Role of biotechnology — AQA GCSE Biology
Test yourself on Role of biotechnology with AQA GCSE practice questions.
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Role of biotechnology explained
A growing human population needs more food, and biotechnology and agriculture can help meet that demand.
Read the full explanation
Genetic modification (GM) involves transferring a gene for a desired characteristic from one organism to another. For example, GM crops can be made resistant to insect pests or to herbicides, or to contain extra vitamins. This can increase crop yields and reduce losses. Other solutions include using fertilisers to supply minerals for growth, using pesticides to reduce pest damage, and improving irrigation to provide water. Selective breeding of livestock and crops can also raise productivity. These approaches must be balanced against concerns such as cost, environmental impact and food safety. Students should describe the solution and explain how it increases food supply for a growing population.
Modern biotechnology techniques enable large quantities of microorganisms to be cultured for food.
Biotechnology uses living organisms, often microorganisms, to make useful products. Bacteria and fungi can be grown quickly in controlled conditions because they reproduce rapidly and can be supplied with nutrients in a fermenter. A fermenter maintains optimum temperature, pH, oxygen and nutrient levels so that a single starter culture multiplies into a very large population. The resulting cells, or biomass, can be harvested and processed into food. For example, Fusarium is grown in industrial fermenters to make mycoprotein, a protein-rich food. This is efficient because microorganisms have a large surface area to volume ratio, grow on cheap substrates and can be grown regardless of weather or season. The skill is to explain how controlled culturing allows food production on a large scale.
The fungus Fusarium is useful for producing mycoprotein, a protein-rich food suitable for vegetarians.
Fusarium is a filamentous fungus that can be grown industrially to produce mycoprotein. Mycoprotein is the fungal biomass itself, harvested and purified, and it contains a high proportion of protein together with fibre and little fat. It is used as a meat substitute in foods such as burgers, mince and nuggets. Because it is produced from a fungus rather than from an animal, it is suitable for vegetarians and can be eaten by people who avoid meat for religious or ethical reasons. Growing Fusarium is also efficient: it multiplies rapidly on a cheap sugar substrate and can be produced all year round in a fermenter. The skill is to identify Fusarium as the organism, mycoprotein as the product and to explain why the product suits particular diets.
The fungus is grown on glucose syrup, in aerobic conditions, and the biomass is harvested and purified.
To produce mycoprotein, Fusarium is grown in a fermenter supplied with glucose syrup as a nutrient and energy source. The culture is kept aerobic, meaning oxygen is supplied continuously, because the fungus respires aerobically to release energy for growth and reproduction. Temperature and pH are also controlled so that enzymes work at their optimum and the culture is not damaged. As the fungus grows, it forms a dense biomass. This biomass is then harvested from the fermenter, and purified so that it is safe and suitable to use as food. Purification removes excess water and unwanted materials, leaving the mycoprotein product. The skill is to sequence the process correctly and to explain why each condition is needed.
A genetically modified bacterium produces human insulin. When harvested and purified this is used to treat people with diabetes.
Human insulin can be produced using a genetically modified bacterium. The human insulin gene is inserted into a bacterial plasmid, and the bacterium is grown in a fermenter. Because the gene is expressed, the bacteria make human insulin. The bacteria are then harvested and the insulin is purified so that it can be used safely. People with diabetes may not produce enough insulin or may not respond properly to it, so insulin injections help control blood glucose concentration. Compared with extracting insulin from animal pancreases, this method can produce large quantities of human insulin that is identical to the human hormone, reducing the risk of immune reactions. The skill is to link genetic modification, fermentation, purification and medical treatment.
GM crops could provide more food or food with an improved nutritional value such as golden rice.
