Cbse Class 12 Biology Revision Notes Chapter 10

Class 12 Biology Chapter 10 Notes: Microbes In Human Welfare

 

Class 12 Biology Chapter 10 Notes define Biology as the study of life, from single-celled to complex organisms. It includes the study of genes and DNA that give organisms their unique characteristics.

Microbes are one of the most essential components for life on earth. Some microbes are pathogenic and some are beneficial. In Class 12 Biology Chapter 10, ‘Microbes In Human Welfare’, students will see the benefits of microbes in various processes like changing milk to curd, fermentation of idli and Dosa, and imparting flavour to the cheese, as well as medicinal purposes. Microbes exist everywhere, even in deep layers of the earth or in geysers where temperatures can be as high as 100 degrees Celsius or under the layers of the snow. Microbes include protozoa, bacteria, fungi and microscopic viruses. To study microorganisms, they can be grown in a nutrition-rich environment to form colonies that are visible to naked eyes. 

In Class 12 Biology Chapter 10 Notes, students will learn how microbes are used to treat sewage by activated sludge formation and how methanogens produce Biogas while degrading plant waste. Biology Chapter 10 Class 12 Notes also shed light on the use of microbes to kill harmful pests and how microbes play an essential role in the welfare of human society.

The Extramarks’ website provides an excellent platform of study materials for students to reap the benefits of knowledge while preparing for their examinations.

 

Key topics covered in Class 12 Biology Chapter 10 Notes:

Extramarks is the preferred online learning platform for lakhs of students across the country. Students extensively use our study materials including NCERT solutions, CBSE chapter notes, CBSE revision notes, etc. to prepare for the board exams.

Given below are a few of the key elements covered in our Class 12 Biology Chapter 10 Notes:

  • Microbes in Household Products.
  • Microbes in Industrial Products.
  • Microbes in Sewage Treatment.
  • Microbes in Production of Biogas.
  • Microbes as Biocontrol Agents.
  • Microbes as Biofertilizers.

 

Microbes in Household Products:

  • Lactic acid bacteria(LAB) such as lactobacillus convert milk into curd. LAB produces acids that coagulate and digest the milk proteins. On adding a small amount of curd to fresh milk, millions of LAB multiply at a suitable temperature, converting milk to curd. This also enhances the nutritional quality by increasing vitamin B12. 

 

  • Moreover, LAB is essential in eliminating disease-causing microbes in our stomach. 
  • Microbes are used in the fermentation of the dough. The carbon dioxide gas produced gives a spongy and puffy appearance. The dough used for  dosa and idli is also prepared from fermentation by bacteria. 
  • Todi is a traditional drink found in some parts of Southern India among several drinks fermented by bacteria. It is prepared from the fermentation of palm sap. 
  • Microbes are also used in the fermentation of fish, soybean and bamboo shoots.
  • The application of microbes achieves different varieties of cheese with various characteristics and textures. The large holes in Swiss cheese are due to carbon dioxide production by a bacterium named Propionibacterium shamanic.

More examples of how microbes are used in preparation of household products are given in our Class 12 Biology Chapter 10 Notes. 

 

Microbes In Industrial Products:

Class 12 Biology Chapter 10 Notes explains the importance of Microbes, as they synthesise various products that are significant for human use. For example,  beverages and  antibiotics. In Industries, microbes are grown in large vessels called fermentors to increase production.

 

Fermented Beverages:

Microorganisms produce wine, beer, whisky, brandy or rum, for  example, yeast. Saccharomyces cerevisiae, also known as brewers yeast, is used to ferment malted cereals and fruit juices. Depending on the type of processes and raw material used, different alcoholic drinks are obtained. For instance, beer and wine are produced without distillation, while whisky, brandy and rum are produced by distillation of the fermented broth.

 

Antibiotics:

  • ‘Anti’ means’ Against’, and ‘Bio’ means life. Together antibiotics represent life. But in the human context, they are known as pro-life. Why? Antibiotics are chemical substances produced by microbes that kill other microbes or retard their growth and protect us from disease.
  • Alexander Fleming discovered the first antibiotic called Penicillin while working on Staphylococci bacteria. Furthermore, Ernest Chain and Howard Florey harnessed Penicillin as an effective antibiotic during World war II to treat American soldiers. They were awarded  the Nobel prize in 1945.

 

The study of usage of microbes in antibiotics is very important for students to understand. They can register on Extramarks’ website and get access to our Class 12 Biology Chapter 10 Notes.

