Chapter 44
Review Questions

1. Although continuous culture has many advantages in terms of cell production rates, it is not widely used in industrial processes except for sewage treatment. What are some of the possible reasons for this?

2. Why has scaleup been such a problem in industrial microbiology? Consider mixing, aeration, and cooling processes in a 10 ml culture versus a 100,000 liter fermenter.

3. Most commercial antibiotics are produced by actinomycetes, and only a few are synthesized by fungi and other bacteria. From physiological and environmental viewpoints, how might you attempt to explain this observation?

4. We hear much about the beneficial uses of recombinant DNA technology. What are some of the problems and disadvantages that should be considered when using microorganisms for these applications?

5. Your company has developed a new biocide for use in a paper manufacturing plant. Before this new compound can be released for sale, what types of environmental questions should you ask and what tests should you complete?

6. Why might Bacillus thuringiensis bioinsecticides be of interest in other areas of biotechnology? Consider the molecular aspects of their mode of action.

7. Do you think intrinsic bioremediation can solve all of our environmental pollutant degradation problems? Why or why not?

8. What are some of the possible advantages of biosensors as opposed to more traditional physical and chemical measurement procedures?

9. What might be the long-term effects of evolutionary biotechnology as this field develops?

 Return to Ch.44 activities l Online Learning Center l Microbiology Home Page