Biotechnology and Food Production
Revise Biotechnology and Food Production for GCSE Biology with this free worksheet and full mark scheme — Foundation and Higher exam-style questions with worked answers for AQA, Edexcel and OCR. A separate (triple) biology topic on using microorganisms and GM crops, including mycoprotein from Fusarium and golden rice.
Free downloads
These worksheets and mark schemes are original, written for Virtus Academy and checked against the current AQA, Edexcel and OCR specifications. Every worksheet comes with a full mark scheme.
Topic overview
Biotechnology allows food production to be increased in ways traditional farming cannot achieve. This is a Triple-only topic.
Fish stocks in the oceans are declining, so it is essential to maintain them at a level where breeding continues or certain species may disappear altogether. Control measures include fishing quotas, which limit how much may be caught, and net size limits, which allow young fish to escape and reach breeding age.
The fungus Fusarium is useful for producing mycoprotein, a protein-rich food suitable for vegetarians. It is grown on glucose syrup in aerobic conditions, and the biomass is harvested and purified. Genetically modified bacteria can also produce human insulin, and GM crops such as golden rice provide additional nutritional value.
Revision notes
Fish stocks
Fish stocks in the oceans are declining, so stocks must be maintained at a level where breeding continues.
Control measures: fishing quotas limiting the quantity that may be caught, and net size limits so that young fish escape and can reach breeding age. Without these, some species could disappear.
Mycoprotein
The fungus Fusarium is used to produce mycoprotein, a protein-rich food suitable for vegetarians.
It is grown on glucose syrup in aerobic conditions. The biomass is harvested and purified. Growing it in a fermenter means production is not dependent on weather or land availability.
Genetic modification in food production
Bacteria genetically modified to produce human insulin are grown in fermenters, providing insulin for people with diabetes.
GM crops can provide additional nutritional value — golden rice is engineered to contain a precursor of vitamin A, addressing deficiency in some populations.
Key points
- Fish stocks must be maintained at breeding levels.
- Fishing quotas limit the quantity caught.
- Net size limits let young fish escape.
- Fusarium is used to produce mycoprotein.
- Mycoprotein is grown on glucose syrup in aerobic conditions.
- GM bacteria produce human insulin.
Worked examples
Example 1
Explain why fishing quotas and net size limits are used. [3 marks]
Model answer
Quotas limit the quantity of fish that may be caught, preventing stocks being depleted faster than they can recover (1 mark). Net size limits allow young fish to escape (1 mark), so they can reach breeding age and maintain the population (1 mark).
Example 2
Describe how mycoprotein is produced. [3 marks]
Model answer
The fungus Fusarium is grown on glucose syrup (1 mark) in aerobic conditions in a fermenter (1 mark). The biomass is then harvested and purified to produce a protein-rich food (1 mark).
Example 3
Explain one advantage of genetically modified golden rice. [2 marks]
Model answer
Golden rice has been engineered to contain a precursor of vitamin A (1 mark), which helps address vitamin A deficiency in populations where rice is the staple food (1 mark).
Common mistakes
Saying quotas alone protect fish stocks.
Net size limits are also required, so young fish can reach breeding age.
Forgetting that mycoprotein needs aerobic conditions.
Fusarium requires oxygen, and this detail is often worth a mark.
Confusing mycoprotein with a bacterial product.
It comes from a fungus, Fusarium.
Not naming the nutrient in golden rice.
It contains a precursor of vitamin A.
Exam tips
- Give both fish stock control measures.
- Name Fusarium and state the aerobic condition.
- Say mycoprotein is suitable for vegetarians.
- Remember this is a Triple-only topic.
Key terms
- Biotechnology
- Using living organisms or their products in industry.
- Mycoprotein
- A protein-rich food produced from the fungus Fusarium.
- Fishing quota
- A limit on the quantity of fish that may be caught.
- Golden rice
- A GM crop containing a precursor of vitamin A.
Related topics
Written and reviewed against the current AQA, Edexcel and OCR specifications. Spotted an error? Let us know.