 

Chemical Enzymes and other Bioactive Molecules:

 

Microbes are an excellent boon for commercial and industrial purposes. They produce chemicals like alcohol, enzymes and organic acids. Few of the applications of microbes as discussed in our Class 12 Biology Chapter 10 Notes are given in the table below: 

 

Microbe Name Product
Fungi Aspergillus niger Citric acid
Bacterium Acetobacter aceti Acetic acid
Bacterium Clostridium butylicum Butyric acid
Bacterium Lactobacillus Lactic acid
Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae Ethanol

 

  • The enzymes produced by bacteria, such as lipases, are used in detergent formulations and help remove oil stains from the laundry.
  • The fruit juice producers use pectinases and proteases to soften fruits, facilitate the process of extraction which will increase the juice yield and also clarify the bottled juice.
  • Streptokinase is used as a clot-buster for removing clots from blood vessels of patients who had myocardial infarction leading to heart attack.
  • Cyclosporin A, produced by the fungus Trichoderma polypore, is an immunosuppressive agent in organ transplant patients.
  • Statins produced by yeast Monascus purpureus are used as a blood cholesterol-lowering agent.

 

Microbes in Sewage Treatment:

Large amounts of wastewater are generated every day in towns and cities. Since this water is mainly rich in human excreta, it is also known as sewage. Sewage contains a large amount of organic matter and pathogenic microbes; thus, the water cannot be directly discharged into natural water bodies. Before disposal, they have to go through the sewage treatment plants to make them less polluting. 

Heterotrophic microbes are present naturally in the sewage for the treatment of wastewater. The treatment is carried out in two stages: primary treatment and secondary treatment.

Primary treatment:

Following measures are to be taken for the primary sewage treatment:

  • This process involves physically removing large and small debris through filtration or sedimentation. 
  • Floating debris is removed by sequential filtration, while small pebbles and grids are separated by sedimentation.
  • All solids that settle become the primary sludge and the supernatant is called the effluent.
  • The effluent from the Primary Setting Tank then goes for secondary treatment.

 

Secondary treatment:

  • This process is also known as biological treatment. 
  • The effluent is passed through large aeration tanks where the air is pumped into it and is constantly agitated. 
  • This aids the growth of aerobic microbes into flocs.
  • The microbes consume most of the organic matter in the effluent and reduce the BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand).
  • Biochemical Oxygen Demand is the number of oxygen bacteria consume when it oxidizes all organic matter in 1 litre of water.
  • In simple words, BOD is a measure of organic matter present in the water. The water is said to have a High polluting potential if BOD is more incredible in wastewater.
  • The effluent is passed on into a settling tank once the BOD of sewage is reduced. The bacterial flocs called activated sludge are allowed to sediment.
  • A little part of the activated sludge is pumped back and serves as an inoculum aeration tank.
  • Anaerobic sludge digesters receive a significant part of the sludge where various kinds of bacteria grow anaerobically to digest the bacteria and fungi in the sledge. In this process, the bacteria produce a mixture of methane, hydrogen sulphide and carbon dioxide. These gases together form the Biogas. Biogas, being inflammable, is used as a source of energy.
  • Due to large quantities of sewage water and limited sewage treatment plants, untreated sewage is often discharged into rivers leading to pollution and water-borne diseases.
  • The Ministry of Environment and Forest has launched the Ganga Action Plan and Yamuna Action Plan to save these rivers from pollution.

 

Both primary and secondary treatment processes are further given in detail in our Class 12 Biology Chapter 10 Notes. Students can refer to our study resources to learn more about all subjects and prepare well for their final examinations.

 

Microbes in Production of Biogas:

  • Certain bacteria grow anaerobically on cellulose material and produce a large amount of methane, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen. These bacteria are called methanogens.
  • Methanobacterium is a common bacteria found in anaerobic sludge during sewage treatment. They are also found in the rumen of cattle to help break down cellulose.
  • The dung of cattle, commonly called Gobar, is rich in these bacteria. The dung is commonly used to generate Biogas, also called gobar gas.

 

The structure of the biogas plant is explained at full-length  in our Class 12 Biology Chapter 10 Notes.  We have given a brief description of the same below:

  • The Biogas is a concrete tank of 10 to 15 feet in depth.
  • The bio-wastes are collected, and a dung slurry is fed into the plant.
  • A floating cover over the slurry rises when gas is produced during microbial activity.
  • The biogas plant consists of an outlet. The outlet is connected to a pipe to supply Biogas to nearby houses.
  • Through another outlet, the remaining slurry is removed and used as fertiliser.

