Biology

Microorganisms in Food Production

1,086 Questions

Microorganisms play a vital role in food production through processes like fermentation and bioprocessing. Questions on this topic cover the use of yeast, bacteria, and industrial microbiology. These concepts are important for science sections in various competitive exams.

Alcoholic fermentationDairy beverage productionIndustrial ethanol preparationCitric acid productionBiodigester temperature

Microorganisms in Food Production Questions

Multiple choice biology the respiratory system anaerobic respiration in organisms anaerobic and aerobic respiration cellular respiration

Which of the following statement(s) is (are) correct?
(i) Pyruvate can be converted into ethanol and carbon dioxide by yeast.
(ii) Fermentation takes place in aerobic bacteria.
(iii) Fermentation takes place in mitochondria.
(iv) Fermentation is a form of anaerobic respiration.

  1. (i) and (iii)

  2. (ii) and (iv)

  3. (i) and (iv)

  4. (ii) and (iii)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Fermentation is an anaerobic process which takes place in the absence of oxygen that converts sugar to acids or alcohol. It occurs in yeast, bacteria, and also in oxygen-starved muscle cells, as in the case of lactic acid fermentation. 

So, the correct answer is option C.

Multiple choice biology the respiratory system anaerobic respiration in organisms anaerobic and aerobic respiration cellular respiration

Choose the correct answers from the alternatives given :
Why would an organism utilize fermentation if it was wasteful of the energy in food molecules and posed the threat f killing itself with high levels of toxic alcohol?

  1. Organism can survive short spells of anaerobic conditions and maintain growth and reproduction

  2. If glucose levels are not high, there may be time to disperse the alcohol waste

  3. Fermentation can provide a rapid burst of ATP since it does not have to go through the full breakdown cycle

  4. All of the above are advantages
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
  • Anaerobic respiration is done by the organisms which live in a condition with very little oxygen or no oxygen at all such as some of the bacteria and prokaryotic organisms. 
  • Also the cells in the body of a multicellular organism when they are used for extreme physical active where the body may not be able to provide oxygen to each and every cells. For example muscles of arms and legs while excriseing. 
  • In anaerobic condition the glucose molecule will undergo glycolysis where it is broken down to 2 molecules of pyruvate wilt the net gain of 2 ATP after which dur to unavailability of oxygen the pyruvate will under go lactic acid fermentation or alcoholic fermentation where the pyruvate molecule is converted to lactic acid or ethanol & carbon dioxide respectively with the regeneration of NAD for the continuation of glycolysis. 
  • Prokaryotic organisms perform this type of respiration as they do not have membrane bound organelles like mitochondria which is required for the competion of the aerobic cellular respiration. 
  • Also some of the aerobic respiring cells can survive in no oxygen condition for sometime by respiring this way. But they are usually under a stressful condition where they cells will not grow or divide as they whole energy will be focused on conserving energy and surviving. 
  • And prokaryotic organisms which mostly have cellular level of organisation or a single celled they are provided with immediate burst of ATP by breaking down glucose by glycolysis. 
  • Therefore the correct answer for this option B and C
Multiple choice biology the respiratory system anaerobic respiration in organisms anaerobic and aerobic respiration cellular respiration

Which of the following will survive in a closed container and perform fermentation?

  1. Algae

  2. Yeast

  3. Virus

  4. Protozoa
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

  • Yeasts are eukaryotic, single-celled microorganisms classified as members of the fungus kingdom.
  •  Yeast is a microorganism that can undergo aerobic as well as anaerobic respiration. 
  • Yeast requires oxygen for growth. In addition to oxygen, they require a basic substrate such as sugar. 
When yeast cells are kept in an anaerobic environment (i.e., without oxygen)can ferment sugars to alcohol and carbon dioxide. They produce ethyl alcohol and carbon dioxide from simple sugars such as glucose and fructose. Hence, the yeast can survive in a closed container and perform fermentation.
So, the correct answer is 'yeast'.

Multiple choice biology the respiratory system anaerobic respiration in organisms anaerobic and aerobic respiration cellular respiration

The organisms that undergo anaerobic respiration to make alcohol are

  1. Bacteria

  2. Yeast

  3. Algae

  4. Protozoa
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
Yeast can undergo both aerobic and anaerobic respiration. Anaerobic respiration occurs in yeast in the absence of oxygen. It is also known as fermentation. The products of anaerobic respiration in yeast are carbon dioxide, alcohol and 2 molecules of ATP.
So the correct answer is 'Yeast'.
Multiple choice botany biotechnology: principles and processes downstream processing biotechnology biotechnology and its application

Which one of the following acids was produced by fermentation process?

  1. Citric acid

  2. Lactic acid

  3. Acetic acid

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Organic acids are among the most versatile ingredients in food and beverage industries. Citric acid, acetic acid, lactic acid, tartaric acid, malic acid, gluconic acid, propionic acid and fumaric acid are some of the organic acids used widely in various industries. They are obtained as the end-products or sometimes as the intermediate components of a particular biochemical cycle. Generally, organic acids are produced commercially either by chemical synthesis or fermentation. However, fermentation processes are the most commonly used method.

Thus, the correct answer is option D.

Multiple choice botany biotechnology: principles and processes downstream processing biotechnology biotechnology and its application

Which among these is produced by distillation of fermented broth?

