Microbial Metabolism and Biotechnology Tutorial Worksheet

Section A: Environmental Biotechnology

What are the cell components in microalgae which can be converted to biodiesel?

(1)

What
are two
main

challenges to biodiesel “replacing” diesel?

(2)

What is bioaugmentation during bioremediation?

(1)

What reaction does the enzyme Naphthalene Dioxygenase catalyse?

(2)

Which
organisms produce ligninolytic enzymes and why are they so potentially useful in bioremediation?

(3)

What is a bioleaching consortium?

(2)
Section B: Clinical/Pharmaceutical Biotechnology

Which microorganism was the original source of cephalosporins?

(1)

What
does broad spectrum antibiotic mean?

(1)

Are 4th generation cephalosporins broad spectrum?

(1)

What is meant by semi-synthetic antibiotic?

(1)

What is a mRNA vaccine?

(2)

What is quorum quenching and how could it be used clinically?

(2)

What advantage might quorum quenching compounds have over antibiotics?

(2)
Section C: Food Biotechnology

What are synbiotics in the health food industry?

(2)

Name one organism involved in the production of the following fermented foods:

(a) Soy Sauce

(b) Emmental (Swiss) Cheese
(c) Tempeh
(d) Sauerkraut

(4)

What are bacteriophage and how might they be used as novel food preservatives?

(2)

What is Agaricus bisporus better known as?

(1)