7 Introduction to Microbiology

Q.1. (A)
i. (C)
ii. (D)
iii. (C)
iv. (A)
Q.1. (B)
i. False
Biofuel is a renewable source of energy.
ii.
Column I Column II
a. Rifamycin 2. Tuberculosis
b. Spinosad 3. Biopesticide
iii. Ascorbic acid : Antioxidant :: Lycopene : Edible colour
iv. Petrol
Petrol is a fossil fuel whereas rest all are biofuels.
Q.2. (A)
i. a. Waste produced during electroplating and effluents released in the environment from the atomic
energy plant, contain water soluble salts of uranium.
b. Geobacter converts these salts of uranium into insoluble salts and thus prevents mixing of these
salts with ground water sources.
Thus, Geobacter plays an important role in controlling ground water pollution.
ii. Microbial enzymes are used instead of chemical catalysts in chemical industry because:
a. Corrosion is a common problem in chemical industries. Using anti-corrosive instruments increases the
production cost. However, while using microbial enzymes costly anti-corrosive instruments are not required.
b. Microbial enzymes are active at low temperature, pH and pressure. Thus, they save energy.
c. Enzymes carry out specific processes due to which unnecessary by-products are not formed. Thus,
expenses on purification are minimized.
d. In microbial enzymatic reactions, elimination and decomposition of waste material is avoided and
enzymes can be reused. Thus, microbial enzymes are eco-friendly.
Q.2. (B)
i. a. Xanthan gum a food additive that is obtained by fermentation of starch and molasses with the help
of Xanthomonas spp.
b. Uses of xanthan gum:
1. Imparts thickness to ice-creams, puddings, chocolates, milk shakes, chocolate drinks, instant soups, etc.
2. Production of fertilizers
3. Production of weedicides
4. production of tooth pastes
5. Production of high quality paper
6. Production of textile pigments
ii. Uses of Probiotics:
a. Probiotics are healthy foodstuffs which contain active bacteria such as Lactobacillus acidophilus,
Lactobacillus casei, Bifidobacterium bifidum, etc.
b. These microbes form colonies of useful microbes in the alimentary canal and maintain the balance
of beneficial intestinal micro-organisms that help in digestion, and decrease the population of
harmful microbes such as Clostridium.
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Std. X: Perfect Notes Science and Technology Part - 2

c. They also improve resistance and lower the ill effects of harmful substances formed during
metabolic activities.
d. When we take antibiotics, the useful microbes in alimentary canal become inactive. These
microbes can be made active by consuming probiotics.
e. Also, probiotics are used for treatment of diarrhoea and treatment of poultry diseases.
[Any four uses]
iii. a. The given microbe is Saccharomyces cerevisiae i.e. yeast.
b. Yeast is available in dry granular form for domestic use, whereas compressed yeast is used in
commercial bakery industry.
c. Yeast produced for commercial use contains carbohydrates, fats, proteins, various vitamins and
minerals. Thus, food items prepared by using yeast become nutritive.
d. Yeast is also used for making a variety of food items such as bread, vinegar, soy sauce, ajinomoto,
beverages like wine, cider, etc. It is also used for production of ethanol.
Q.3. i. a. Biofuels are renewable sources of energy.
b. They are available in solid (dung, crop residue), liquid (vegetable oils, alcohol) and gaseous
(gobar gas) forms.
c. Biofuels are easily available in sufficient amounts.
d. They are reliable fuels of the future.
ii. For preparation of yoghurt, milk is boiled and once it cools to warm temperature, bacteria such as
Lactobacillus delbrueckii and Streptococcus thermophilus are added to it in 1:1 proportion. Lactic acid
is formed due to Streptococcus that makes the proteins to gel out and thus give dense consistency to the
yoghurt. Acetaldehyde like compounds are formed due to Lactobacilli that gives characteristic taste to
the yoghurt.
iii.
Source Microbe Products
Glucose, corn steep liquor Aspergillus niger Gluconic acid
Molasses, corn steep liquor Aspergillus itaconius Itaconic acid
Sugar and beet molasses, Brevibacterium,
L-glutamic acid
ammonia salt Corynebacterium
Sugar molasses, salt Aspergillus niger Citric acid
Molasses, corn steep liquor Lactobacillus delbrueckii Lactic acid
[Note: Aspergillus terreus is currently used to produce itaconic acid on industrial scale]
Q.4. i. a. Landfill sites are located away from the residential area.
b. In this method of waste disposal, large pits are dug in an open area.
c. These pits are lined with plastic sheets to prevent soil pollution caused by leaching of toxic and
harmful substances into the soil.
d. The compressed degradable waste is dumped into the pit and covered with layers of soil, sawdust,
leafy waste, specific biochemicals and sometimes the bioreactors are mixed for better aeration.
This completely filled pit is sealed with soil slurry.
e. Microbes present in soil and other layers decompose the waste. As a result, best quality compost is
obtained after few days which can be removed and such sites can be reused.
Methane
Gas Soil Processing
Garbage cover of sewage

Well to
monitor
ground Landfill
water liner
level Collection of sewage

Modern landfill site

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Chapter 7: Introduction to Microbiology

ii. a. The given figure indicates biofuel production.
b. Ethanol
c. In the given figure ‘X’ indicates cellulose.
d. Wheat, maize, potatoes, sugarcane, Jatropha curcas, Palm, sunflower, mustard, etc. can be used
for production of biofuel. [Any two examples]
e. In biofuel production, glucose is converted into liquid fuel by microbial fermentation.