Las 3 Commonly Used Microbes in Biotechnology

Quarter 2 Biotechnology
Learning Activity Sheet No. 3

Common Microbes Used in Biotechnology
Objectives
This learning activity sheet was designed and written with you in mind. It is
here to help you give the basic information about the common microbes used in
Biotechnology. The scope of this learning activity sheet permits it to be used in many
different learning situations. The language used recognizes the diverse vocabulary
level of students. The lessons are arranged to follow the standard sequence of the
course.
After going through this learning activity sheet, you are expected to:
a. discuss biotechnological revolution;
b. give examples of common microbes used in Biotechnology; and
c. describe the type and use of each microbe.
Enjoy your journey. Good luck!
Duration: 4 hours
Notes
Microbial Biotechnology
Biotechnology is not something new but represents a developing and

expanding series of technologies dating back thousands of years, to when humans
first began to use microbes to produce food and beverages such as bread and beer
and to modify plants and animals through progressive selection for desired traits.
Biotechnology encompasses many traditional processes such as brewing, baking,
wine-making, cheese production and sewage treatment where the use of
microorganisms has been developed somewhat empirically over countless years.
The new biotechnology revolution began in the 1970s and early 1980s, when
scientists learned to alter precisely the genetic constitution of living organisms. This
‘genetic engineering’ permitted breakthroughs in medicine and agriculture. Some of
the most exciting advances will be in new pharmaceutical drugs and gene therapies
to treat previously incurable diseases, to produce healthier foods, safer pesticides,
innovative environmental technologies and new energy sources. Exciting new
medical treatments and drugs based on biotechnology are appearing with
everincreasing regularity. Prior to 1982 insulin for human diabetics was derived from
cow and pig pancreases. The gene for human insulin was then isolated, and cloned
into a microorganism, which was then mass-produced by fermentation. This
genetically engineered human insulin, identical to the natural human hormone, was
the first commercial pharmaceutical product of recombinant DNA technology and
now supplies millions of insulin users worldwide with a safe, reliable and unlimited
source of this vital hormone. Biotechnology has also made it easier to detect and
diagnose human, animal and plant diseases. In clinical diagnosis, there are now
hundreds of specialized kits available for simple home use or for complex laboratory
procedures. Biotechnology methods can now improve the nutrition, taste and
appearance of plants and various food products, enhance resistance to specific
viruses and insect pests and produce safer herbicides. For food safety, new probes
can rapidly detect and accurately identify specific microbial pathogens in food.
Microbes: Building Blocks for Biotechnology
Some of the organisms more commonly used in biotechnology include:

1. Aspergillus. A type of filamentous fungus that has been used for genetic
engineering in a few cases and which is also used to produce citric acid by
fermentation.
2. Bacillus subtilis. This Gram-positive bacterium is widely used as a cloning
host, especially for the expression of secreted proteins
3. Candida utilis. A yeast used in fermentations to produce chemicals.
Clostridium acetobutylicum. A bacterium used as a source of enzymes.
4. Corynebacterium glutamicum. This is widely used in fermentation processes
producing amino acids for food supplements.
5. Escherichia coli. This very versatile Gram-negative bacterium is used in many
biotechnological processes. It is by far the most common host cell for
recombinant DNA work. It is also used in fermentations to make many amino
acids and other products since it grows on many very cheap fermentation
substrates, grows fast, and can be manipulated genetically to accumulate
many different chemicals. It is also very chemically versatile and quite non-
pathogenic (with the exception of a few strains which, obviously, are not used
for biotechnology).
6. Penicillum. A group of filamentous fungi used primarily to produce penicillin
antibiotics.
7. Pseudomonas. A group of soil bacteria that contain some extremely diverse
chemical abilities, which biotechnology has harnessed in bioremediation.
8. Saccharomyces. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is brewers’ and bakers’ yeast,
and as such is probably the most widely exploited microorganism.
Saccharomyces are also used in recombinant DNA work because they are
eukaryotes and hence have the same sort of genetic structure as the humans,
secrete proteins in a similar way, and so on, but are almost as easy to ferment
as bacteria.
9. Streptomycetes. These Gram-positive bacteria are used to produce a range
of chemicals, especially antibiotics. They have also been used as the host for
genetic engineering.
Activities
Activity 1: On Point!
Directions: Answer the following questions completely. Write your answers on a
clean sheet of paper.
1. What foods and beverages have traditionally been produced using microbes?
2. What did the new biotechnological revolution concern and when did it begin?
3. What are the main fields of application of genetic engineering?
4. What was human insulin derived from until the early eighties?
5. What was the breakthrough which made possible to produce genetically
engineered human insulin?
6. What are the advantages of biotechnological methods applied to agriculture?
7. How can biotechnology help food safety?
Activity 2: Fill Me Up!
Directions: Copy the table on a clean sheet of paper and then complete it with the
missing information about the microorganisms commonly used in biotechnology.
Microorganism Type Use
Assessment
Directions: Write A if the first statement is true and the second is false, B if the
second statement is true and the first is false, C if both statements are true, and D if
both statements are false.
1. The new biotechnology revolution began in the 1970s and early 1980s.
Biotechnology encompasses many traditional processes such as brewing,
baking, wine-making, cheese production and sewage treatment.
2. Biotechnological series of technologies dates back thousands of years ago.
The use of microorganisms has been developed somewhat empirically over
two years.
3. Mechanical engineering’ permitted breakthroughs in medicine and agriculture.
Some of the most exciting advances have been found in new pharmaceutical
drugs and gene therapies.
4. We can now improve the nutrition, taste and appearance of plants and various
food products, enhance resistance to specific viruses and insect pests and
produce safer herbicides.
There are now hundreds of specialized kits available for simple home use or
for complex laboratory procedures.
5. Bacterial insulin was the first commercial pharmaceutical product of
recombinant DNA technology.
Biotechnology has also made it more difficult to detect and diagnose human,
animal and plant diseases.
6. Pseudomonas is a group of soil bacteria that contain some extremely diverse
chemical abilities.
Pseudomonas is also a type of fungi.
7. Streptomycetes are used to produce a range of chemicals, especially
antibiotics.
It is a type of Gram-negative bacteria.
8. Aspergillus is type of filamentous bacteria that has been used for genetic
engineering.
It is also used to produce hydrochloric acid by fermentation.
9. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is probably the most widely exploited
microorganism.
Corynebacterium glutamicum is widely used in fermentation processes
producing amino acids for food supplements.
10. Candida utilis. A yeast used in fermentations to produce chemicals.
Escherichia coli is the most common host cell for recombinant DNA work.
References
Online Resources
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/
m4_u2_the_benefits_and_uses_of_microbes on February 8, 2021
https://slideshare.net/mobile/microbes/biotechnology on February 8, 2021

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Quarter 2 Biotechnology

Learning Activity Sheet No. 3

Biotechnology is not something new but represents a developing and

Microbes: Building Blocks for Biotechnology

Some of the organisms more commonly used in biotechnology include:

Activity 2: Fill Me Up!

Microorganism Type Use

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