 

Cattle dung is available in rural areas and is used for various purposes. The Biogas produced is used for household purposes such as cooking and lighting. The Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) and Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) put effort into developing Biogas technologies in India.

 

Microbes as Biocontrol Agents:

The application of biological methods to control plant diseases and pests is termed as Biocontrol. The increased use of insecticides and pesticides is toxic and highly harmful to animals, humans, and the environment.

 

Biological Control of Pests and Diseases:

In agriculture, farmers use biocontrol methods to control pests rather than chemicals. A farmer’s goal in organic farming is to design a system where the pest is not eradicated, which helps balance the ecosystem. This way, a holistic approach is introduced to the myriad of organisms that constitute flora and fauna. The use of chemicals often kills both valuable and harmful life forms.

 

Examples of Biocontrol Agents:

  • The ladybird and dragonflies assist the farmers in getting rid of aphids and mosquitoes, respectively.
  • Bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) control the growth of butterfly caterpillars. They release toxins that kill the larvae once they eat them.
  • Fungus Trichoderma is used to treat plant disease and protects against plant pathogens.
  • Baculoviruses are pathogens that attack insects. The genus Nucleopolyhedrovirus is the majority of baculoviruses used in biological control. These viruses are excellent suitors for species-specific, narrow spectrum insecticidal applications. They have no adverse effect on plants, animals, birds, fish and other insects. Beneficial insects are conserved to assist in an integrated pest management program(IPM).

 

Microbes as Biofertilisers:

With the increase in the demand for agriculture, overuse of chemical fertilisers has led to the rise in pollution. Hence, there is a need for biofertilizers.

  • Biofertilizers are organisms that improve the nutrient quality of the soil. Bacteria, fungi and cyanobacteria are the primary sources of biofertilizers. 
  • The bacteria in nodules on the roots of leguminous plants fix atmospheric nitrogen into organic forms, which the plant uses as a nutrient.
  • Fungi also form symbiotic associations with plants (mycorrhiza). The fungal symbionts absorb phosphorus from soil and offer it to the plant. 
  • Cyanobacteria are autotrophic microbes. They are widely distributed in aquatic and terrestrial environments and can fix atmospheric nitrogen, e.g. Anabaena, Nostoc, etc. 
  • Cyanobacteria serve as an essential biofertilizer in paddy fields. 
  • Blue-green algae also increases fertility. 
  • Farmers use bio-fertilizers in their fields to enrich soil nutrients.

 

The chapter covers a variety of usage of microbes in both household and industrial settings. Our expert team of Biology academicians have prepared study notes and other study materials for helping students gain a better understanding and familiarity with the Biology chapters. Students can refer to our Class 12 Biology Chapter 10 Notes to study the chapter Microbes for Human Welfare in detail.

 

Class 12 Biology Chapter 10 Notes: Exercise & Answer 

Class 12 students can visit the Extramarks’ website for the best study materials. Class 12 Biology Chapter 10 Notes – Exercises & Answer covers all the critical concepts in ‘Microbes of Human Welfare’. Professors appointed by the Extramarks use a comprehensive approach to provide easy-to-understand solutions that help students in their  examination preparation. Students should register on the Extramarks website to access Exercise and Answer for Biology Chapter 10 based on NCERT Books. 

Students can click on the links below to access the solutions for various  exercises they will need to prepare for the examination.

 

Chapter 10: Exercise 10.1 Solutions

Chapter 10: Exercise 10.2 Solutions 

Chapter 10: Exercise 10.3 Solutions

Chapter 10: Exercise 10.4 Solutions

Chapter 10: Exercise 10.5 Solutions

Chapter 10: Exercise 10.6 Solutions

Chapter 10: Exercise 10.7 Solutions

Chapter 10: Exercise 10.8 Solutions

Chapter 10: Exercise 10.9 Solutions

Chapter 10: Exercise 10.10 Solutions

Chapter 10: Exercise 10.11 Solutions

Chapter 10: Exercise 10.12 Solutions

Chapter 10: Exercise 10.13 Solutions

Chapter 10: Exercise 10.14 Solutions

Chapter 10: Exercise 10.15 Solutions

Chapter 10: Exercise 10.16 Solutions

 

NCERT Exemplar Class 12 Biology

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Students can visit the Extramarks website for getting access to additional study resources. Click on the links below to access them:

 

Key features of Class 12 Biology Chapter 10 Notes

Extramarks website provides the best platform to study for students aspiring to health and biological sciences careers. This helps them gain a basic understanding of essential Biology concepts. Here are some key features of Class 12 Biology Chapter 10 Notes.

