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3.4 identify that developments in the 1950s led to biotransformation technologies that could produce required organic compounds such as cortisone and sex hormones
identify that developments in the 1950s led to biotransformation technologies that could produce required organic compounds such as cortisone and sex hormones
- Biotransformation is the process where one chemical is changed into another by a chemical reaction that occurs in a living organism. This ability is part of an organism’s metabolism.
- In biotechnology, biotransformations involve conversions of natural or synthetic precursors into products with increased value. Micro-organisms, animal cells, plant cells or their organs / organelles, isolated enzymes or immobilised biocatalysts can be used for biotransformations.
- Over the past years biotransformations have gained in importance as intermediate in chemical synthesis predominantly if reactions are not possible or only possible with great effort. These reactions are feasible due to enzyme properties like reaction specificity and an enzyme being selective to a region.