Name: Transgenic Animals: Magic of Biotechnology
Uploaded: 2019-07-19
Duration: 6 min 10 s
Description: Inside a cell, the chromosomes are most protected to keep them unchanged. With the advancement in biotechnology, we have been able to make changes at genomic levels.

Question

Write a short note on bioreactors.

Accepted Answer

A bioreactor is a device in which a substrate of low value is utilized by the living cells or enzymes to generate a product of higher value. In other words, these are large vessels (having a volume of $100$ to $1000$ liters) that are used for biological conversion of raw materials into specific products. Bioreactors are extensively used for food processing, waste treatment, etc.

All bioreactors are heterogeneous systems that deal with two or more phases, e.g., liquid, gas, solid. Therefore, optimum conditions for the process of fermentation necessitates the efficient transfer of mass, heat, and momentum from one phase to the other.

A bioreactor should provide the following :

Agitation– for mixing of cells and medium

Aeration- aerobic fermenters: for oxygen supply

Regulation of factors like temperature, pH, aeration, pressure, nutrient, liquid level, etc.

Sterilization and maintenance of sterility, and

Withdrawal of cells/medium for continuous fermenters.

The most commonly used Bioreactor is a stirred tank bioreactor. These are glass or stainless steel vessels of undefined liters or even $8000$ liters in volume. Each bioreactor has a cylindrical stirred tank to facilitate the mixing of contents. The stirrer provides the facility for mixing the contents as well as the availability of oxygen.

These large scale reactors are mainly used for growing hybridoma cells for the production of monoclonal antibodies. Continuous-Flow culture system, a type of stirred tank bioreactor provides a continuous source of cells and is suitable for the product generation, e.g, for the production of viruses and interferons.

Write a short note on bioreactors.

Important Questions on Biotechnology: Principles and Processes

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