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1. BIOTECHNOLOGY
This refers to the application of biological organisms, systems or processes to
manufacturing and service industries. i.e. micro-organisms, plant and animal cells
are used to make useful products. Biotechnology does not intrude on the
environment like other technologies do because it uses natural processes.
*Suggest various ways in which micro-organisms are used in Biotechnology
Manufacturing industries in Botswana benefit from Biotechnology as follows:
1. Bread production: Flour contains enzymes (carbohydrases) such as amylase.
Once water is added, it activates these enzymes to break down starch in yeast into
simple sugars. More sugar is also added to the flour during dough making. The
yeast enzyme (zymases) breaks down simple sugar into ethanol and carbon
dioxide. Bubbles of carbon dioxide produced make dough to rise and this
eventually gives the bread its soft, light and spongy texture.
2.Chibuku production: Chibuku is made from substrates like sorghum or maize.
The substrate is germinated to make malt. During germination of the substrate,
enzymes in the grain are activated, breaking down starch into simple sugars. A
mixture of mealie meal, water and malt made, allowed to ferment forming wort. In
this first stage of fermentation, enzymes in malt break down starch in mealie meal
into sugars. The mixture is then cooked at around 97o
C for about an hour. Yeast is
then added to ferment the sugar into ethanol. Chibuku is pasteurised before
packaging to kill micro organisms.
Beer is made from barley in a more similar way. As alcohol concentration
increases, the yeast dies and the alcohol is filtered out. For strong alcoholic drinks
such as brandy and spirits, distillation is carried out. For wines, grapes are crushed
to release sugar which is then fermented.
3.Madila production:Milk is pasteurised to kill pathogens and then cooled. A
bacteria culture (lactobacillus bulgaricus) is added to convert milk sugar (lactose)
into lactic acid. Lactic acid coagulates milk protein (casein) to form a creamy
white substance (curd) and whey(watery part)
The role of micro organisms in medicine
(i) production of drugs such as antibiotics
Micro organisms such as bacteria and fungi can be used in the manufacture of
drugs such as antibiotics. The process is carried out in giant fermenting tanks
called bioreactors and conditions of industrial fermentation are applied.[ .[i.e the
bio reactor should be sterilized(sterilisation of the bioreactor so that
unwanted micro organisms do not compete for nutrients with the useful
species and also to prevent contamination of the product), nutrients should be
available, warm temperatures of about 30o
C, suitable pH around 6-7, oxygen
for aerobic bacteria]
A fungus known as penicillium notatum is used in the commercial production of
penicillin(antibiotic).A culture of penicillium is fed into the bioreactor, as the
nutrient supply diminishes, the micro organisms begin to secrete penicillin. The
fluid containing the antibiotic is filtered off and the antibiotic is extracted using
separating techniques such as crystallisation. Other chemicals like vaccines and
enzymes are produced industrially in a similar way using micro
organisms.Vaccines are prepared from deadinactivated micro organisms or
inactive toxins from micro organisms to immunise people and animals against
diseases. The vaccine provokes the body to release antibodies.
Reasons for using micro organisms in biotechnology (advantages)
 They multiply very rapidly, hence very productive
 Have a lot of diversity hence a variety of products can be obtained from
them
 They require less space
 Have simple metabolism hence can be genetically engineered easily to
make useful products
 They are economically cheap since they can depend on waste material as
food sources
 They are found in almost all environments
 They are efficient since they produce pure products
 Saves on fuel since they carryout reactions at moderate temperatures