Test: Biotechnology & Bioenergy - Grade 12 MCQ

Humulin is human insulin used for treating diabetes. Prior to its development, diabetics used insulin isolated from pig and cow pancreases. 

The overall process of fermentation is to convert glucose sugar (C₆H₁₂O₆) to alcohol (CH₃CH₂OH) and carbon dioxide gas (CO₂). The reactions within the yeast to make this happen are very complex but the overall process is as follows: 

C₆H₁₂O₆ ⇒ 2(CH₃CH₂OH) + 2(CO₂) 

Sugar ⇒ Alcohol + Carbon dioxide gas. 

The most important type of fermentation is alcoholic fermentation, in which the action of zymase secreted by yeast converts simple sugars, such as glucose and fructose, into ethyl alcohol and carbon dioxide.

The term 'antibiotics' was first time used by SA Waksman in 1945. Antibiotics are the substances which are produced by microorganisms such as fungi or bacteria. These substances are harmful to the growth of other microorganisms, example of some of the antibiotics are penicillin, streptomycin, chloramphenicol, etc.

Chymosin, also known as rennin, a milk-clotting enzyme obtained from the stomach of calves, is used in the manufacture of cheese. The production of this enzyme by recombinant DNA technology is now becoming possible. A new source of this enzyme to replace or supplement the animal product or similar, naturally occurring fungal enzymes will be of great economic value.

The word antibiotic means "destructive of life". Antibiotics are chemical substances, produced by living organisms or synthesized (created) in laboratories for purpose of killing other organisms that cause diseases. Xenobiotics is any substance foreign to living organisms. It includes drugs, pesticides and carcinogens. Detoxification of such substances occurs mainly in the liver. An antibody is a large Y-shaped protein used by the immune system to identify and neutralize foreign objects like bacteria and viruses. Each antibody recognizes a specific antigen unique to its target. The production of antibodies is the main function of the humoral immune system. Interferons (IFNs) are natural proteins produced by the cells of the immune systems of most animals in response to challenges by foreign agents such as viruses, bacteria, parasites and tumor cells. Interferons belong to the large class of glycoproteins known as cytokines.

Genetic engineering is the transfer of DNA from one organism to another using biotechnology. The organism receiving the DNA is said to be genetically modified (GM).
Organisms are genetically modified in order to give them a combination of genes (genotype) that will result in them having desirable physical characteristics (phenotype). Often the desirable characteristic is simply the ability to produce large quantities of a useful protein.Bacterial cells can be genetically modified so that they have the gene for producing human insulin. As these modified bacteria grow, they produce human insulin. This protein can be purified and supplied to diabetics.

The statement (d) is wrong regarding to antibiotics because antibiotics are divided into two categories depending upon their effect

(i) Broad spectrum antibiotics They have ability to act on several pathogenic species differing from each others in structure and composition of cell wall.

(ii) Specific antibiotics They act on a few similar type of pathogens.

Penicillin is produced by strains of the fungus Penicillium notatum and P. chrysogenum. Most of the other antibiotics in clinical use are produced by actinomycetes, particularly streptomycetes (natural antibiotics). 

Microorganisms can produce citric acid. The fungus Aspergillus Niger is most commonly used for industrial production of citric acid. The other organisms (although less important) include A. clavatus, A. wentii, Penicillium luteum, Candida catenula, C. guilliermondii and Corynebacterium sp.

Pest resistant varieties are produced by selective breeding and hybridisation.

Pseudomonas putida F1 (Bacteria 6.2 Mb) is a versatile environmental isolate that is capable of growth on several aromatic hydrocarbons, including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and p -cymene. Its broad substrate toluene dioxygenase has been widely utilized in biocatalytic syntheses of chiral chemicals, as well as in the metabolism and detoxification of TCE, and in the production of indigo from indole. P. putida F1 is known to be chemotactic to aromatic hydrocarbons and chlorinated aliphatic compounds and has the potential for use in bioremediation applications. 
 

The role of yeast in winemaking is the most important element that distinguishes wine from grape juice. In the absence of oxygen, yeast converts the sugars of wine grapes into alcohol and carbon dioxide through the process of fermentation.

Human interferon alpha (hIFN) is a wide biological activity cytokine that is used in hepatitis and cancer treatments. It regulates many genes that are involved in antiviral and antiproliferative activities. 