Genetic modification inserts a gene from one organism into a crop plant, giving the plant a new characteristic. A GM crop could yield more food because the plant may grow faster, resist pests or survive drought, so less of the harvest is lost. Alternatively, the crop could have improved nutritional value: golden rice is a GM rice containing added genes that let it make beta-carotene, which the human body converts into vitamin A. This matters where diets are based mainly on plain rice and vitamin A deficiency causes blindness. Students should explain the inserted gene, the resulting protein or pigment, and the benefit to people, while recognising that GM crops raise concerns about cost, seed ownership and effects on other organisms.
Your focus
- Describe genetic modification and give an example of a GM crop.
- Explain how biotechnical and agricultural solutions help meet the food demands of a growing population.
- Evaluate benefits and concerns of at least one solution.
Show all 18 objectives
- Describe how microorganisms can be cultured on a large scale for food.
- Explain why controlled conditions in a fermenter increase the yield of microbial biomass.
- Apply knowledge of microbial growth to the production of a named food such as mycoprotein.
- Identify Fusarium as the fungus used to produce mycoprotein.
- Describe the nutritional and dietary value of mycoprotein.
- Explain why mycoprotein is suitable for vegetarian diets.
- Describe the conditions used to grow Fusarium for mycoprotein production.
- Explain why glucose syrup and aerobic conditions are needed.
- Sequence the harvesting and purification stages of the process.
- Describe how a genetically modified bacterium is used to produce human insulin.
- Explain why the insulin must be harvested and purified before use.
- Relate insulin production to the treatment of diabetes and control of blood glucose.
- Describe how a gene can be transferred into a crop plant to give it a new characteristic.
- Explain how a GM crop could increase food supply or improve nutritional value, using golden rice as an example.
- Evaluate the use of GM crops by weighing a benefit against a concern.
Role of biotechnology exam tips
Marking Points
- State that a growing human population increases demand for food.
- Describe genetic modification as the transfer of a gene for a desired characteristic from one organism to another.
- Explain how GM crops can increase yield, for example by giving resistance to pests, disease or herbicides.
- Describe other agricultural solutions such as fertilisers, pesticides, irrigation or selective breeding.
- Explain how each solution helps meet the demand for food, for example by reducing crop losses or increasing growth.
- Recognise that solutions have limitations or concerns, such as cost, environmental effects or ethical issues.
- Microorganisms can be cultured in large numbers in fermenters under controlled conditions.
- Bacteria and fungi reproduce rapidly, so a small starter culture can produce a large biomass.
- Nutrients, oxygen, temperature and pH are controlled to keep growth at an optimum.
- The biomass produced can be harvested and processed into food such as mycoprotein.
- Large-scale culturing is reliable because it does not depend on weather or season.
- Fusarium is a fungus that can be cultured to produce mycoprotein.
- Mycoprotein is the harvested fungal biomass and is rich in protein.
- It can be used as a meat substitute in foods such as burgers or mince.
- It is suitable for vegetarians because it is not derived from an animal.
- It can also suit people who avoid meat for ethical or religious reasons.
- Glucose syrup provides a nutrient and energy source for the fungus.
- Aerobic conditions mean oxygen is supplied so the fungus can respire aerobically.
- Temperature and pH are controlled to maintain optimum enzyme activity and growth.
- The fungal biomass is harvested from the fermenter after growth.
- Purification makes the harvested biomass suitable for use as food.
- The human insulin gene is inserted into a bacterium, making it genetically modified.
- The modified bacterium is cultured so that it expresses the human gene and produces insulin.
- The bacteria are harvested and the insulin is purified before use.
- The purified human insulin is used to treat people with diabetes.
- Using human insulin avoids reliance on animal pancreases and can be produced in large quantities.
- State that genetic modification involves transferring a gene from one organism into a crop plant so the plant gains a desired characteristic.
- Explain that a GM crop could give more food if it grows faster, resists pests or survives harsh conditions, reducing crop losses.
- Explain that improved nutritional value means the crop contains a new substance that benefits human health, such as a vitamin or its precursor.
- Use golden rice as the named example: genes are added so the rice grains make beta-carotene, which the body converts to vitamin A.
