O_{6}). If the molar mass of Glucose is 180180 g/mol and Ethanol is 4646 g/mol, calculate the theoretical yield of Ethanol produced using the fermentation equation.

Solution:

The fermentation equation is: C6H12O6→2C2H5OH+2CO2C_{6}H_{12}O_{6} \rightarrow 2C_{2}H_{5}OH + 2CO_{2}

  1. Moles of Glucose =180 g180 g/mol=1= \frac{180\text{ g}}{180\text{ g/mol}} = 1 mole.
  2. From the stoichiometry, 11 mole of Glucose produces 22 moles of Ethanol.
  3. Mass of Ethanol =Moles×Molar Mass=2×46=92= \text{Moles} \times \text{Molar Mass} = 2 \times 46 = 92 g.

Explanation:

According to the balanced chemical equation for fermentation, one molecule of glucose breaks down into two molecules of ethanol and two molecules of carbon dioxide. Therefore, 11 mole of glucose (180180 g) yields 22 moles of ethanol (9292 g).

Problem 2:

Explain the role of BacillusBacillus thuringiensisthuringiensis (Bt) in biotechnology and how it helps farmers.

Solution:

  1. BacillusBacillus thuringiensisthuringiensis contains a gene that produces a toxin protein called 'Cry protein'.
  2. This gene is extracted and inserted into the DNA of crops like Cotton.
  3. When a pest (like bollworm) eats the plant, the toxin is activated in its alkaline gut, leading to the death of the pest.

Explanation:

This is an example of Genetic Engineering where a microbial tool is used to create Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), reducing the need for chemical pesticides.