Question

Write an alternate source of protein for animal and human nutrition.

Answer 1

Protein is the most important nutrient that is required by animals as well as humans. It is responsible for performing various functions like helping maintain the cell integrity, for the growth and development of muscles of the body and many more.

Complete Answer:
- Protein which is the polymer of amino acids is an essential nutrient. It is required as a bodybuilding nutrient for the growth and development of muscles of the body. It is also present in the cell and is responsible to maintain the cell integrity of the cell.
- The alternate source of protein is derived from microorganisms like Spirulina that is obtained from blue green algae (cyanobacteria). It is used as a dietary supplement as it contains high amount of protein (51-70%). Besides it acts as a good source of protein, it also acts as a source of vitamin B12.
- It is a microbial protein also called a single cell protein because the protein is derived from edible unicellular microorganisms. In animals, it is used as a feed supplement in the poultry industry especially in the broiler (meat producing) industry for the growth of chicken within 21 days.

Additional information: There are three types of protein present in the body. These are:
Fibrous protein like keratin, actin, myosin, collagen, elastin, tropomyosin and many more.
Globular protein like albumin, α globulin, β globulin, haemoglobin, immunoglobulin etc.
Membrane proteins like estrogen receptor, histones, oxidoreductases, potassium channel, transferases etc.

Note: Chlorella and Spirulina are the unicellular blue green algae that are edible in nature. It is rich in proteins and used by an astronaut as their food supplement. It is also rich in calcium, magnesium, potassium, niacin etc.