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Genetics & Biotechnology vocabulary · Biotech Products and Bioprocessing

Bioreactor

Meaning in genetics & biotechnology, with examples

/ˈbaɪoʊriˌæktər/nounCommon term

In genetics & biotechnology, bioreactor means: A vessel in which cells or microorganisms are grown under carefully controlled conditions, such as temperature, pH, oxygen and mixing, to make a product.

In Turkish: biyoreaktör

How it is used

Used in bioprocessing, biopharma manufacturing and research. Bioreactors range from small benchtop units to tanks of thousands of liters, made of stainless steel or as single-use bags. Engineers 'scale up' a process and monitor parameters such as dissolved oxygen. For microbes, 'fermenter' is also used.

Example sentences

  1. We are scaling up from a 2-liter bioreactor to a 200-liter one.

  2. The pH in the bioreactor dropped overnight, and the cells stopped growing.

Common collocations

  • single-use bioreactor
  • bioreactor run
  • scale up a bioreactor
  • bioreactor conditions
  • stirred-tank bioreactor
  • fermentationIn biotechnology, growing large numbers of microorganisms such as bacteria or yeast in tanks to make products like enzymes, insulin, antibiotics or biofuels.
  • recombinant proteinA protein produced by putting its gene into host cells such as bacteria, yeast or mammalian cells, which then make the protein in large amounts.
  • monoclonal antibodyAn antibody made by identical immune cells, all clones of one parent cell, so that it binds to exactly one target. Many modern drugs and lab reagents are monoclonal antibodies.
  • biotechnologyThe use of living cells, organisms or biological molecules to make products or solve problems in medicine, agriculture, industry and the environment.

More terms: Biotech Products and Bioprocessing

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