ASSIGNMENT:

BIOTECHNOLOGY OF MICROBES.

DEFINITION:
Biotechnology is the use and genetic manipulation of living things
including microorganisms, their products and cells in industrial processes to
make commercial products and provide services.

GENETIC MANIPULATION OF MICROBES OR STRAIN IMPROVEMENT:

The science and technology of manipulating and improving microbial strains in

order to enhance their metabolic capacities in biotechnological applications are
referred to as strain improvement.
Microbes do produce array of valuable products but in small amounts.
Regulatory mechanisms have evolved that enable a strain to avoid excessive
production of its metabolites so that it can compete efficiently with other forms
of life and survive in nature. After a desired strain has been isolated,
developmental program is initiated to improve titers by modification of culture
conditions using mutations and recombinant DNA techniques.

REASON FOR USE OF MICROBES IN BIOTECHNOLOGY:

The main reason for the use of microorganisms to produce compounds that can
otherwise be isolated from plants and animals is the ease of increasing
production by genetic manipulation.

MICROBIAL DIVERSITY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY:

Microorganisms are too small to be seen by unaided eye. They are found in soil,
water, animal intestines as well as in more extreme settings such as rocks,
glaciers and hot springs. The wide variety of microbial habitats reflects an
enormous diversity of biochemical and metabolic traits that have arisen by
genetic variation and natural selection in microbial populations. Humans exploit
this microbial diversity in production of fermented foods such as bread,
yogurt and cheese.

BIOLOGICAL CAPABILITIES OF MICROBES AND BIOTECHNOLOGY:

Obtaining the complete genome (totality of the genetic material in the DNA)
sequence of a microbe provides information about its biological capabilities and
modifying them for agricultural purposes and better disease diagnostic
tools.

POTENTIALS OF MICROBIAL BIOTECHNOLOGY:

Microbes are more than just handy tools for biotech industry. They also serve as
platforms for better technology.
1. RED BIOTECHNOLOGY:
The field of red biotechnology seeks to develop new drugs to treat
diseases. Some of these drugs are proteins that are produced by bacteria.
Thus it is for medical applications.

2. WHITE BIOTECHNOLOGY:
The field of white biotechnology seeks new sources for industrial materials
e.g. specially tailored microbes are used to help produce valuable
chemicals. Thus it is related to industrial applications. (using microbes
instead of chemicals)
3. GREEN BIOTECHNOLOGY:
The field of green biotechnology works to improve crops, sometimes by
inserting genes taken from microbes. Thus it is for agriculture applications
using genetically modified crops.
4. BLACK BIOTECHNOLOGY:
It works to invent new sources of fuel many of which involve microbes.
Specially designed bacteria or genetically altered algae, for example, are
possible sources of fuel that could help to replace oil in the future.

MICROORGANSMS USED IN BIOTECHNOLOGY:

1) COMMON BACTERIA USED IN BIOTECHNOLOGY:
Escherichia coli are the best known and most useful microbe in the field of
biotechnology. E.coli is normal inhabitant of the intestine. Although certain
strains of E.coli are pathogenic and cause illness, most strains do not.
Moreover, the strains generally used in laboratories have already been altered
or selected for desirable characteristics. Another famous bacterium that is used
in biotechnology is Argobacterium Tumefaciens- a bacterium that in nature
causes a disease called crown gall. The same attribute that makes this
bacterium a disease of plants, its ability to insert its genetic material into the
cell of its host plant, make it useful to biotechnology researches.

2) COMMON VIRUSES USED IN BIOTECHNOLOGY:

Popular viruses in biotechnology include retroviruses like HIV, which
incorporates their genetic material into their host cell genomes; adenoviruses
which cause respiratory tract infections but may also be useful as gene therapy
vectors and phages (viruses that infect bacteria), which are useful in a variety
of molecular biology techniques.

3) COMMON ALGAE USED IN BIOTECHNOLOGY:

Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is most popular algae in biology labs. It is simple to
culture and is therefore useful in wide variety of experiments.

APPLICATIONS OF MICROBES IN BIOTECHNOLOGY:

Microbes are a fundamental element of biotechnology. Without it biotechnology

would not be as advanced as it is, nor would it include such a broad range of
applications.
1. PRODUCTION OF FERMENTED FOOD:
Fermentation is a microbial process in which enzymatically controlled
transformations of organic compounds occur. Fermentation results in
foods such as bread, wine and beer. Microbes are also important in
production of food additives and thickening agents.
2. GENE THERAPY:
Viral vectors are created and used to carry altered DNA into cells. To
create a viral vector some genes are removed from a virus and
replaced with a desired gene. Then vector is added to growing cell
(tissue culture) in vitro lab, outside body. Vector enters cells and
deposit new genes into cells. Normal cell reproduces passing on
desired gene. This method may be used to correct certain genetic
disorders.
3. RECOMBINANT DNA TECHNOLOGY:
In recombinant DNA technology DNA is inserted from other
organisms (e.g. humans) into bacteria. Bacteria multiply
exponentially to make millions of copies and thus become factories
for the desired product.
4. MICROBIAL PEST CONTROL:
Bioinsecticides and bioherbicides use fungi, bacteria and viruses
to control insects and weeds. Biofungicides utilize microbes that kill
fungi. E.g. a bacterium bacillus thuringiensis is used to create
environment friendly insecticides.
5. BIOREMEDIATION:
Biotechnology is coming to the aid of environment through the
development of bioremediation and biosorption, the use of living
organisms to return environment to its natural state. Some microbes
have appetite for gas, oil or other toxic chemicals thus cleaning up
environmental pollutants.
6. PRODUCTION OF PHARMACEUTICALS:
Recombinant DNA technology is used to modify bacteria to produce
human growth hormone, human blood clotting factors and
insulin.
7. INSULIN PRODUCTION:
Human gene for making insulin is extracted from a normal, healthy
and pancreatic cell. Restriction enzymes cut this piece of DNA at

specific locations. A suitable bacterium has its plasmid cut also using
restriction enzymes. Then human insulin gene is added to the
plasmid between cut ends and sealed. The plasmid now contains the
human insulin gene. Bacteria are grown in sterile, correct conditions.
Insulin is removed from bacterial factory and purified.
8. MICROBIAL FUEL CELL:
Microbial fuel cell can help convert biowaste into electricity. Microbial
fuel cell is bio-electrochemical fuel cell where the anode reaction is
controlled by microorganisms. Anode respiratory bacteria have the
ability to convert bio-waste to electrons. The great advantage of MFC
is the direct conversion of organic waste into electricity.