  • It is based on NCERT books and covers the entire CBSE Syllabus. 
  • The chapter notes are beneficial for the students during their revision period.
  • It consists of biological concepts prepared in a detailed and pointwise manner. 
  • Team of academicians with decades of experience in Biology has prepared Class 12 Biology Chapter 10 Notes and other study resources. 

Q.1 Arrange the following in the decreasing order (most important first) of their importance, for the welfare of human society. Give reasons for your answers. Biogas, Citric acid, Penicillin and Curd.

Ans

1. Penicillin- It is used to obtain antibiotic which is used to cure many serious bacterial disease.
2. Biogas- It is an ecofriendly source of energy/fuel in rural areas.

3. Citric acid- It is used mainly as preservative of many food items and turning milk into paneer.

4. Curd- It is easily digestible and helps in killing many disease causing microbes in the stomach.

Q.2 Expand LAB.

Ans

Lactic Acid Bacteria.

Q.3 What is an antibiotics?

Ans

An antibiotic is an organic compound produced by a microorganism that inhibits the growth or kills another microorganism.

Q.4 Find out the name of the microbes from which Cyclosporine A (an immuno suppressive drug) and Statins (blood cholesterol lowering agents) are obtained.

Ans

Cyclosporin A is produced by the fungus Trichoderma polysporum, and Statins is produced by Monascus purpureus.

Q.5 In which food would you find lactic acid bacteria? Mention some of their useful applications.

Ans

Lactic acid bacteria are found in curd. These bacteria convert lactose sugar of milk into lactic acid. Useful applications of lactic acid bacteria:

i) They increase the Vit.B12 content of the food.

ii) Check growth of disease causing microbes in the stomach.

Q.6 Do you think microbes can also be used as source of energy? If yes, how?

Ans

Yes, microbes present in the activated sludge are digested anaerobically to generate an inflammable biogas which is used as the source of energy.

Q.7 What is the botanical name of baker’s yeast?

Ans

Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Q.8 Expand the term BOD.

Ans

Biological Oxygen Demand.

Q.9 How do biofertilizers enrich the fertility of the soil?

Ans

Biofertilizers enrich the nutrient quality of the soil in the following ways;
Bacteria-They fix atmospheric nitrogen into the usable form by

(a) forming root nodules in the leguminous plants in symbiotic relationship, e.g., Rhizobium.

(b) free living in the soil, e.g., Azotobacter and Azospirillum.
Fungi- They form symbiotic relationship with roots called mycorrhiza.

Mycorrhizal fungal component absorbs phosphorus from the soil and passes this to the plant. These plants develops other qualities also like resistance to root born pathogens, tolerance to salinity, drought and overall increase in the growth and development of the plant.
Cyanobacteria- They are autotrophic microbes widely distributed in the soil, they fix atmospheric nitrogen, e.g., Anabena, Nostoc, Oscillatoria etc.

Q.10 Three water samples namely river water, untreated sewage water and secondary effluent discharged from a sewage treatment plant were subjected to BOD test. The samples were labeled A, B and C; but the laboratory attendant did not note which was which. The BOD values of the three samples A, B and C were recorded as 20mg/L, 8mg/L and 400 mg/L, respectively. Which sample of the water is most polluted? Can you assign the correct label to each assuming the river water is relatively clean?

Ans

1. Sample A, having BOD 20 mg/l, is secondary effluent discharged from sewage treatment plant.
2. Sample B, having BOD 8mg/l, is river water.
3. Sample C, having BOD 400 mg/l, is untreated sewage water.
So, untreated sewage water is most polluted.

Q.11 Name three enzymes of industrial importance.

Ans

Proteases, Amylases and Rennin.

Q.12 Give examples to prove that microbes release gases during metabolism.

Ans

The puffed-up appearance of dough used for making dosa and idli is due to the production of CO2 gas. It shows that microbes release gases during metabolism.

Q.13 Bacteria can not be seen with the naked eye, but these can be seen with the help of a microscope. If you have to carry a sample from your home to your biology laboratory to demonstrate the presence of microbes under a microscope, which sample would you carry and why?

Ans

A sample of curd may be taken to a lab to demonstrate the presence of microbes. Microbes present in the curd are lactic acid bacteria.

Q.14 Name some traditional Indian foods made of wheat, rice and Bengal gram.

Ans

Wheat = Bhatura
Rice = Idli and Dosa
Bengal Gram (Besan) = Dhokla

Q.15 In which way microbes have played major role in controlling diseases caused by harmful bacteria?

