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Question #47758
The Question
An industrial stirred-tank bioreactor is culturing a specific fungus to produce a bioactive molecule used as an immunosuppressive agent in organ transplant patients. If the bioreactor's sparger system fails, causing severe fluctuations in oxygen transfer and pH, what will be the most likely consequence observed after downstream processing?
Options
- A.
The downstream processing will yield biologically inactive isomers of the secondary metabolite Cyclosporin A due to a shift in fungal metabolic flux.
- B.
The yield of the primary metabolite Cyclosporin A will increase as the fungus shifts to anaerobic fermentation to survive the stress.
- C.
The extraction of statins will be compromised because the altered pH denatures the competitive inhibitors of blood cholesterol.
- D.
Downstream processing will fail to separate the intracellular product because the fungal cell wall becomes resistant to lysozyme.
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Correct Answer
Step-by-Step Solution
Explanation
How the Examiner Thinks
Evolutionary_Exception
Tackle problems where standard rules evolve or change based on specific environmental constraints.
Concepts Behind This Question
Taq Polymerase|Thermal Tolerance Ranges|Allen’s Rule and Surface-to-Volume Ratio
Why This Question Is Tricky
Common Mistakes
Conceptual Pivot: This question requires the synthesis of three distinct NCERT chapters (Microbes, Biomolecules, and Biotechnology).
The primary misconception tested is the classification of Cyclosporin A (Secondary vs.
Primary metabolite) and the precise function of downstream processing.
Students often memorize the microbe-product pair but fail to apply how bioreactor geometry (oxygen/pH control) directly impacts the biochemical fidelity of secondary metabolites.
Additionally, Option D employs a classic 'Location/Enzyme Trap' by pairing a fungus with lysozyme instead of chitinase.
Quick Facts About This Question
Question Information
| Subject | Biology |
| Chapter | Biotechnology : Principles and Processes - Class 12 |
| Concept | Taq Polymerase Thermal Stability |
| Difficulty | 8 |
| Cognitive Load | 5 |
| Target Solve Time | 120 sec |
| Access | Free |