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Question

250 g of Methylophilus methylotrophus can produce enormously high quantities of protein compared to a 250 kg cow in the same amount of time because

A
each bacteria has higher protein than a cow has
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B
of its ability to grow on inexpensive substrates but it cannot be varied
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C
of its high rate of biomass production
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D
bacteria has far more amino acids than a cow cell has
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Solution

The correct option is C of its high rate of biomass production
Edible protein extracted from pure microbial cultures, dead, or dried cell biomass is referred to as single cell protein and serves as an alternative protein source to humans and animals. Organisms like algae (Chlorella), fungi (Candida), yeast (Saccharomyces), and bacteria (Methylophilus methylotrophus) are used as SCP.

These microbes multiply rapidly and can be easily grown using inexpensive substrates such as agricultural wastes, waste water from the potato processing industry, sewage, etc. Using wastes generated from different sectors in the production of SCP makes it cost effective.
Methylophilus methylotrophus is a bacteria which is rich in protein. A 250 kg cow produces only 200 g of protein per day and in the same period 250 g of bacteria can produce 25 tonnes of protein.

Methylophilus methylotrophus is rich in protein but the reason 250 g of the bacteria provides an enormously high yield of protein in the same amount of time compared to a 250 kg cow is that they have very high multiplication rates (fast growth). Within a short time a large number of microbial cells are produced which results in a high rate of biomass (total amount of living matter) production. Hence option c is correct and option a is incorrect.

The ability to grow on inexpensive substrate is not the reason behind the high yield from SCP production. This makes SCP culture a good method for pollution reduction. Also, the bacteria has the capability of growing on a variety of raw materials ranging from carbohydrates such as starch and sugars to gaseous and liquid hydrocarbons, etc.
Hence option b is incorrect.

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