Ans

Antibiotics used to cure some of the harmful bacterial diseases are obtained from some other bacteria.

Q.16 Name any two species of fungus, which are used in the production of antibiotics?

Ans

i) Penicillium notatum ii) Aspergillus fumigatus

Q.17 What is sewage? In which way this can be harmful for us?

Ans

Sewage is the municipal waste-water, containing human excreta. It contains large amount of organic matter and microbes. The microbes are mostly pathogenic. Sewage water is treated in sewage treatment plant to make it less polluting. Due to less availability of such treatment plants, this sewage water is often discharged directly into rivers resulting into pollution and water- born diseases.

Q.18 What is the key difference between primary and secondary Sewage treatment?

Ans

Primary treatment is purely mechanical removing small and large particles through filtration and sedimentation. Secondary treatment is biological in which microbes play a major role.

Q.19 Microbes can be used to decrease the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Explain how this can be accomplished?

Ans

The use of the chemical fertilizers in order to meet the ever-increasing demand of agricultural produce adds to the significant pollution. To avoid or to minimize pollution, it is necessary to switch to biofertilizers-practising organic farming.

Q.20 Find out the role of microbes in Single Cell Protein (SCP).

Ans

Single Cell Protein (SCP):- Due to population rise of animals and human at the fast rate, the agricultural production is not sufficient to fulfill the demand of food required. More than 25% of human population is suffering from hunger and malnutrition. Single Cell Protein is one of the solutions for this.
To get single cell protein, microbes are being grown on an industrial scale as source of good proteins. Microbes like Spirulina can be grown easily on materials like waste water from potato processing plants (containing starch), straw, molasses, animal manure and even sewage, to produce large quantities of single cell protein. It also helps in reducing environmental pollution.

Q.21 Find out the role of microbes in soil.

Ans

The most favorable habitat of microorganisms is soil where they occur in abundance. Their geatest amount (1000000 per cu cm) is found generally in the top layer of the soil up to a depth of 5 to 15 cm.The microorganisms present in the soil increases the fertility of the soil by decomposing organic matter and by fixing the free nitrogen in the usable form.

Q.22 The doctor injects humulin injection to patient ‘B’ at regular intervals, but not to patient ‘A’ though both of them have inappropriate level of glucose in their bloodstreams.

Based on the given information, try to answer the following questions:

  1. Why does only patient ‘B’ require humulin injection?
  2. Prior to injection, which patient will have higher level of C-peptide?
  3. Post injection, what will be the change in the level of C-peptide?

Ans

  1. Patient ‘B’ is suffering from hyperglycemia in which there is not enough insulin in the blood. Therefore, he requires humulin injection.
  2. Prior to injection, patient ‘A’ will have higher level of C-peptide in blood as he is suffering from hypoglycemia. In hypoglycemia, the level of insulin is more as compared to that of hyperglycemia. Hence, the level of C-peptide is also more.
  3. Post injection, the level of insulin will increase in patient ‘B’ also and so the level of C-peptide.

Q.23 A specific diagnostic technique ‘X’ is used to determine the exposure to HIV virus. It uses an enzyme linked to an antibody or antigen as a marker for detection of a specific protein, especially an antigen or antibody.

Based on the given information, answer the following questions:

  1. Identify the diagnostic technique ‘X’.
  2. How is infection detected by the technique ‘X’?
  3. Name any other technique which can be used to detect the presence of HIV virus.

Ans

  1. The diagnostic technique ‘X’ is ELISA.
  2. In ELISA, infection by a pathogen is detected either by the presence of antigens or by the antibodies synthesised against the pathogen.
  3. PCR is another technique which can be used to detect the presence of HIV virus.

Q.24 Elsa used a chopping board to chop raw chicken; simultaneously she chopped other vegetables also on it. Her husband came and advised her to wash it before chopping other vegetables on the same board. What could be the possible implication behind such advice?

Ans

Raw chicken is the source of bacterium Campylobacter, which is often found in chicken and unpasteurised dairy products. Chopping board used to cut the raw chicken should be thoroughly washed before chopping other food items on it to prevent the transmission of bacteria to other food items. So, good food hygiene when handling raw poultry prevents the spread of bacteria to other food items.

Campylobacter is one of the most common causes of food poisoning. It is killed through cooking and its reproduction can be prevented by storing chicken at less than 40C.

Q.25 When Jack opted for organ transplantation; the doctor prescribed him Cyclosporin A. How does a medicine of microbial origin help in survival of transplanted organ?

