IGCSEBiologyCambridge (CIE)Revision Notes21. Biotechnology & Genetic ModificationBiotechnology & Genetic ModificationUsefulness of Bacteria

Usefulness of Bacteria (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Biology): Revision Note

Exam code: 0610 & 0970

Phil

Written by: Phil

Reviewed by: Lára Marie McIvor

Updated on

Use of Bacteria

  • Microorganisms can be used by humans to produce foods and other useful substances

  • The most common type of microorganisms used in biotechnology are bacteria

  • They are useful because they are capable of producing complex molecules (eg. certain bacteria added to milk produce enzymes that turn the milk into yoghurt)

  • They are also useful because they reproduce rapidly, meaning the amount of chemicals they can produce can also rapidly increase

Usefulness of Bacteria: Extended

  • In addition to the benefits of rapid reproduction and the ability to make complex molecules, bacteria have other benefits in biotechnology

    • There are few ethical considerations to growing them in large numbers in the laboratory

    • They possess plasmids

      • Plasmids are small, circular loops of DNA which can be an ideal way of transferring DNA from one cell to another during genetic manipulation

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    Author
    Reviewer
    Phil

    Author: Phil

    Expertise: Biology Content Creator

    Phil has a BSc in Biochemistry from the University of Birmingham, followed by an MBA from Manchester Business School. He has 15 years of teaching and tutoring experience, teaching Biology in schools before becoming director of a growing tuition agency. He has also examined Biology for one of the leading UK exam boards. Phil has a particular passion for empowering students to overcome their fear of numbers in a scientific context.

    Lára Marie McIvor

    Reviewer: Lára Marie McIvor

    Expertise: Biology, Psychology & Sociology Subject Lead

    Lára graduated from Oxford University in Biological Sciences and has now been a science tutor working in the UK for several years. Lára has a particular interest in the area of infectious disease and epidemiology, and enjoys creating original educational materials that develop confidence and facilitate learning.