Wild Type Microbes
 • Wild type is the typical form of a species found in 
  nature.
 • A wild type microbe can be selected for use in industry 
  due to it exhibiting a  desirable genetic trait.
 • Even with this desirable trait, it may lack other 
  important traits.
 • Scientists try to improve the microbe to include the 
  genetic material for these other traits.
       Wild Type Microbes
  Examples of traits hoped to be gained by strain 
  improvement include;
  • the ability to grow on low cost growth medium
  • genetic stability
  • production of large quantities of secondary 
   metabolites
       Wild Type Microbes
  Wild types of microbes are improved for use in 
  biotechnology by altering the microbe’s genome.
  This can be done in different ways;
  • Mutagenesis
  • Selective Breeding
  • Recombinant DNA
         Mutagenesis
  Mutagenesis is the creation of mutations.
  In nature, mutations;
  • are rare
  • occur spontaneously and at random
  • are usually detrimental to the organism
         Mutagenesis
  The rate of mutation can be increased by the use of 
  mutagenic agents.
  Examples include;
  • radiation e.g. UV light and X rays
  • chemicals such as mustard gas