Ans

In organ transplantation, the body’s white blood cells try to reject the transplanted organ. So, Cyclosporin A, an immunosuppressive agent, is prescribed under this situation that suppresses the immune system so that the patient’s body can accept the foreign organ easily.

It is given along with a steroid to prevent the body from rejecting a transplanted organ like kidney, liver or heart.

Q.26 In a birthday party, a group of teenagers drank liquor in large amount. After some time, they started vomiting, felt muscle cramps and even one of them got unconscious.

(i)What went wrong there?

(ii)Can it be fatal?

Ans

(i) Fermented beverages include wine, beer, whisky, rum, etc. Saccharomyces crevisiae, also known as “brewer’s yeast”, is used for fermenting fruit juices and malted cereals to produce ethanol. Fermented beverages can be harmful to nervous system and brain when taken in large amount.

Since the teenagers drank liquor in large amount, their nervous system got affected due to which, they started vomiting, felt muscle cramps and became unconscious.

(ii) Yes, it can be fatal. Methanol is often used to adulterate these ethanol drinks that can be fatal.

Q.27 Tina decided to prepare curd at home. So, she took a little inoculum and put it into milk and kept the bowl in the refrigerator. Her mother suggested her to keep the bowl outside the refrigerator, but she denied.

i) What is the significance behind adding small amount of inoculum into milk?

ii) In the given situation, who is right? Justify your answer by giving a valid reason.

Ans

i) Small amount of curd (inoculum) contains millions of Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB). At optimum temperature, these bacteria multiply and convert the milk into curd by producing lactic acid.

ii) In the given situation, the mother is right. Curd is formed by the action of Lactobaccilus spp. These bacteria grow at an optimum temperature of 300 to 400 C.

Inside the refrigerator, the temperature is very low. This does not allow the multiplication of bacteria and hence; prevents curdling of milk.

Q.28 Lisa was suffering from TB. The doctor prescribed her some antibiotics such as Streptomycin, Isoniazid, Rifampicin strictly for nine months.

After few months, the clinical symptoms of TB disappeared, so she stopped taking medicines. After sometime, similar symptoms reoccurred. So, Lisa started taking the same medicines as prescribed earlier. But these were no longer effective.

i) Why were these antibiotics not effective against reoccurrence of similar symptoms?

ii) Why does TB require antibiotics for a long time?

Ans

i) When the similar symptoms of TB re-appeared, the same antibiotics became ineffective because improper use of antibiotics made the bacteria resistant to them. Consequently, such bacteria resulted into multidrug-resistant TB.

ii) Antibiotics work when the bacteria are actively dividing. Bacteria of tuberculosis grow and divide very slowly. Hence for the treatment to be effective, patient needs to take antibiotics for a longer time.

Q.29 When we take an uprooted bean plant and wash its roots, we observe some node-like structures present on them.

(i) What are these structures?

(ii) Are they present in all plants?

(iii) Are they beneficial or harmful to plants? Justify your answer.

Ans

(i) These nodes-like structures present on roots are called root nodules in which Rhizobium bacteria are present.

(ii) These nodules are present in leguminous plants only. For example: pea, beans, etc.

(iii) They are beneficial for plants because in these nodules, a bacteria called Rhizobium is present that help in converting the atmospheric nitrogen into nitrates. Nitrate is the major source of nitrogen for plants. Nitrogen is an essential component of protein. Nitrate is the compound of nitrogen which increases the fertility of the soil.

Q.30 Jack wanted to save his crop from plant diseases and pests, but he was not ready for chemical pest control method as these chemicals are toxic and extremely harmful for us as well as for environment.

(i) Do you agree with him?

(ii) How can he save his crop without using chemicals?

(iii) Is this method beneficial over chemical method?

Ans

(i) Yes, chemicals used in chemical pest control method are toxic and extremely harmful for us as well as for environment.

(ii) He can save his crop from pests and diseases by using biological method as this method relies on natural predation rather than introducing chemicals.

(iii) Biological method is better than chemical method because it is an eco-friendly method which does not cause any type of pollution in environment.

Q.31 Many microbes are useful for human as well as for environment. Justify the given statements by giving reason to support your answer.

(i) Nitrate and phosphate fertilisers are added to encourage the breakdown of the crude oil spills by the bacteria.

(ii) In bread making, dough is left at warm place.

Ans

(i) Crude oil spills at sea level contain many harmful chemicals that harm the marine environment. Most petroleum hydrocarbons are biodegradable under aerobic conditions. Many microbes are able to oxidise harmful hydrocarbons and break down the oil. To increase the number of bacteria and speed up this process, nitrate and phosphate fertilisers are added to encourage the breakdown of the crude oil spills by the bacteria.

