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AQA GCSE Biology · 8461
AQA 8461 · 4.7.5.4 Check the specification (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
As the human population grows, more food is needed. Biotechnology uses living organisms and their processes to make useful products. Modern techniques can grow large quantities of microorganisms, such as fungi and bacteria, under controlled conditions. offers another approach: changing an organism's DNA so that it has a useful characteristic. These methods can help meet demand, although they produce different kinds of products.
Mycoprotein is a protein-rich food suitable for vegetarians. It is made from Fusarium, a fungus grown in a large vessel called a fermenter. The fungus is supplied with glucose syrup and oxygen. These allow aerobic respiration, which releases energy for growth. As Fusarium grows and multiplies, the amount of fungal material, or biomass, increases.
The conditions in the fermenter can be controlled to support growth. Air supplies oxygen, stirring mixes it with the glucose syrup, and temperature control helps keep conditions suitable. Once enough fungus has grown, its biomass is harvested and purified to make mycoprotein. Culturing the fungus in this way provides a source of food without raising animals for meat.
Controlled supplies of glucose syrup and oxygen support aerobic growth of Fusarium. The resulting fungal biomass is harvested and purified to make mycoprotein.
A gene is a section of DNA containing instructions for making a protein. If the human gene for insulin is inserted into a bacterium, that genetically modified bacterium can produce human insulin. Many bacteria can then be cultured to make the protein. The insulin is harvested and purified before it is used to treat people with diabetes.
Insulin is a medical product, not a food. It belongs in this topic because it shows another way biotechnology can produce something useful on a large scale: microorganisms make a product that people need.
Genetic modification can also give crop plants useful characteristics. For example, a crop that resists insect pests could suffer less damage and provide more food. Other GM crops could provide food with improved nutritional value. Golden rice is an example: its grains contain beta-carotene, which the body can convert into vitamin A. These are possible ways to help meet demand; a crop's benefit depends on the characteristic introduced and the conditions in which it is grown.
Changing crop DNA can introduce useful characteristics. GM crops could provide more food, for example through reduced pest damage, or improve nutritional value. Golden rice contains beta-carotene, which the body converts into vitamin A.
For mycoprotein, link glucose syrup and oxygen to fungal growth, then state that the biomass is harvested and purified.
Keep the three products distinct: Fusarium provides food, genetically modified bacteria provide insulin for medicine, and GM crops may increase food supply or nutritional value.
Describe GM crop benefits as possible outcomes, not guarantees.
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Last updated
Biotechnology
The use of living organisms or biological processes to make useful products.
Culturing
The growth of microorganisms under controlled conditions.
Mycoprotein
A protein-rich food made from the harvested and purified biomass of a fungus.
Genetic modification
A change to an organism's genetic material, such as inserting a gene that gives it a useful characteristic.
Biomass
The living material produced as organisms grow; in mycoprotein production, it is the mass of fungal cells.
Put your knowledge into practice — try past paper questions for Biology
Biotechnology
The use of living organisms or biological processes to make useful products.
Culturing
The growth of microorganisms under controlled conditions.
Mycoprotein
A protein-rich food made from the harvested and purified biomass of a fungus.
Genetic modification
A change to an organism's genetic material, such as inserting a gene that gives it a useful characteristic.
Biomass
The living material produced as organisms grow; in mycoprotein production, it is the mass of fungal cells.