Unit 17 Biotechnology Short Questions

Q.1 How would you define fermentation with reference to biotechnology?
Answer:
Fermentation is the process in which there is incomplete oxidation reduction of glucose.
Q.2 Name any two industrial products made by fermentation? Also describe their uses in the industry.
Answer:
Two industrial products are:
(i) Formic acid
It is used in textile dyeing, leather treatment, electroplating, rubber manufacture.
(ii) Ethanol
It is used as solvent and used in the production of vinegar and beverages.
Q.3 What are the products of the two types of carbohydrate fermentation?
Answer:
In alcoholic fermentation, CO2 and ethanol are the products. In lactic acid fermentation, lactic acid is the product.
Q.4 Give an example how biotechnology is helping for better environment?
Answer:
Bacterial enzymes are used to treat sewage water to purify.
Q.5 In biotechnology, what is meant by genetically modified organism (GMO)? How is it made?
Answer:
In biotechnology, recombinant DNA is transferred to the target host. In this way, host organism is transformed into a genetically modified organism (GMO).
Q.6 What is Batch fermentation? .
Answer:
In this process, the tank of fermenter is filled with the raw materials to be fermented. The temperature and pH for microbial fermentation is properly adjusted and nutritive supplements are added. All the material is steam sterilized. The pure culture of microorganisms is added to fermenter from a separate vessel.
Q.7 Define Biotechnology.
Answer:
It is defined as the use of living organisms in processes for the manufacture of useful products or for services.
Q.8 What is continuous fermentation?
Answer:
In this process, the substrate is added to fermenter continuously at a fixed rate. This maintains the micro-organisms in growth phase. Fermentation products are taken continually.
Q.9 Define Fermentation.
Answer:
It is a process in which incomplete oxidation reduction of glucose takes place.
Q.10 What is Fermenter?
Answer:
Fermenter is a device that provides optimum environment to microorganisms to grow into a biomass, so that they can interact with a substrate forming the product. Fermentation is carried out in fermenters.
Q.11 What is Genetically modified organism GMO?
Answer:
GMO is genetically modified organism. Recombinat DNA is transferred to the target host. In this way the host organism is transformed into genetically modified organism (GMO).
Q.12 What is Recombinant DNA?
Answer:
The vector DNA and the attached gene of interest are collectively called recombinant DNA.
Q.13 What is Restriction endonucleases?
Answer:
Special enzymes, called restriction endonucleases are used to cut the identified gene from the total DNA of donor organism.
Q.14 What is Single cell protein?
Answer:
Single cell protein (SCP) refers to the protein content extracted from pure or mixed culture of algae, yeasts, fungi or bacteria.
Q.15 What is Transgenic organism?
Answer:
Organism with modified genetic set up is known as transgenic organism.
Q.16 Define vector?
Answer:
A vector is a carrier or transmitter which is selected for transfer of the isolated gene of interest : to the host cell. The vector may be a plasmid or a bacteriophage.
Q.17 What is Genetic donor?
Answer:
The organism from which the gene of interest is taken during the process of genetic engineering is called genetic donor. DC ICLO
Q.18 Define Plasmid.
Answer:
The extra chromosomal DNA present in many bacteria is called plasmid.
Q.19 What is Alcoholic fermentation?
Answer:
This fermentation is carried out by many types of yeast such as saccharomyces cerevisiae. In. this process, carbondioxide is removed from pyruvic acid. The product acetaldehyde is then reduced to ethanol. The CO2 production causes the rise of the bread. It is used to produce bread, beer, wine and distilled spirits.
Q.20 What is Lactic acid fermentation?
Answer:
In this process, pyruvic acid is reduced to lactic acid. It is carried out by many bacteria. e.g. Streptococcus and many Lactobacillus species. It is quite important in dairy industry where it is used for souring milk and also for production of various types of cheese.
Q.21 What is Beta-Endorphin?
Answer:
It is a pain killer produced by the brain, has also been produced by genetic engineering techniques.
Q.22 What is thymosin?
Answer:
It is a hormone which is effective against brain and lung cancer.
Q.23 What is ligase?
Answer:
Ligase is an enzyme which is used to join the DNA.
Q.24 Write any two objectives of genetic engineering?
Answer:
i. Production of particular RNA and Protein molecules.
ii. Treatment of genetic defects in higher organisms.
Q.25 Define genetic engineering
Answer:
Genetic engineering or recombinant DNA technology involves the artificial synthesis, modification, removal, addition and repair of the genetic material DNA.
Q.26 Define Dolly
Answer:
In Scotland in 1997, an embryologist lan Wilmut produced a sheep named Dolly from the body cell of an adult sheep
Q.27 What are interferons?
Answer:
Interferons are anti-viral protein produced by cells infected with viruses.
Q.28 What is urokinase? Ans: Urokinase is an enzyme which is used to dissolve blood clots, has been produced by genetically modified microorganisms.
Q.29 What is Human Genome Project?
Answer:
Human Genome Project was launched to map all the genome in human cell. The complete map of human genome was published in 2002.
Q.30 What is meant by single cell protein? How are these produced?
Answer:
Definition:
Single-cell protein (SCP) refers to the protein content extracted from pure or mixed cultures of algae, yeasts, fungi or bacteria. Production of single Cell Protein
For the production of single cell proteins, the microorganisms utilize a variety of substrates like agricultural wastes, industrial wastes, natural gas like methane etc.
Q.31 What is meant by Recombinant DNA Technology? Give its one benefit.
Answer:
A technology in which a vector is selected for the transfer of the isolated gene of interest to the host cell. The vector may be a plasmid or a bacteriophage. The gene of interest is attached with the vector DNA by using endonuclease and ligase. The vector DNA and the attached gene of interest are collectively called recombinant DNA. This recombinant DNA is transferred to target host and host organism is transformed into a genetically modified organisms (GMO)
Q.32 Name two basic types of Fermentation.
Answer:
1. Alcoholic fermentation (by yeast)
2. Lactic acid fermentation (by bacteria)