(i) Whisky (ii) Wine (iii) Beer (iv) Rum (v) Brandy

  1. (ii) and (iii) alone

  2. (i) and (ii) alone

  3. (iii) and (v) alone

  4. (i), (iv) and (v) alone

  5. (iii) and (iv) alone
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Both wine and beer are essentially the products of the fermentation process - the fermented broth serves as the basis of the product. Other alcoholic beverages (whisky, rum, brandy) fall under the category of distilled spirits. Distillation is the process by which the alcohol is removed from the fermented broth (or wort) by heating the wort until the alcohol vaporizes, after which it is condensed. When almost pure alcohol is distilled from fermentation, the product is called as grain neutral spirits (GNS). 

Multiple choice factors affecting respiration living organisms and energy production life processes in living organisms- part 1 respiration biology
Identify the correct terms for the given statements and select the correct answer.

(i) Sudden increase in the rate of respiration during ripening of fruits.
(ii) Reduction in the consumption of respiratory substrate when mode of respiration is changed from anaerobic to aerobic
(iii) Respiratory oxidation of carbohydrates and fats.

  1. Pasteur effect- (i) ; Floating respiration -(ii) ; Climacteric respiration- (iii)

  2. Pasteur effect- (ii) ; Floating respiration -(iii) ; Climacteric respiration- (i)

  3. Pasteur effect- (iii) ; Floating respiration -(ii) ; Climacteric respiration- (i)

  4. Pasteur effect- (ii) ; Floating respiration -(i) ; Climacteric respiration- (iii)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Climacteric respiration (i) is the sudden increase in respiration during fruit ripening. Pasteur effect (ii) is the inhibition of glycolysis by oxygen. Floating respiration (iii) is the oxidation of non-respiratory substrates like carbohydrates and fats.

Multiple choice chemistry chemical reactions of organic compounds uses of alcohols commercially important alcohols - ethanol some commercially important alcohols commercially important alcohols - methanol methanol

Ethyl alcohol is manufactured by the fermentation of :

  1. molasses

  2. starch

  3. both A and B

  4. none of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Commercial manufacturing occurs by fermentatiomn of molasses though natural fermentation in yeasts occurs by conversion of starch to ethanol.

Multiple choice chemistry chemical reactions of organic compounds uses of alcohols commercially important alcohols - ethanol some commercially important alcohols commercially important alcohols - methanol methanol

.................. of molasses takes place in the presence of enzymes.

  1. Fermentation

  2. Reduction

  3. Polymerization

  4. Oxidation
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Ethanol can be prepared by the fermentation of molasses. This is a biochemical process in which enzymes react to degrade biomass. Reduction, polymerization and oxidation reactions doesn't necessarily need

Multiple choice zoology biotechnology: general introduction application of biotechnology miscellaneous applications of biotechnology application of biology in therapy and vaccine

Oxidation of ethanol can be sensed by which of the following biosensor?

  1. Electrochemical biosensor

  2. Microbial biosensor

  3. Ozone biosensor

  4. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

A- Electrochemical biosensors are simple tools which are utilized to determine the measurement of electronic current or conductance changes done by the bio-electrodes. The electrochemical sensor converts the electrochemical information into an analytical signal. This type of biosensor is generally made up of two basic parts - a biological component & an electronic component.

Multiple choice biology interdependence of organism and the environment natural cycles and resources constituents of air medicinal use of microorganism

In batch fermentation:

  1. substrates are added to the system all at once and runs until product is harvested

  2. nutrients are continuously fed into the reactor and the product Is siphoned off during the run

  3. new batches of microorganisms are screened for increase yield

  4. small-scale production is used to synthesise product.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation
Fermentation is a metabolic process which converts carbohydrates to alcohols, organic acids are gases by the activity of the enzyme of microbial origin.
Batch fermentation is a process where the microorganism is inoculated into a fixed volume of medium. As the growth takes place the nutrients that are consumed and the product of growth keeps getting stored in the fermenter.
In batch fermentation, the mass production is done as separate batches. 
So, then the correct option is 'substrates are added to the system all at once and runs until product is harvested'
Multiple choice biology interdependence of organism and the environment natural cycles and resources constituents of air medicinal use of microorganism

Which microorganism is used for fermentation?

  1. Viruses

  2. Yeast

  3. Cyanobacteria

  4. Fungus
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
A. Viruses are used in biocontrol agents such as Baculoviruses are pathogens that attack insects and other arthropods.
B. Yeast is used in fermentation such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae in alcoholic fermentation.
C. Cyanobacteria is used in fertilizers such as Nostoc.
D. Fungus used in antibiotics and bio-fertilizers.

So, the correct option is 'Yeast'.
Multiple choice biology interdependence of organism and the environment natural cycles and resources constituents of air medicinal use of microorganism

Alcohol is produced during the process of

  1. Aerobic respiration

  2. Combustion

  3. Fermentation

  4. Kreb's cycle
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Alcohol is commercially produced using a process called as fermentation. In alcoholic fermentation, pyruvate from glycolysis is converted to acetaldehyde and then to ethanol and carbon dioxide. So, the correct answer is option C.

Multiple choice biology interdependence of organism and the environment natural cycles and resources constituents of air medicinal use of microorganism

Who among the following said that 'fermentation is a biochemical process'?

  1. A. Fleming

  2. Kitasate

  3. L. Pasteur

  4. Ivanowske
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation
L. Pasteur was the one who said fermentation is a biochemical process. He said that the catalyst for these reactions are living organisms (mainly microorganisms) but not inorganic compounds.Because the small size of microbes, other scientists doubted this at that time.
Hence, the answer is C.