Biotechnology

CENTRAL DOGMA (FRAMEWORK) OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

The central framework of molecular biology otherwise known as the “central dogma” is the starting point for the actual course of movement of genetic information within the cell’s nucleus of an organism. The transfer of genetic information within the cell of an organism (i.e. in the nucleus) from deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) to ribonucleic acid (RNA) […]

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Biotechnology, Molecular Microbiology, , , , , , , ,

MICROBIAL METABOLITES: Primary Metabolites & Secondary Metabolites

Microbial metabolites are metabolic intermediate molecules synthesized by microorganisms during and after their growth. They are the metabolic intermediates of the biosynthetic and degradative pathways of microorganisms Microbes synthesize metabolites or metabolic intermediates at an increasing rate; and these metabolites are usually harvested or recovered by industrial processes usually at the end of the fermentation

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Biotechnology, Industrial Microbiology, , ,

MICROORGANISMS USED FOR BIOTECHNOLOGICAL PROCESSES

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 GROWTH PHASE

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, , , , , , , ,

CHARACTERISTICS OF MICROORGANISMS USED IN 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, , , , ,

GEL ELECTROPHORESIS TECHNIQUE

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, , , , , ,

Introduction to Recombinant DNA (rDNA) Technology / Genetic Engineering

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, , ,

GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE / IMPORTANCE OF FUNGI

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).

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Biotechnology, Food Microbiology, Industrial Microbiology, Mycology, , , , ,