Genomic DNA is a double helix structure that is composed of several components including purines (adenine and guanine) and pyrimidines (cytosine and thymine) as nitrogenous bases, deoxyribose sugar (a pentose sugar) and phosphate groups. It is a large nucleic acid molecule composed mainly of two polynucleotide chains or strands that are coiled in a complementary […]
Both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms including plants, animals and microorganisms are used for biotechnological manipulations. Whole animals and plants are manipulated through genetic engineering to produce transgenic animals and plants respectively. In addition, bacteria and other eukaryotic cells have been genetically manipulated to produce non-microbial products such as human growth hormones, insulin, interferon, mammalian proteins
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Biotechnology, Industrial Microbiology
Microbial cells can exhibit different growth patterns depending on the availability of growth nutrients in their immediate environment. In batch culture, microbial cells cannot grow continuously because the growth nutrients required for development is not renewed after it has been depleted. Thus exponential growth is limited to a few generations of microbial cells in batch
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Biotechnology, Food Microbiology, Industrial Microbiology
Microorganisms including bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes and viruses possess some unique qualities different from animals and plants. And these special characteristics of microbe’s warrants there continued usage for most of the industrial and/or biotechnological processes that produce goods and services that are of huge economic importance. Microorganisms require cheap nutrients for growth and they grow and
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Industrial Microbiology, Biotechnology, Food Microbiology
Genes in the DNA code for proteins; and it is the gene that directs the cell in what particular order to assemble the amino acids which eventually becomes the building blocks of protein molecules. The cell of an organism must use one nucleotide or more in the DNA to spell out or specify each of
NITROGENOUS BASES – Purine and Pyrimidines Read More »
Biotechnology, Gene Therapy Notes
Genes are sections of the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) that codes for the synthesis of a specific protein sequence in a cell. A gene is generally the genetic unit or sequence on a chromosome which direct the synthesis of a particular protein sequence as wells as the characteristics of the synthesized protein molecule. When the trait
The term “electrophoresis” refers to the movement of a solid particle (e.g. nucleic acids) through a polymer matrix or gel under the influence of electric field. Electrophoresis is a molecular biology technique that is used to separate nucleic acid molecules and other macromolecules mainly on the basis of their charge to mass ratio as they
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Biotechnology, Molecular Microbiology
Recombinant DNA (rDNA) technology or genetic engineering is the in vitro controlled manipulation of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) in order to produce new gene products or a combination of genes with improved biological function. It is an advanced and modern form of biotechnology. In genetic engineering, the genetic makeup of living organisms (especially microorganisms)
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Biotechnology, Molecular Microbiology
References Anaissie E.J, McGinnis M.R, Pfaller M.A (2009). Clinical Mycology. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier. London. Beck R.W (2000). A chronology of microbiology in historical context. Washington, D.C.: ASM Press. Black, J.G. (2008). Microbiology: Principles and Explorations (7th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: J. Wiley & Sons. Brooks G.F., Butel J.S and Morse S.A (2004).
GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE / IMPORTANCE OF FUNGI Read More »
Biotechnology, Food Microbiology, Industrial Microbiology, Mycology
Biotechnology is simply defined as the scientific manipulation of living organisms at the molecular genetics level to produce useful economic products and services that are of added-value to humanity. It is the science that puts microorganisms to work as well as other living things including plants and animal cells. The phrase biotechnology was originally coined
Introduction to Biotechnology Read More »
Biotechnology