Title: Introduction to Precision Fermentation
[play video 19]
Precision fermentation is an alternative way to make animal-sourced foods like milk with acellular products by using a microbe like yeast or bacteria.
Usually, milk is made by mother cows that are kept in a lactating state in an industrial setting. Instead, we can make the exact same milk by brewing it, using a culture that consumes simple sugars to make milk proteins. In the example of milk made with yeast, the yeast is altered by inserting the gene carrying the blueprints for casein (a milk protein) into them. Since all cells read the same genetic code, the yeast that now carries the so-called recombinant DNA makes casein identical to the casein cows make in their milk. By doing so, they essentially transform these microorganisms into miniature factories capable of synthesizing valuable substances ranging from proteins and enzymes to flavors, fragrances, and pharmaceuticals.
