Cloning and Biotechnology 60 Review
Quiz Questions
Compare the advantages and disadvantages of batch and continuous culture - ✔ ✔ Growth rate:
Batch has lag, log then stationary phase. Continuous has optimum rate maintained.
Ease of set up and maintenance: Batch is easy to set up and run. Continuous is not easy, requires
sophisticated equipment and constant monitoring and adjustment.
Consequence of contamination: Batch has less chance. Loss of product must sterilise and start again.
Continuous has more chance and is more costly to restart as whole culture lost rather than 1 batch.
Efficiency: Batch is lower - idle time between batches. Continuous is higher.
Good for primary or secondary metabolites? Batch can be altered for either by changing factors.
Continuous is good for primary.
Define the term "bioremediation" and describe two different approaches to bioremediation - ✔ ✔
The use of microorganisms to break down pollutants or contaminants in the soil or water.
Either using naturally occurring organisms and supporting them with extra nutrients and enhanced
growing conditions to encourage the process OR using GM organisms, modified to be able to break
down toxins they would not normally encounter.
Define the term "downstream processing" - ✔ ✔ Processing required after synthesising product e.g.
separation, purification etc.
Processes further down production line
Define the term "immobilisation of enzymes" - ✔ ✔ Enzymes held in a way that prevents them from
freely mixing with the solution.
Define the term "monozygotic" and describe how identical twins occur - ✔ ✔ Monozygotic twins are
formed from a single fertilised egg.
It occurs when one egg is fertilised by one sperm and one zygote forms. At some point the early embryo
splits in two and each half grows into a new individual.
Define the term "perennating organ" and describe the link between perennating organs and vegetative
propagation - ✔ ✔ Perennating organ - Plant structures which allow them to survive adverse
conditions. They contain stored food and can remain dormant in the soil.
, Vegetative propagation takes place from perennating organs after adverse conditions when they stop
being dormant and the stores of food are used to grow new plants from the organ.
Define the term "taking cuttings" and describe how the process is used in horticulture - ✔ ✔
Removing and planting short sections of stem of a plant in order to produce clones of that plant.
Used to increase plant numbers (quicker than growing from seed) all clones of parents - good stock so
will crop well.
Define the terms "batch fermentation" and "continuous fermentation". - ✔ ✔ Batch - This involves
mixing a starter population with a specific quantity of nutrient solution. It is then allowed to grow for a
fixed period of time with no further nutrient added. At the end of the period, the products are removed
and the fermentation tank is emptied.
Continuous - This involves adding nutrients to the fermentation tank and removing products at regular
intervals.
Define the terms "biotechnology" and "microorganism", and give examples of each - ✔ ✔
Biotechnology - The industrial use of living organisms, or parts of living organisms, to produce food,
drugs or other products. e.g. yoghurt, bread, beer
Microorganism - a microscopic organism e.g. bacteria, fungi
Define the terms "clone", "asexual reproduction", "reproductive cloning", and "vegetative propagation".
- ✔ ✔ Clone - Offspring, produced by mitosis, that is genetically identical to the parent plant
[organism]
Asexual reproduction - The generation of new individuals, often naturally, using mitosis, to produce
clones.
Reproductive cloning - Using artificial cloning methods to produce 2 or more individuals that are clones
of each other.
Vegetative propagation - The production of plant clones from non-reproductive tissues.
Define the terms "contaminant", "aseptic technique", and "asepsis" - ✔ ✔ Contaminant - Any
unwanted microorganism
Aseptic technique - The measures taken to minimise the risk of contaminants entering cultures of
microorganisms
Asepsis - The absence of unwanted microorganisms
Quiz Questions
Compare the advantages and disadvantages of batch and continuous culture - ✔ ✔ Growth rate:
Batch has lag, log then stationary phase. Continuous has optimum rate maintained.
Ease of set up and maintenance: Batch is easy to set up and run. Continuous is not easy, requires
sophisticated equipment and constant monitoring and adjustment.
Consequence of contamination: Batch has less chance. Loss of product must sterilise and start again.
Continuous has more chance and is more costly to restart as whole culture lost rather than 1 batch.
Efficiency: Batch is lower - idle time between batches. Continuous is higher.
Good for primary or secondary metabolites? Batch can be altered for either by changing factors.
Continuous is good for primary.
Define the term "bioremediation" and describe two different approaches to bioremediation - ✔ ✔
The use of microorganisms to break down pollutants or contaminants in the soil or water.
Either using naturally occurring organisms and supporting them with extra nutrients and enhanced
growing conditions to encourage the process OR using GM organisms, modified to be able to break
down toxins they would not normally encounter.
Define the term "downstream processing" - ✔ ✔ Processing required after synthesising product e.g.
separation, purification etc.
Processes further down production line
Define the term "immobilisation of enzymes" - ✔ ✔ Enzymes held in a way that prevents them from
freely mixing with the solution.
Define the term "monozygotic" and describe how identical twins occur - ✔ ✔ Monozygotic twins are
formed from a single fertilised egg.
It occurs when one egg is fertilised by one sperm and one zygote forms. At some point the early embryo
splits in two and each half grows into a new individual.
Define the term "perennating organ" and describe the link between perennating organs and vegetative
propagation - ✔ ✔ Perennating organ - Plant structures which allow them to survive adverse
conditions. They contain stored food and can remain dormant in the soil.
, Vegetative propagation takes place from perennating organs after adverse conditions when they stop
being dormant and the stores of food are used to grow new plants from the organ.
Define the term "taking cuttings" and describe how the process is used in horticulture - ✔ ✔
Removing and planting short sections of stem of a plant in order to produce clones of that plant.
Used to increase plant numbers (quicker than growing from seed) all clones of parents - good stock so
will crop well.
Define the terms "batch fermentation" and "continuous fermentation". - ✔ ✔ Batch - This involves
mixing a starter population with a specific quantity of nutrient solution. It is then allowed to grow for a
fixed period of time with no further nutrient added. At the end of the period, the products are removed
and the fermentation tank is emptied.
Continuous - This involves adding nutrients to the fermentation tank and removing products at regular
intervals.
Define the terms "biotechnology" and "microorganism", and give examples of each - ✔ ✔
Biotechnology - The industrial use of living organisms, or parts of living organisms, to produce food,
drugs or other products. e.g. yoghurt, bread, beer
Microorganism - a microscopic organism e.g. bacteria, fungi
Define the terms "clone", "asexual reproduction", "reproductive cloning", and "vegetative propagation".
- ✔ ✔ Clone - Offspring, produced by mitosis, that is genetically identical to the parent plant
[organism]
Asexual reproduction - The generation of new individuals, often naturally, using mitosis, to produce
clones.
Reproductive cloning - Using artificial cloning methods to produce 2 or more individuals that are clones
of each other.
Vegetative propagation - The production of plant clones from non-reproductive tissues.
Define the terms "contaminant", "aseptic technique", and "asepsis" - ✔ ✔ Contaminant - Any
unwanted microorganism
Aseptic technique - The measures taken to minimise the risk of contaminants entering cultures of
microorganisms
Asepsis - The absence of unwanted microorganisms
