ABSTRACT
In this technology, living cells such as bacteria, yeast or mammalian cells are used. In addition, enzymes are also extensively employed. Enzymes, by their catalytic reactions, break down large organic molecules to obtain energy and to generate a supply of chemical building blocks to make new molecules. We are using the cells as well as enzymes of other organisms to commercially manufacture chemical compounds; to generate energy and to break down chemical pollutants (Kreuzer and Massey, 1998; Smith, 1996). A wide variety of biotechnology products are commercially manufactured through large-scale fermentation and mammalian cell culture-the two types of bioprocessing technologies that rely on cellular enzymes (Kreuzer and Massey, 1998). Some examples of the types of bioprocessing products produced and typical organisms used to manufacture them are given in Table 1.1.
