Question

1 . List at least four reasons that fermentation is of commercially importance.

2. Most respiration by humans is aerobic. When is anaerobic respiration (fermentation)

     important for human beings?

3. What product of fermentation is important in the alcoholic beverage industry?

4. What product of fermentation causes bread to rise?

5. Why doesn’t bread rise as soon as yeast is added?

Answer 1

1) Fermentation is the metabolic process by which chemical breakdown of substances such as glucose is occur by the microorganisms in the absence of oxygen or electron transport chain. The commercial importance of fermentation is listed below-

1. Alcoholic beverages can be produced by fermentation.
2. Bakery industry uses fermentation technique to produce bread.
3. Yogurt is produced by fermentation.
4. Microbial enzymes & metabolites can be produced using fermentation.
5. Ethanol produced in fermentation can be used as fuel.
6. In sewage treatment fermentation technique can be used to treat sludge.

2) Anaerobic respiration is a type of cellular respiration where final electron acceptor is other than oxygen. It occurs when there is lack of sufficient oxygen or quick energy require in short time. It is important during high intensity exercise, sprinting, jumping etc. where high amount of energy require in short time. Fast twitch fibers has high contraction speed & undergo anaerobic respiration to produce ATP during those intense processes.

3) Ethanol fermentation is important in alcoholic beverage industry. Yeast gives ethanol & carbon dioxide as by product when consumes sugars such as glucose, fructose etc.

4) Carbon dioxide produces as a by-product of fermentation causes bread dough to rise.

5) During bread production yeast consume starch & sugar from the bread dough & produces alcohol & carbon dioxide as by-product. The carbon dioxide gas causes the bread dough to rise. The bread dough doesn't rise as soon as yeast is added because yeast requires time to produce carbon dioxide as a by-product of fermentation.