(ii) In bread making, Yeast converts the sugar into carbon dioxide and ethanol.

Wheat dough is left at warm place for a time being to allow the Yeast to feed on sugar and reproduce at its optimum temperature. On baking, the dough rises as the carbon dioxide becomes trapped between the gluten fibres of the wheat and ethanol is released.

Q.32 Biogas is a type of biofuel that is naturally produced from the decomposition of organic waste. In villages, its production is increasing gradually.

(i) Which microbe is involved in the production of biogas?

(ii) Is it aerobic or anaerobic?

(iii) How is it helpful to combat global warming?

(iv) How does biogas prevent respiratory diseases?

(v) Industrial biogas plants are more suitable for rural areas. Why?

Ans

(i) Methanobacterium present inside the rumen of cattle digests the cellulose present in grass, so its dung is rich in this bacterium. This dung is used to generate biogas in a biogas plant.

(ii) The decomposition of organic waste happens in an anaerobic environment thus; the process of producing biogas is also known as anaerobic digestion.

(iii) Biogas is a renewable, non-polluting as well as clean source of energy. No combustion takes place in this process that means there is zero emission of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere; therefore opting this method is actually a great way to combat global warming.

(iv) Cooking on a gas stove, instead of over an open fire prevents the family from being exposed to smoke in the kitchen. This helps to prevent deadly respiratory diseases.

(v) Industrial biogas plants should be set up where raw materials like dung, food waste, and manure are in plentiful supply. For this reason, biogas generation is much more suitable for rural and suburban areas in comparison to urban areas.

Q.33 An industry ‘X’ has hired you to work on Myozyme, an Ɑ-glucosidase used to treat Pompe disease.

Myozyme is produced in mammalian cells. Suppose, presently, the cell density and product titer are very low and your colleagues are unable to find out how to develop a serum-free medium that will improve the production of Myozyme.

a) Share your strategy for developing a medium that fulfils the nutritional requirements of the cell.

b) Suppose you observe that the addition of ammonium chloride induces the production of Myozyme at a certain cell density. Unfortunately, this production facility got contaminated because your colleagues took samples directly from the reactor. How would you measure the cell density in the medium without taking a sample from the reactor?

Ans

  1. The suggested strategy for developing a medium that fulfils the nutritional requirements of the cell is as follows:
  1. Identify the amount of nutrients depleted by analysing the spent medium.
  2. Identify further nutrients required by considering the metabolic pathways.
  3. Add each component and determine its maximum non-inhibitory concentration.
  4. Continue adding additional nutrients until the combination leads to the increase in growth and product expression.
  1. To measure the cell density in the medium without taking a sample from the reactor:

Before culture:

  • Measure volumetric oxygen transfer coefficient (kLa) of bioreactor.
  • Measure qO2 with the help of a respirometer.

During culture:

  • Measure PO2G with the help of a flow meter on inlet gas stream.
  • Measure PO2L with the help of a dissolved oxygen probe.

Q.34 Ashley is an entrepreneur for commercial production of protein ‘X’ in a liquid medium. He wants to know the answer of following questions:

  1. Size of the air bubbles in a lab scale reactor is mainly determined by
  1. agitator speed.
  2. viscosity of the broth.
  3. volume of the broth.
  4. pH of the broth.
  1. If the volume of the reactor is more, mixing time increases because of increase in the
  1. turbulence.
  2. flow rate.
  3. viscosity.
  4. circulation time.
  1. In case of fungal fermentations, cells in the large reactors are
  1. evenly aerated.
  2. better aerated near edges of the reactor.
  3. better aerated at the centre of the reactor.
  4. better aerated at the bottom rather than top.

Ans

  1. (i) agitator speed
  2. (iv) circulation time
  3. (iii) better aerated at the centre of the reactor

Q.35 With the advent of science and technology, the manufacturing of variety of fermented food items has increased. Many fermentable food items are good for our health; however some people may suffer from severe health problems like gas, bloating, constipation, burping and abdominal cramping, etc., after consuming them.

Based on the crisp information given, answer the following questions:

  1. What is special about fermented food items that they create such health problems for some people?
  2. How a new advancement in science and technology has found a solution to this problem?

Ans

  1. Fermented food items contain the carbohydrates of short chain length, which are usually not absorbed completely by the body, highly osmotic and quickly fermented by the bacteria present in the large intestine. These factors increase the concentration of water and gas in the bowel and create such health problems in some people.
  2. The low fermented diet, also called the low FODMAP diet (Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides and Polyols), is a solution to this problem.

