Final answer:
The microbial oxidation of progesterone to 11a-progesterone is an example of a typical bioconversion process. It involves the use of microbes to convert progesterone into 11a-progesterone, which is an intermediate in the synthesis of cortisone. This process is a widely applied fermentation biotechnology used to produce steroids with medical applications.
Step-by-step explanation:
An example of a typical bioconversion process is the microbial oxidation of progesterone to 11a-progesterone. This process involves the use of microbes, specifically the microbe Rhizopus arrhizus, to convert progesterone into 11a-progesterone, which is an intermediate in the synthesis of cortisone. This bioconversion process is a widely applied fermentation biotechnology and is used to produce steroids like cortisone, hydroxycortisone, prednisone, dexamethasone, testosterone, and estradiol, which have various medical applications.