Usefulness of Bacteria (Cambridge International IGCSE Biology)

Use of Bacteria

Spec point — 21.1.1 · State that bacteria are useful in biotechnology and genetic modification due to their rapid reproduction rate and their ability to make complex molecules

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

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

• Bacteria are useful because they are capable of producing complex molecules

  • E.g. certain bacteria added to milk produce enzymes that turn the milk into yoghurt

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

Usefulness of Bacteria: Extended

Spec point — 21.1.1 · Discuss why bacteria are useful in biotechnology and genetic modification, limited to: (a) few ethical concerns over their manipulation and growth (b) the presence of plasmids

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 which are an ideal way of transferring DNA from one cell to another during genetic manipulation