Biomass of the bacteria from the Propionibacterium genus constitutes sources of vitamins from the B group, including B 12, trehalose and numerous bacteriocins. These bacteria are also capable of synthesizing organic acids such as propionic acid and acetic acid.
Cobalamin also called as vitamin B12, it is an important vitamin for the normal formation of red blood cells and for the health of the nerve tissues. Undetected and untreated vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to anemia and permanent nerve and brain damage.

The strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae fungus is commonly known as baker's yeast. The organism is widely used in baking industry. It has the ability to produce desirable flavor. The organisms are added to the dough of bread and cakes and allowed to perform fermentation. The fermentation is brought by converting the fermentable sugars to alcohol and carbon dioxide. The organisms are also cultured or grown on molasses. They bring about the anaerobic fermentation and this helps in providing flavor to the substance. 

Thus, the correct answer is option A. 

Acetic acid (Vinegar) : It is most important acid being produced by two step fermentation of sugarcane juice by yeast and Acetobacter aceti bacteria.

Biogas typically refers to a gas produced by the anaerobic digestion of organic matter including manure, sewage sludge, municipal solid waste, biodegradable waste or any other biodegradable feedstock, under anaerobic conditions. Biogas is comprised primarily of methane and carbon dioxide. It also contains smaller amounts of hydrogen sulphide, nitrogen, hydrogen, methylmercaptans and oxygen.

The energy obtained from biological sources is called bioenergy. Bioenergy is the use of biomass (organic matter) to produce electricity, transportation fuels or chemicals. Bioenergy sources include agriculture and forestry residues and the organic components of municipal and industrial wastes. Fossil fuels (coal, petroleum and natural gas) is not included under bioenergy.

The resources which cannot be easily replaced once they are destroyed are called as the Non-renewable resources.

Few examples of Non-renewable resources include few species of plants and animals, minerals, fossil fuels, water, wind, land, soil, coal, petroleum and rocks.

Gene therapy is a technique used to cure many hereditary diseases. It involves changing the genome in order to prevent or cure diseases. It is one of the most successful techniques used to cure hereditary diseases or to cure deficiency of various hormones.

In gene therapy, the gene defects are cured in child or embryonic stage. This phase is chosen to avoid complications and each and every cell will receive a healthy, functional gene.

An aquatic weed like water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is used as a source of biogas through harvesting, chopping and crushing. 

Biogas typically refers to a mixture of different gases produced by the decomposition of organic matter in the absence of oxygen. Biogas can be produced from raw materials such as agricultural waste, manure, municipal waste, vegetable matter, sewage, green waste or food waste. It is a renewable energy source, and in many cases, uses a very small carbon footprint.
Biogas is mainly methane (CH₄) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) and may have small amounts of hydrogen sulphide (H₂S), moisture and siloxanes. The methane gas,hydrogen and carbon monoxide (CO) can be combusted or oxidized with oxygen.

Liquefied petroleum gas or liquid petroleum gas (LPG or LP gas), also referred to as simply propane or butane, are flammable mixtures of hydrocarbon gases used as fuel in heating appliances, cooking equipment, and vehicles

Malvin Calvin found that certain plants of family-Euphorbiaceae convert a substantial amount of photosynthate into latex containing liquid hydrocarbon, which are potential substitutes for petroleum, eg, Hevea brasiliensis, Euphorbia abyssinica etc and some of the plants of family-Asclepiadaceae, Apocynaceae, Leguminosae, Sapotaceae, Mosaceae, Dipterocarpeceae and Compositae. Dead serum of the algae Botryococcus braunii also contains about 70% hydrocarbon closely resembling the crude oil. Most of it is located on cell wall and can be recovered by centrifugation.

Euphorbiaceae serve as the petroplants. Dr. M. Calvin (1979) was the first to collect the hydrocarbons from plants of Euphorbiaceae. He suggested that these can be the renewable substitute for the conventional petroleum sources. Latex of Euphorbia lathyrus contains fairly high percentage of terpenoids. These can be converted into high grade transportation fuel. 

Thus, the correct answer is option B.

Biogas and biofertilizer production from agricultural waste is based on the quality of organic substances to produce biogas when decomposing in anaerobic conditions, i.e. without air. This process is called methane fermentation and can be divided into three steps as a result of decomposition of organic substances by two main groups of microorganisms – acidic and methane bacteria.

Three steps of biogas production 
The whole biogas-process can be divided into three steps: hydrolysis, acidification, and methane formation. Many microorganisms take part in this complex transformation with the main role given to 3 types of methane-producing bacteria.