Biotechnology and food (AQA GCSE Biology): Revision Notes
Biotechnology and food
What is biotechnology in food production?
Biotechnology uses living organisms to make food products. Scientists use fungi, bacteria and other organisms to create new foods or improve existing ones. This helps us produce more food to feed the growing world population.
With the global population expected to reach nearly 10 billion by 2050, biotechnology plays a crucial role in developing sustainable food production methods to ensure food security for everyone.
Mycoprotein production
What is mycoprotein?
Mycoprotein is a protein-rich food made from fungi. It comes from a type of fungus called Fusarium. This food is:
- High in protein - good for building muscles and growth
- Suitable for vegetarians - no animal products needed
How is mycoprotein made?
Scientists grow Fusarium in large containers called fermenters. These are huge tanks about 50 metres high. The process involves carefully controlling conditions to ensure optimal fungus growth.
Worked Example: Mycoprotein Production Process
Step 1: Adding air
- Air is pumped in to provide oxygen
- The fungus needs oxygen to respire and grow properly
Step 2: Adding glucose
- Glucose syrup is added as food for the fungus
- This gives the fungus energy to grow and multiply
Step 3: Mixing the broth
- The mixture (called broth) is stirred continuously
- This keeps the fungus spread out evenly
- The fungus naturally sinks to the bottom because it's dense
Step 4: Harvesting
- The fungus is collected and cleaned
- It's shaped into pieces that look and feel like meat
- Ammonia is added to provide nitrogen for making proteins
The final product can be made into burgers, sausages and other meat alternatives, providing sustainable protein sources for consumers.
Genetic modification in food
What is genetic engineering?
Genetic engineering changes the genes in living organisms. Scientists can add new genes to bacteria, plants or animals to make them produce useful things. These are called genetically modified (GM) organisms.
Examples of GM organisms
The applications of genetic modification in food production demonstrate both the potential benefits and challenges of this technology.
Worked Example: GM Bacteria for Medicine
- Scientists put human genes into bacteria
- The bacteria then make human insulin
- This insulin treats people with diabetes
- It's quicker and cheaper than other methods
- However, some diabetic people react badly to this insulin
Worked Example: GM Crops for Better Nutrition
Golden rice has extra genes that help it make β-carotene
- β-carotene is needed to make vitamin A in our bodies
- Eating golden rice prevents vitamin A deficiency
- This is especially important in poor countries
- The downside is that golden rice seeds cost more than normal rice
GM crops for higher yields represent a significant advancement in agriculture:
- Some crops are modified to grow bigger or faster
- This means more food can be produced from the same area of land
- Helps feed more people around the world
Other biotechnology applications
Mushroom growing
Mushrooms can grow on many different materials because they are decomposers. This unique ability makes them particularly valuable for sustainable food production.
How mushrooms break down organic matter:
- Release enzymes into their surroundings
- These enzymes break down dead plant and animal material
- The mushrooms then absorb the small molecules formed
- This is why they can grow on wood chips, manure and other organic waste
This makes mushroom farming very flexible and sustainable, as it can utilise waste materials that would otherwise be discarded.
Key Points to Remember:
- Mycoprotein is made from Fusarium fungus in large fermenters with air, glucose and ammonia
- GM bacteria can make human medicines like insulin quickly and cheaply
- GM crops can provide better nutrition (like golden rice) or higher food yields
- Mushrooms are decomposers that can grow on various organic materials
- Biotechnology helps increase food production to feed more people worldwide