Classical Biotechnology

•Application &
refinement of Classical Biotechnology
fermentation techniques
to industry. (use of
cells or enzymes to
produce large quantities
of useful substances)
•limited to
chemicals/organisms
produced in nature
• Mass production of
biotech products made
possible by invention of
fermenters (a.k.a.
bioreactors), large
growth chambers for
cultivating cells.
 Fermenters (Bioreactors)
• In conjunction with aseptic technique and steam sterilization,
can be used to produce huge variety of products.
• Different products achieved by manipulating
1) species of microorganism
2) substrate fed to microbes
3) environmental conditions
• Breweries & distilleries
Alcohol
• large scale alcohol production since early 1700’s.
• 1886 – process for making Brewer’s yeast refined – still in use
today.
• Originally Vinegar
discovered by
accident.
• Wine allowed to
sit in shallow
barrels, oxidized
by acetic acid
bacteria via
aerobic
fermentation.
• Requires
exposure to air
(O2).
• Glycerol Explosives & Organic
(sweetener, Solvents
moisturizer, WWI (Germany) – products for explosives
lubricant and made by manipulation of fermentation
process to yield products other than ethanol.
preservative for
rubber, and the
organic portion of
some widely used
explosives and
medications )
• Acetone
• Butanol
 Organic Acids
• Citric acid
• lactic acid
• acetic acid
• produced
for food
processing.
• Developed in
1940’s (WWII). Antibiotics
• Antibiotic-
producing fungi &
bacteria are
cultured &
fermented.
• Antibiotic is
purified from
fermentation
products.
• Methods for
increasing yields
were developed.
• Penicillin – 1st
antibiotic
commercially
produced.
 Hormones,
• Microorganisms
change chemical enzymes, amino
structure of a acids, vitamins,
substrate (starting pigments
material) into a
desired product.
• In 1950’s, cholesterol
 cortisone or sex
hormones (estrogen,
progesterone).
• Insulin made in bulk.
• Fermenters allow large
quantities of Single-cell Protein
microorganisms to be
grown & dried as a
source of protein for
humans & animals.
• First used in Germany
during WWI.
• Vegemite – yeast
extract, popular in
Australia, NZ
• Brewer’s yeast & baker’s
yeast mass-produced
early 1900’s.
Vaccines &
Monoclonal
Antibodies
• fermentation
Wastewater
techniques on Treatment
the largest
scale.