This is a compulsory and restricted module for MSc in Biotechnology for a Sustainable Future. This module explores the use of microorganisms to produce enzymes and other proteins, reviews the areas of biotechnology that exploit enzymes, and examines the methods available for engineering new enzymes. The productivity of microorganisms can be manipulated through careful control of the culture conditions and the module examines techniques in batch, fed-batch and continuous culture, providing training in the quantisation of bacterial growth parameters and metabolic control analysis. The basic design and operation of a fermentation laboratory will also be explored. Students will learn about the gains made by applying metabolic control analysis to amino acid and enzyme production. Biodiversity provides new enzymes, but genetic engineering also provides opportunities for designing molecules with new or enhanced abilities. Students will study areas of biotechnology that exploit enzymes and the methods available for producing and engineering these enzymes.