Class 12 Biology Chapter 8
Microbes in Human Welfare
Important Questions

Explanation:
The industrial production of antibiotics primarily involves the use of certain microbes, particularly fungi and bacteria, which are known to produce antibiotic substances. The process includes the following steps:

• Strain Selection and Improvement: High-yielding strains are often selected for their ability to produce larger quantities of the antibiotic. Genetic engineering and mutation techniques may be applied to enhance production further.
• Fermentation: The selected microbe is cultured in large fermentation tanks under controlled conditions (temperature, pH, oxygen, and nutrients). During fermentation, the microbes produce the antibiotic substance.
• Extraction and Purification: After fermentation, the antibiotic is extracted from the culture medium. It undergoes several purification steps to obtain the final pure antibiotic product.
• Quality Control and Testing: The final product is tested for its potency, purity, and effectiveness. It must meet specific standards before it is packaged and distributed.

Example - Penicillin Production:

• Penicillium chrysogenum is cultivated in a fermentation process where it produces penicillin. Initially discovered by Alexander Fleming, penicillin has become one of the most widely used antibiotics, effective against a range of bacterial infections.
• Advances in fermentation technology, such as fed-batch culture and continuous fermentation, have further improved the yield of penicillin.