Edinburgh/Yoghurt

From 2007.igem.org

(Difference between revisions)
(Yoghurt Production)
(Yoghurt Production)
Line 27: Line 27:
====Yoghurt Production====
====Yoghurt Production====
 +
 +
Traditionally making yoghurt was a method used to preserve milk for longer, as the fermentation culture used lowered the pH of the yoghurt, which inhibited the growth of food spoiling, not to mention potentially hazardous, micro-organisms.
 +
 +
Yoghurt is produced by introducing lactic acid bacteria (LAB) into milk (these include the legally required strains ''Lactobacillus  delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus'' and ''Streptococcus salivarius subsp. thermophilus'').
 +
  The LAB then partially digest the casein proteins within the milk and metabolise lactose to lactic acid, which leads to a decrease in pH (to around pH4.5), causing the casein proteins to gel together and form yoghurt.
More information about yoghurt can be found on [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yogurt wikipedia]
More information about yoghurt can be found on [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yogurt wikipedia]

Revision as of 12:37, 1 October 2007


Edinburgh Uni Logo.jpg Introduction | Applications | Objectives | Design | Modelling | Wet Lab | References


Wiki is currently being updated so appologies for missing information and links


Welcome to the self flavouring yogurt project!


The aim of this project is not only to produce colourful, tasty yoghurt, but to demostrate it is possible to successfully introduce biobricks into gram positive organisms.


We chose to produce 'self flavouring' yoghurt, as this project enables us to genetically manipulate a range of gram positive bacteria required for yoghurt formation (see yoghurt production, below).

Bacillus subtilis

There are several advantages for using genetically engineered gram positive bacteria, over the traditionally used E. coli, a few of these include:

  • Gram positive organisms are food grade, and therefore may be ingested. Potentially this could enable their use in a range of products from medicines to milk shakes or yoghurt to deliver benifical molecules to the body
  • Several gram positive bacteria, such as Bacillus spp are able to form hardy spores. These do not require refridgeration and can be transported and used in very hot, cold or developing countries cheaply and with ease
  • Gram positive organisms, such as the lactic acid bacteria, are much more efficient at secreting proteins and other molecules into their surrounding media than E. coli.


Yoghurt Production

Traditionally making yoghurt was a method used to preserve milk for longer, as the fermentation culture used lowered the pH of the yoghurt, which inhibited the growth of food spoiling, not to mention potentially hazardous, micro-organisms.

Yoghurt is produced by introducing lactic acid bacteria (LAB) into milk (these include the legally required strains Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus and Streptococcus salivarius subsp. thermophilus).

 The LAB then partially digest the casein proteins within the milk and metabolise lactose to lactic acid, which leads to a decrease in pH (to around pH4.5), causing the casein proteins to gel together and form yoghurt.

More information about yoghurt can be found on wikipedia


Introduction | Applications | Objectives | Design | Modelling | Wet Lab | References