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Biotechnology in food production overview

Ecology • Food production (biology only)

Key concepts

What you'll likely be quizzed about

  • Biotechnology is the application of living organisms to develop products, including food and agricultural improvements.
  • Modern biotechnology comprises fermentation processes, genetic modification, and other biological systems employed under controlled conditions to produce materials at scale.

Flashcards

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Risk from gene flow of GM crops

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Transgenes might cross into wild relatives, potentially creating herbicide-resistant weeds.

Key notes

Important points to keep in mind

Biotechnology applies living organisms; modern techniques include fermentation and genetic engineering.

Fusarium venenatum produces mycoprotein in controlled fermenters with glucose and ammonia sources.

Controlling temperature, oxygen, and cleanliness affects fermenter yield; contamination leads to losses.

Mycoprotein requires less land than equivalent meat production, limiting environmental impacts.

Genetically modified crops enhance traits like pest resistance, nutrition, requiring ecological oversight.

Gene flow and resistance development present key challenges to GM crop regulation.

Industrial biotechnology must balance productivity with ethical and environmental considerations.

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