Learner Resource 5–
Biotechnology question sheet

PRACTICE QUESTIONS

(a) / (i) / Describe and explain the graph showing the standard growth curve of a microorganism in a closed culture.
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(ii) / Draw and label a line on the graph to show how the concentration of a primary metabolite would change in the culture over time, and draw and label a second line to show how the concentration of a secondary metabolite would change. / [2]

Version 11© OCR 2016

Cloning and Biotechnology

(b) / (i) / Large quantities of insulin are required for the management of diabetes.
Insulin used to be purified from the pancreas of animals farmed for food. Human insulin is now produced using genetically modified bacteria.
Suggest the advantages of using biotechnology to produce human insulin rather than using animals.
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(ii) / Name one other biotechnological product that is made using microbes.
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(iii) / Insulin is produced in a batch culture. Other products are produced using continuous culture.
Discuss the reasons for using each of the two methods of production.
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(c) / (i) / High fructose corn syrups are produced using immobilised glucose isomerase enzyme.
State two advantages of immobilising enzymes.
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(ii) / Fructose and glucose are both monosaccharides with the formula C6H12O6. Suggest what the action of glucose isomerase is.
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[Total: 15]

OCR past exam questions on this topic can be found at:

F215 June 2010 Q.1 (making cheese)

F215 January 2011 Q.4 (making penicillin)

F215 June 2012 Q.4 (biotechnology extended response question)

F215 January 2013 Q.6 (standard growth curve, primary and secondary metabolites)

F215 June 2013 Q.1 (immobilising enzymes)

F215 June 2014 Q.5 (making beer)

Answer guide

(a) / (i) / A – population size increases slowly because there is only a small number of cells dividing and the microorganisms have to make enzymes before they can reproduce
B – rapid increase in population size because nutrients are available and a large number of cells doubles at regular intervals 
C- population size remains the same because the number of microorganisms dying equals the number being reproduced by binary fission 
lack of nutrients may be limiting reproduction 
build-up of toxic waste products may be killing cells 
D – population size decreases due to lack of nutrients and a build-up of toxic waste products 
death rate is now greater than reproductive rate  / 4
(ii) / 1o metabolite - concentration rises steeply during stage B
2o metabolite – concentration does not rise significantly until stages C and D / 2
(b) / (i) / cheaper than purifying from animal pancreas 
quicker to use bacteria as opposed to animals
more efficient method to produce large quantities of identical product 
Insulin from animals was not the same as human insulin and could cause allergic reactions / 3
(ii) / allow any sensible answer e.g. ethanol, carbon dioxide, citric acid, lactic acid, methane, penicillin, antibiotics  / 1
(iii) / batch -
triggers production of secondary metabolites 
traceable batches aids identification of issue(s) / only one batch affected / recall of one batch does not affect whole production line 
continuous –
maximises product production / product can be harvested regularly 
don’t have to clean and restock fermenter / equipment  / 2
(c) / (i) / immobilised enzymes are more stable / less susceptible to having their activity reduced by pH and temperature change 
downstream processing is easier 
the enzymes can be recovered and used again  / 2
(ii) / changes the shape or bonding within the sugar molecule 
forming a different isomer of hexose  / 1
Total / 15

Version 11© OCR 2016

Cloning and Biotechnology