Biotechnology – cell, enzyme, and microbial technologies
BiologyBiotechnologyAges 15–16
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Sign in to playThree biotechnology topics in one simulation, selected with the topic parameter. Cell technology: plant tissue culture, where changing the auxin/cytokinin ratio in the medium makes the explant form callus, shoots, or roots, and counts the plantlets multiplied over successive cycles. Enzyme technology: a reactor with immobilized enzyme, where reaction rate follows the Michaelis–Menten equation and varies with temperature and pH. Microbial technology in pollution treatment: an aerated tank where bacterial density rises and the wastewater's BOD falls over time.
Lesson: Cell technology and its achievements; enzyme technology and applications; microbial technology in environmental pollution treatment
What it shows
Three applied biotechnology models share one screen. In plant tissue culture, totipotent cells regenerate a whole plant, and the auxin to cytokinin ratio decides whether an explant forms roots, shoots or undifferentiated callus; each subculture multiplies plantlets fivefold. The enzyme reactor follows Michaelis–Menten kinetics, v = Vmax[S]/(Km + [S]), scaled down when temperature or pH moves away from the optimum and lost when the enzyme denatures. In activated-sludge treatment, aerobic bacteria oxidize organic matter, so BOD₅ falls exponentially at a rate set by aeration.
How to use
Switch topics with the three tabs. In Cell technology, drag across the flask to change the hormone ratio and find where roots, shoots and callus appear, then press Next subculture cycle to count plantlets. In Enzyme technology, drag to vary the temperature, return to the optimum with Set to 37 °C, pH 7, and compare several Substrate concentration values. In Microbial treatment, drag to change aeration or press Max aeration, and read how long BOD₅ takes to reach the 30 mg/L limit.
Parameters you can change
- Current topic 1. Plant cell technology, 2. Enzyme technology, 3. Microbial pollution treatment
- Auxin / cytokinin ratio in the culture medium 0.1–10
- Enzyme reactor temperature 5–80 °C
- pH of the enzyme solution 3–11
- Substrate concentration 0–20 mM
- Aeration level for the wastewater tank 0–100 %
Questions to explore
- Which way should the auxin/cytokinin ratio be changed to make an explant form roots rather than shoots?
- Why does the reaction rate level off when the substrate concentration keeps increasing?
- Why does weaker aeration make the wastewater take longer to reach the BOD₅ discharge limit?
