AQA Biology 4.7.5.4 · Triple only
The role of biotechnology
Two production lines, grow, harvest, purify: a fungus that becomes food, and a bacterium that makes human insulin. Then the crops with new genes, and what people make of them.
Triple Science · Higher tier
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Not chicken.
A meat-free “chicken” nugget sits on a plate.
If you had to guess, is it made from a plant, or from something that grows like a mushroom?
Mycoprotein
Run the fermenter.
The fungus Fusarium is useful for producing mycoprotein, a protein-rich food suitable for vegetarians. The fungus is grown on glucose syrup, in aerobic conditions, and the biomass is harvested and purified. Step through it.
A large fermenter is filled with glucose syrup. Predict: what is the fungus fed on?
One tonne of glucose fed to Fusarium gives far more protein-rich food than the same glucose fed to cattle, because the fungus does not move or keep itself warm, so far less of the glucose is respired away (Transfer of biomass).
Insulin
A bacterium with a human gene.
A genetically modified bacterium produces human insulin. When harvested and purified this is used to treat people with diabetes.
A bacterium is genetically modified: the human gene for insulin is inserted into it. Predict: what do the bacteria produce?
Where does the insulin a person with diabetes injects today come from?
Pick one.
GM crops
Benefits, concerns, objections.
Genetically modified crops could provide more food or food with an improved nutritional value, such as golden rice. Genetic modification inserts a gene from another organism; selective breeding only picks which parents breed. Tap each.
Information
Golden rice carries genes that make it produce beta-carotene, which the body turns into vitamin A. In some regions vitamin A deficiency causes blindness in children. Some people object to GM crops; concerns include effects on wild flowers and insects, and health effects that are not fully explored.
Which evaluation weighs both sides?
Pick one.
Think again · soya?
“Quorn is made from soya.”
Your call
ChooseWhat organism is mycoprotein made from?
Sort
Which production line?
Place each step or fact.
Tap a card, then tap the box it belongs in. Tap a placed card to take it back.
Command words in this lesson
- Describe
- How mycoprotein and human insulin are produced.
- Explain
- How biotechnology could help feed a growing population.
- Evaluate
- A GM crop: benefits, concerns, objections, judgement.
Key fact
Fusarium grown on glucose syrup in aerobic conditions gives mycoprotein, harvested and purified: a protein-rich food for vegetarians. A GM bacterium makes human insulin, harvested and purified to treat diabetes. GM crops such as golden rice could give more food or better nutrition; some people object.
Key note · AQA 4.7.5.4 (Biology only)
The role of biotechnology
- Modern biotechnology techniques enable large quantities of microorganisms to be cultured for food.
- The fungus Fusarium is useful for producing mycoprotein, a protein-rich food suitable for vegetarians. The fungus is grown on glucose syrup, in aerobic conditions, and the biomass is harvested and purified.
- A genetically modified bacterium produces human insulin. When harvested and purified this is used to treat people with diabetes.
- Genetically modified crops could provide more food or food with an improved nutritional value, such as golden rice.
- Concerns about GM crops include the effect on populations of wild flowers and insects, and health effects not fully explored; some people object. Evaluate: benefit, concerns, objections, judgement.
Photograph this card. Tomorrow, cover it and say each line first.
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Ask MrBadmus
Mixing up the fungus and the bacterium?
The fermenter is schematic; no process figures are claimed.