Free Introduction to Biotechnology OCR A Level Biology revision notes – covering specification points 6.2.1(e) and 6.2.1(f).
Biotechnology is the use of living organisms, or their components, to produce pharmaceuticals, food, and other products.
The types of microorganisms commonly used in biotechnology include algae, bacteria and fungi:
- Algae are primarily used for producing biofuels, environmental products, food supplements and pigments.
- Bacteria are widely used for producing enzymes, fermented foods, industrial chemicals and pharmaceuticals.
- Fungi are primarily used for producing enzymes, food products and pharmaceuticals.
Using microorganisms to produce substances is more efficient than using animals or plants, which gives them significant advantages.
The table below outlines some of the advantages of using microorganisms for producing substances:
| Advantage | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Economic considerations* |
|
| Healthier food | Microbial protein (e.g. mycoprotein) is high in protein and fibre, but low in fat, and has no cholesterol, making it healthier and more nutritious than protein derived from animals. |
| Optimisation | Conditions inside a bioreactor can be closely controlled to maximise the organism’s rate of reproduction and/or productivity. |
| Short life cycle* | Microorganisms have short life cycles and reproduce very rapidly, so large quantities of product can be produced in a short time. |
*These are the advantages specifically named in the OCR A Level Biology specification.
The table below outlines the disadvantages of using microorganisms for producing substances:
| Disadvantage | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Consumer acceptability | Some people may be reluctant to eat food made from microorganisms, especially when it is grown on waste materials. |
| Contamination | Growth cultures can be contaminated by other microorganisms, reducing productivity or producing toxins, so sterile conditions must be maintained, which increases the cost. |
It is important to note that you are not expected to know specific examples of products made by microorganisms. Earlier editions of the specification included baking, brewing, bioremediation, cheese making, yoghurt production, penicillin production and insulin production as examples of food production processes with microorganisms that you were expected to learn. Although they appeared in the first official OCR A Level Biology textbook, the official OCR A Level Biology specification was updated to remove them.