An introduction to biotechnological innovations in the chemical industry legis"ole of Thus we can see that legislators, politicians, investors and society as a whole are advance but also economic, political and sociological developments. We could, for example, envisage that specialist lobby groups(eg "Green"groups, animal rights activists)may, through influencing public opinion, greatly influence biotechnology. It is also incuberent on education to ensure that public opinion(and thus investment and legislation) is developed upon knowledge and not upon emotive and ill-founded In the following chapters, we predominantly use a case study approach to illustrate a range of issues that arise from using biologically-based approaches to the production of chemicals. There are such an enormous range to choose from that we have had to be selective. Our selection has been made predominantly to ensure that the reader develops an understanding of the range and potential of biotechnology in this area, an developes an appreciation of the major advantages and limitations of this approach. In Chapter 2, we provide an overview of the types of chemical transformations that can be mediated by organisms or their constituent parts, particularly enzymes. This chapter provides a context for later chapters. In Chapter 3, we examine the cellular energetic consequences of metabolite overproduction by organisms. We use this chapter to consider the limitations f hsIng fossil fuel(methane/methanol)as substrate.This ield of products. Chapter 4 considers the production of single cell protein, particula chapter enables us to explain how changinmiotechnological processes In the case of SCP from methane, we use economic data from the 1960s(when the process appeared to be profitable)and the 1970s(when it became uneconomic) to illustrate this point. We feel further justification for including this case study because it was this project that led to the commercial development of large scale air-lift bioreactors which find ever increasing use in a wide range of biotechnological processes We have included chapters on large volume organic acid production to illustrate how intermediary metabolism may be manipulated to achieve overproduction of metabolic intermediates. Chapters on antibiotics, amino acids, polysaccharides and lipids are used to illustrate the application of biological systems to achieve specific transformations Each has been chosen to enlarge on particular aspects. Thus within the amino acids chapter you will for example compare the technology and the economics of ges ific forms of amino acids. In the chapter on antibiotics, we illustrate how biological systems can be manipulated or used to diversify the range and characteristics of particular groups of molecules. Similarily, in the chapter on lipids, we use sterol/ steroid interconversions in the health care sector to enlarge on the concepts of biological specificity. Later in the same chapter we turn attention to the bulk lipid market associated with food manufacture and show how biological systems can be used to convert a low prices lipid into a higher value lipid with desirable organoleptic(mouth feel") properties. The chapter is also used to introduce the reader to the problems posed by attempting to use biological systems(which are largely aqueously based) to carry out conversion with substances which have only limited compatability with water. y the end of the text youde range of products and to achieve a variety of objectives. should appreciate the enormous potential that biological systems have formaking a You should also have knowledge and be able to cite specific examples, of how economic, social and political attitudes may impinge upon the adoption of the technologyAn introduction to biotechnological innovations in the chemical industry 7 role of legi shtions , politicians, investors, pressure groups on biotechnobgical development Thus we can see that legislators, politicians, investors and society as a whole are important influences on the development and adoption of biotechnology. Biotechnological development is not only dependant upon technological/scientific advance but also economic, political and sociological developments. We could, for example, envisage that specialist lobby groups (eg "Green" groups, animal rights activists) may, through influencing public opinion, greatly influence biotechnology. It is also incuberent on education to ensure that public opinion (and thus investment and legislation) is developed upon knowledge and not upon emotive and ill-founded claims. In the following chapters, we predominantly use a case study approach to illustrate a range of issues that arise from using biologically-based approaches to the production of chemicals. There are such an enormous range to choose from that we have had to be selective. Our selection has been made predominantly to ensure that the reader develops an understanding of the range and potential of biotechnology in this area, and developes an appreciation of the major advantages and limitations of this approach. In Chapter 2, we provide an overview of the types of chemical transformations that can be mediated by organisms or their constituent parts, particularly enzymes. This chapter provides a context for later chapters. In Chapter 3, we examine the cellular energetic consequences of metabolite overproduction by organisms. We use this chapter to consider the limitations on yield of products. Chapter 4 considers the production of single cell protein, particularly using fossil fuel (methane/methanol) as substrate. This chapter enables us to explain how changing market values and social acceptability atly influences the success or otherwise of biotechnological processes. In the case of !& from methane, we use economic data from the 1960s (when the process appeared to be profitable) and the 1970s (when it became uneconomic) to illustrate this point. We feel further justification for including this case study because it was this project that led to the commercial development of large scale air-lift bioreactors which find ever increasing use in a wide range of biotechnological processes. We have included chapters on large volume organic aad production to illustrate how intermediary metabolism may be manipulated to achieve overproduction of metabolic intermediates. Chapters onantibiotics, amino acids, polysaccharides and lipids are used to illustrate the application of biological systems to achieve specific transformations. Each has been chosen to enlarge on particular aspects. Thus within the amino acids chapter you will for example compare the technology and the economics of fermentative and enzymological strategies to produce stereospecific forms of particular amino acids. In the chapter on antibiotics, we illustrate how biological systems can be manipulated or used to diversify the range and characteristics of particular groups of molecules. Similarily, in the chapter on lipids, we use sterol/steroid interconversions in the health care sector to enlarge on the concepts of biological speafiaty. Later in the same chapter we turn attention to the bulk lipid market associated with food manufacture and show how biological systems can be used to convert a low prices lipid into a higher value lipid with desirable organoleptic ("mouth feel") properties. The chapter is also used to introduce the reader to the problems posed by attempting to use biological system (which are largely aqueously based) to carry out conversion with substances which have only limited compatability with water. By the end of the text you should appreciate the enormous potential that biological system have for malung a wide range of products and to achieve a variety of objectives. You should also have knowledge and be able to ate specific examples, of how economic, social and political attitudes may impinge upon the adoption of the technology