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B.1 Microbiology: organisms in industry

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Description

Nature of science:
Serendipity has led to scientific discoveries—the discovery of penicillin by Alexander Fleming could be viewed as a chance occurrence. (1.4)
Understandings:
  • Microorganisms are metabolically diverse.
  • Microorganisms are used in industry because they are small and have a fast growth rate.
  • Pathway engineering optimizes genetic and regulatory processes within microorganisms.
  • Pathway engineering is used industrially to produce metabolites of interest.
  • Fermenters allow large-scale production of metabolites by microorganisms.
  • Fermentation is carried out by batch or continuous culture.
  • Microorganisms in fermenters become limited by their own waste products.
  • Probes are used to monitor conditions within fermenters.
  • Conditions are maintained at optimal levels for the growth of the microorganisms being cultured.
Applications and skills:
  • Application: Deep-tank batch fermentation in the mass production of penicillin.
  • Application: Production of citric acid in a continuous fermenter by Aspergillus niger and its use as a preservative and flavouring.
  • Application: Biogas is produced by bacteria and archaeans from organic matter in fermenters.
  • Skill: Gram staining of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.
  • Skill: Experiments showing zone of inhibition of bacterial growth by bactericides in sterile bacterial cultures.
  • Skill: Production of biogas in a small-scale fermenter.
Theory of knowledge:
  • Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in England in 1928, on a discarded petri dish. To what extent was Dr Fleming’s discovery a lucky observation, or do we only perceive what we are open to?
Utilization:
Syllabus and cross-curricular links:
Biology
Topic 2.1 Molecules to metabolism
Topic 4.3 Carbon cycling
Topic 6.3 Defence against infectious disease

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