- Link the benefit to people whose diet is mainly rice, where extra vitamin A can reduce deficiency diseases such as night blindness.
- Recognise that GM crops are a biotechnology application and that their use involves both potential benefits and ethical, environmental or economic concerns.
Examiner Tips
- 💡Name a specific example of a GM crop and state the characteristic it has been given.
- 💡For each solution, explain the link between the method and increased food supply.
- 💡If asked to evaluate, give both a benefit and a concern for the solution you describe.
- 💡Link each controlled condition to a reason, such as temperature for enzyme activity and oxygen for aerobic respiration.
- 💡Use the term biomass when describing the harvested microbial cells.
- 💡Compare industrial culturing with farming to explain why it can produce food continuously and on a large scale.
- 💡Name both the organism and the product clearly: Fusarium produces mycoprotein.
- 💡Give a specific food example, such as mycoprotein mince, to show understanding of its use.
- 💡Explain the vegetarian link by stating that no animal is involved in production.
- 💡Write the stages in order: substrate supplied, aerobic growth, harvesting, purification.
- 💡Link aerobic conditions to respiration and energy release for growth.
- 💡Use the word optimum when explaining temperature and pH control.
- 💡State the role of the plasmid as a vector for carrying the human insulin gene into the bacterium.
- 💡Explain that purification is needed before the insulin can be used medically.
- 💡Link insulin treatment to controlling blood glucose concentration in people with diabetes.
- 💡Read the command word: if asked to explain, give the gene, the substance made and the health benefit in a linked chain rather than a list.
- 💡Use golden rice as a precise example, naming beta-carotene and vitamin A, because a named example earns credit more reliably than a general claim.
- 💡If asked to evaluate, give at least one benefit and one concern, and make clear which point you are making rather than mixing them together.
Common Mistakes
- Thinking that genetic modification is the same as selective breeding; GM transfers genes between organisms, often different species, while selective breeding chooses existing individuals to breed.
- Assuming GM crops always increase yield without any drawbacks; benefits depend on conditions and there may be environmental or economic concerns.
- Confusing fertilisers with pesticides; fertilisers supply minerals for growth, while pesticides kill pests that damage crops.
- Thinking microorganisms only cause disease; correction: many are useful and are cultured industrially for food and other products.
- Assuming the microorganisms themselves are always the food; correction: the biomass may be harvested and processed, as in mycoprotein production.
- Believing fermentation requires no oxygen; correction: aerobic conditions are needed for Fusarium growth in this process.
- Confusing Fusarium with a bacterium; correction: Fusarium is a fungus, whereas bacteria are used in other biotechnology processes such as insulin production.
- Thinking mycoprotein is extracted from the fungus as a separate chemical; correction: mycoprotein is the fungal biomass itself, harvested and purified.
- Claiming mycoprotein is suitable for everyone; correction: it is suitable for vegetarians, but individuals with allergies or other dietary needs should check suitability.
- Saying the fungus is grown anaerobically; correction: the process is aerobic, so oxygen must be supplied.
- Thinking glucose syrup is the final food product; correction: glucose syrup is the substrate, and the harvested fungal biomass is the product.
- Omitting purification; correction: after harvesting, the biomass is purified before it is used as food.
- Thinking the bacterium naturally makes human insulin; correction: it only does so after the human insulin gene has been inserted.
- Confusing the bacterium with the insulin; correction: the bacterium is the producer, and insulin is the product harvested and purified from it.
- Believing insulin cures diabetes; correction: insulin treatment manages blood glucose concentration but does not cure the condition.
- Saying GM crops simply contain more vitamins without naming the added gene or the substance produced; correct this by stating that the inserted gene lets the plant make beta-carotene, which the body converts into vitamin A.
- Confusing genetic modification with selective breeding; correct this by explaining that GM transfers a specific gene between species, whereas selective breeding chooses existing individuals to reproduce.
- Claiming golden rice is naturally high in vitamin A; correct this by stating that it is a GM variety engineered to produce beta-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A.