I/GCSE Biology - Large Scale Microbe Production

In this post, we'll talk about the large scale microbe production in I/GCSE Biology. Let's get started! 😆

Do you remember the previous topic of the best condition to culture bacteria in I/GCSE Biology?

In ideal conditions the numbers of bacteria can double every 20 minutes, but these conditions are rare. What actually happens is shown in the picture below.

As the number of bacteria rise, the conditions change.

(Food used up, temperature rises, Oxygen levels fall)

The Carbon Dioxide waste also changes the pH value, which can affect enzyme action in the culture.

They react to changes, keeping conditions stable to ensure we can harvest the maximum yield. 

Industrial Fermenters usually have:

- An Oxygen supply to provide O­₂ for Respiration

- A stirrer to maintain temperature and evenly spread Oxygen and food throughout

- A water cooled jacket which removes excess heat produced by respiration

- Measuring instruments to monitor factors such as pH and Temperature so that changes can be made

• Mycoprotein is a protein made from fungus, and is made by the fungus Fusarium.
• This grows and reproduces rapidly on a cheap sugar syrup in large Fermenters.
• It needs Conditions to grow successfully.
• The Mycoprotein can be given a range of tastes and flavours to make it similar to many other foods, such as meat and fish.
• It is a high protein, low fat meat substitute.  

And we're done with this topic! Well Done!

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Drafted by Alyssa (Biology)

References:

1. "Growth of Populations - Advanced ( Read )", https://dr282zn36sxxg.cloudfront.net/datastreams/f-d%3A1f9373bf5710ec42c7f013cb6e2e19cdd5bb66366406905d65aaf368%2BIMAGE_THUMB_POSTCARD_TINY%2BIMAGE_THUMB_POSTCARD_TINY.1
2. "Factors affecting the growth of microbes", https://thebiologynotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Environmental-Factors-affecting-Microbial-Growth.jpg
3. "8.3: The Effects of pH and Temperature on Microbial Growth", https://bio.libretexts.org/@api/deki/files/8690/OSC_Microbio_09_04_tempcurve.jpg?revision=1&size=bestfit&width=662&height=437
4. "Culturing Microorganisms", https://v1.nitrocdn.com/kDXDIJNDOaszRbpagqNqUtquAQQkiLpO/assets/static/optimized/rev-0feacaf/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Industrial-fermenter.png
5. "What is Mycoprotein? (with pictures)", https://images.delightedcooking.com/basidiomycetes.jpg
6. "Microbal growth". Photo from the internet.