Single Cell Protein (SCP)

Humans and animals both consume proteins which are a source of nitrogen and its essential amino acids from which they build new structural and functional enzymes and hormones. These proteins enable them to survive. The extreme conditions where the proteins may also be used as a source of energy entitles their sustaining power in the environment. The nutritional value of protein is considered by the amino acid composition. 20 amino acids which are commonly found in dietary protein of which many( phenylalanine, valine, threonine, tryptophan, methionine, leucine, isoleucine, lysine and histidine ) cannot be synthesised by humans and animals and are thus very crucial and have to be supplied through their common diet. Let’s sum up what is Single Cell Protein (SCP) with examples? 

Single Cell Protein (SCP)

The crude, clarified protein taken out from real microbial, species, dead, or browned cell biomass, is known as Single-cell protein. It can be utilized as a protein supplement for humans and animals. Few examples like algae, yeast, bacteria and fungi are bound with very high protein volume in their biomass. These microorganisms can be cultivated using cheap substrates like agricultural waste i.e., sawdust, wood shavings, etc. and sometimes human and animal waste also. 

The presence of carbon and nitrogen present in the microorganism is used to convert the material into high-quality protein which can act as a supplement in human and animal feed both. The Single Cell Protein (SCP) is used as feed for fulfilling the fattening of calves, pigs, inbreeding fish and in animal agriculture poultry and cattle farming. 

Single Cell Protein (SCP)mandates a unique but logical antidote to this problem of protein deficiency in society.

Specimens of Single Cell Protein (SCP)

A record of the microorganisms obtained for the production of Single Cell Protein (SCP) is given below-

Objectives of Single Cell Protein (SCP)

Single Cell Protein (SCP) crop has multiple objectives over typical food production methods such as – 

1. Microorganisms come with a high rate of expansion which is directly proportional to a large quantity of biomass that can be produced in a shorter period of duration. 
2. These microbe’s capability to easily be genetically modified to vary the composition of amino acids. 
3. The number of pollutants can decrease as a substrate broadly uses a variety of raw materials including waste material. 
4. Production is independent of climatic circumstances.

Drawbacks of Single Cell Protein (SCP)

It too has a few drawbacks as it is not been widely approved for mortal consumption because of specific problems are as follows – 

1. It is difficult to consume as it has a high level of nucleic acid in biomass which may lead to gastrointestinal difficulties. 
2. There is a content of foreign products in the biomass which may trigger an allergic reaction in the digestive system. 
3. It may lead to raised uric acid because of the presence of nucleic acid.
4. If there is high consumption of Single Cell Protein (SCP) that might lead to the development of kidney stones and gout. 
5. It might lead to hypersensitivity and skin reactions due to the presence of secondary metabolites.

Conclusion 

Single-cell proteins are achieved by the culturing of single-celled substances. Naturally, these proteins are eaten as dietary supplements. Fungi, Bacteria, and algae either are single-celled arrangements or the clumps have one or more structures that are single-celled. Accordingly, all these structures are several sources of single-celled proteins.