Q.36 Below given are the process of manufacturing of two commercial products ‘X’ and ‘Y’ as directed by FAO from soy.

Examine the two flow charts (I and II) and answer the following questions:

  1. Fill the blanks (a), (X), (b) and (Y) in the flow chart
  2. Which one of them is a fermented product? Support your answer with a reason.
  3. Which among the two products ‘X’ and ‘Y’ is more nutritious?

Ans

  • (a): Rhizopus oligosporus
  • (X): Tempeh
  • (b): Coagulant (CaSO4.2H2O)
  • (Y): Tofu
  1. Product ‘X’ (Tempeh) is a fermented product as it has required an inoculum of a fungal strain (Rhizopus oligosporus) in order to carry out fermentation.
  2. Product ‘X’ (Tempeh) is more nutritious as compared to that of product ‘Y’ (Tofu) because. it contains more proteins, dietary fibres and vitamins. Moreover, it has less fat and is less processed.

Q.37 The doctor injects humulin injection to patient ‘B’ at regular intervals, but not to patient ‘A’ though both of them have inappropriate level of glucose in their bloodstreams.

Based on the given information, try to answer the following questions:

  1. Why does only patient ‘B’ require humulin injection?
  2. Prior to injection, which patient will have higher level of C-peptide?
  3. Post injection, what will be the change in the level of C-peptide?

Ans

  1. Patient ‘B’ is suffering from hyperglycemia in which there is not enough insulin in the blood. Therefore, he requires humulin injection.
  2. Prior to injection, patient ‘A’ will have higher level of C-peptide in blood as he is suffering from hypoglycemia. In hypoglycemia, the level of insulin is more as compared to that of hyperglycemia. Hence, the level of C-peptide is also more.
  3. Post injection, the level of insulin will increase in patient ‘B’ also and so the level of C-peptide.

Q.38 Emma’s mother got eye bags around her eyes. She thought that harmful UV rays have affected her mother’s skin and this might symptomise skin cancer.

When she took her to the doctor, the doctor prescribed her a drug which was extracted from yeast strain.

Based on the given information, answer the following questions:

  1. Was Emma’s assumption correct?
  2. The drug prescribed to her mother is possibly extracted from which microorganism?
  3. Write the possible mechanism involved in the mode of action of the drugs.

Ans

  1. No, Emma’s assumption was wrong. Her mother had high level of cholesterol in her blood, due to which doctor had prescribed a drug with statins.
  2. Statins are extracted from yeast Monascus purpureus.
  3. Statins act by competitively inhibiting the enzyme responsible for cholesterol synthesis. Statins resemble mevalonate and is a competitive inhibitor of ß-hydroxy-ß-methylglutaryl CoA reductase.

Q.39 Many proteins are modified post-transnationally by adding carbohydrates or lipids in order to increase their value to humans.

Many proteins, valuable for humans, contain carbohydrates or lipids which are added to the primary translation products.

  1. Can bacteria be used for this purpose? Support your answer with a reason.
  2. Is any approach of biotechnology applicable such protein production? If yes, mention the approach and elaborate it.

Ans

  1. No, bacteria cannot be used for this purpose as they do not contain those specific enzymes required to add carbohydrates or lipids to the primary translation products.
  2. Post-transnationally modified proteins can be produced either in transgenic eukaryotic cells growing in a culture medium or in transgenic organisms (plants or animals). Principally, this approach can be applied to produce any protein of interest.

Q.40 10 mL of wastewater was diluted to 350 mL distilled water. Initially, dissolved oxygen (Do) was found to be 10 mg/L, and after 5 days, it became 6 mg/L at DO after 5 days at 20°C.

Calculate the BOD of wastewater after 5 days (BOD5) and the final BOD.

6 ml of wastewater is diluted to 300 ml distilled water in standard BOD bottle. Initial

DO in the bottle is determined to be 8.5 mg/l. DO after 5 days at 20 C is found to be 5 mg/l.

Determine BOD5 of wastewater and compute the ultimate BOD.

Ans

BOD5 = [(DO0– DO5)/ Vw] X [Vw + Vd]

= [(10-6)/10] X [350]

= [4/10] X 350

= 140 mg/ L

Since BODt = BODu (1- e-kt) at any particular temperature

BODu = [BOD5]/ (1- e-5k) = 140/ (1- e-5X0.23)

= 140/ 0.683

≈ 205 mg/ L

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