ChE 412

Introduction
to
Biotechnology
1 Basic Concepts of
Microbiology
 What is Biotechnology?
Biotechnology is the integrated use of biochemistry,
microbiology, food technology, engineering sciences,
etc. in order to achieve technological (industrial)
application capabilities of microorganisms, cultured
tissue cells and parts thereof.
 Biochemistry Microbiology

Biotechnology

Engineering Sciences Food Technology

 Development of Biotechnology

Production of Development of Applied

Introduction of
food and processes Genetics and
sterility to
beverages under non- recombinant
biotechnological
using direct sterile DNA
processes
fermentation conditions technology
 Main Areas of
Application of Biotechnology
• Bioprocess technology (brewing, antibiotics)
• Enzyme technology (bioreactors)
• Environmental technology (pollution control, removing toxic wastes)
• Renewable resources technology (clean and sustainable technology)
• Plant and animal agriculture (farming)
• Healthcare (medicines, vaccines)
 Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology

Chemical engineers working in biotechnology typically work in conjunction with

researchers in molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics, embryology, and cell
biology.
A career in biotechnology may overlap with work in health care, crop
production, agriculture, and the environment.
A researcher may use chemical engineering to advance procedures in genetic
testing and gene therapy.
Chemical engineers in medicine may also work on engineering organisms and
microorganisms to be used in applications, such as degrading wastes and
converting chemicals into more useful ones.
 LESSON 1
BASIC CONCEPTS OF MICROBIOLOGY

The study of microorganisms is called Microbiology.

Classification of living organisms

1. according to cellular structure
a. prokaryotes
b. eukaryotes
2. according to mode of nutrition
a. autotrophs
b. heterotrophs
3. according to genetic characteristics
(devised by Carl Woese in 1978)
a. Archaea
b. Bacteria
c. Eukarya
According to genetic characteristics

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnDRJAt-4aM
According to Mode of Nutrition

Characte Kingdom
ristics Monera Protista Fungi Plantae Animalia
Autotrophic:
chemoautotro
phic and Autotrophic:
photoautotro photoautotro Heterotrophic Autotrophic: Heterotrophic
Mode of
phic phic (saprophytic/ photoautotro (holozoic/sap
nutrition
parasitic) phic rophytic)
Heterotrophic Heterotrophic
(saprophytic/
parasitic)
Autotrophic (self-feeding) nutrition is a process
where plants make food by combining large complex
organic molecules such as starch, lipids and protein
with simple inorganic molecules like water, carbon
dioxide and minerals.

1. Phototrophic nutrition
- converts solar energy (light energy) into food energy
are called phototrophic nutrition.
2. Chemotrophic nutrition
- light is not used as the source of energy for
nutritional requirements.
Heterotrophic nutrition is where organism feed on organic
substances that have been made by other organisms.
1. Holozoic nutrition
The word holozoic is composed of two words: holo = total
and zoikos = animals and means "animals that eat all their
food".
Complex foods reach a specialized digestive system and
are divided into small pieces to be absorbed. It consists of
5 stages: ingestion, digestion, absorption, assimilation and
excretion.
2. Saprophytic / saprotrophic nutrition
Organisms feed on dead organic remains from other
organisms.
3. Parasitic nutrition
The organisms obtain food from other living
organisms (the host), and the host receives no
benefit from the parasite. When a parasite is present
inside the host's body, it is known as an endoparasite
(such as tapeworm).
4. Symbiotic nutrition
Certain plants live in close association with other
plants for long periods of time. For example: fungi
and algae, rhizobium and legumes.
Common Microorganisms

1. Bacteria

• relatively simple, single-celled organisms

• enclosed in cell walls that are largely
composed of a carbohydrate and protein
complex called peptidoglycan
• generally reproduced by binary fission
• have several shapes
2. Archaea
• are often found in extreme environments
• examples include methanogens (produce methane as
a waste product from respiration), halophiles (live in
extremely salty environments such as the Dead Sea),
thermophiles (live in hot sulfurous water such as hot
springs)

thermophiles in Yellowstone National Park, USA acidophiles in Lechuguilla Cave, New Mexico
3. Fungi
• may be unicellular (for example yeasts) or multicellular (for
example mushrooms)
• can be produced sexually or asexually
• they obtain nourishment by absorbing solutions of organic
material from their environment – whether soil, seawater,
freshwater or an animal or plant host
• have cell walls composed primarily of a substance called chitin
4. Algae
• their cell walls are composed of a carbohydrate called cellulose
• are abundant in fresh and saltwater, in soil, and in association
with plants
• they need light, water, and carbon dioxide for food production
and growth
• they produce oxygen and carbohydrates that are then utilized
by other organisms, including animals
5. Viruses

• they are acellular (not

cellular)
• made of only one type of
nucleic acid, either DNA or
RNA
• can reproduce only by
using the cellular machinery
of other organisms
• are parasites of other
forms of life