4 topics with concise reviews: definitions, key facts, and class questions.
This section is dedicated to the use of living systems for solving medical and pharmacological problems. Here, we analyze the basic principles of biotechnology, its key areas and products, as well as study industrial biotechnology objects—from producer bacteria to mammalian cell cultures.
A separate block focuses on genetic engineering—the technology of purposefully designing new genetic programs. You will understand the mechanisms of creating recombinant DNAs and transgenic microorganisms that synthesize human insulin, interferons, and components of modern vaccines.
During classes and exams, instructors most clearly require a precise understanding of the stages of genetic engineering strain construction, the principles of selecting industrial objects, and examples of ready-made medical bioproducts. The materials in this section are structured so that you can quickly master this foundation and understand how microbiology works in real pharmaceutical production.
Why is Louis Pasteur considered the founder of biotechnology?
Pasteur discovered the enzymatic nature of fermentation, which for the first time proved the feasibility of using the vital activity of microorganisms to obtain target products.
What is the difference between primary and secondary metabolites?
Primary metabolites (amino acids, vitamins) have a low molecular weight and are vital for the growth of the cells themselves. Secondary metabolites (antibiotics, hormones) are not required for basic cell growth.
Why are only about 100 species of microorganisms used in biotechnology?
Despite the fact that hundreds of thousands of species of bacteria and fungi exist in nature, most of them remain very poorly studied, making them unsuitable for strictly controlled industrial production.
What is the problem of bioequivalence of genetically engineered drugs?
It is necessary to conclusively prove that the recombinant protein is completely identical to its natural analogue. Studies are conducted for this purpose, and additional modification of the molecule is sometimes required for its proper spatial folding.
Study the full topic in the «Microbiology» course
This is a summary. The course covers everything tested in classes and exams.
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Assignments and quizzes after every topic — just like in a colloquium