Definition
Manipulation of living organisms and organic material to serve human needs.
What are some examples that you can think of?
Another definition
“Any technique that uses living organisms or substances from those organisms to make or modify a product, to improve plants or animals, or to develop microorganisms for specific uses”-The Office of Technology Assessment of the U.S. Congress
What are the benefits of Biotechnology?
Medicine Human Veterinary Biopharming – production of medicine
in organisms such as farm animals and microbes
Environment Agriculture Food products Industry and manufacturing
Why Change an organism?
To get desirable traits Economic gain Increase production Disease resistance
Examples
Crops that are genetically modified to resist pests
Crops that produce materials that have particular qualities
GMO’s
GMO- genetically modified organisms. The natural genetic material of the
organism has been altered. Roots in bread making, wine
brewing, cheese and yogurt fermentation, and classical plant and animal breeding
Genetic engineering
Manipulation of genes is called genetic engineering or recombinant DNA technology
Genetic engineering involves taking one or more genes from a location in one organism and either Transferring them to another organism Putting them back into the original
organism in different combinations
Impact on Society The Genetically Modified Organism GMO’s: Good or Bad???
Some countries ban GMO products Are we eating GMO’s Today?
Concerns
Some countries have banned GMO’s and others have turned down food that has been genetically modified.
Countries that have banned GMO’s
Twenty-six countries have banned GMO’s, including Switzerland, Australia, Austria, China, India, France, Germany, Hungary, Luxembourg, Greece, Bulgaria, Poland, Italy, Mexico and Russia.
Significant restrictions on GMOs exist in about sixty other countries.
Why?
Critics say that genetic engineering may: disrupt the sequence of a food’s genetic
code disturb the functions of neighboring
genes, which can give rise to potentially toxic or allergenic molecules
alter the nutritional value of food produced.
Why?
Key areas of controversy: Should GMO food be labeled? The role of government regulators? The objectivity of scientific research and publication The effect of GM crops on health The environment The effect on pesticide resistance? The impact of GMO crops for farmers? The role of GMO crops in feeding the world
population?
Concerns
Transfer of genes to the natural population Unexpected impact on environment and to
other organisms Expanse of G.E organisms Safety of foods Secondary pests Non-target organisms Biodiversity
Issues/Concerns
A GMO crop, once released in the open, reproduces via pollination and interacts genetically with natural varieties of the same crop, producing what is called genetic contamination
Issues
Some groups or individuals see the use of GMO as meddling with biological processes that have naturally evolved over long periods of time
while others are concerned about the limitations of modern science to fully comprehend all of the potential negative ramifications of genetic manipulation.[
Safeguards The Biotech industry is highly regulated The FDA regulates pharmaceuticals,
medical devices, food additives and whole foods.
The USDA approves field tests for genetically altered plants
The EPA regulates production of biotech pesticides, insecticides and fungicides
The genetic connection
Genetics is the biology of heredity Gregor Mendel discovered the
effect of genetics on plant characteristics with his experimentation with garden peas
He was one of the first scientists to study heredity
Genetics and Biotechnology
Heredity is the transmission of characteristics from an organism to its offspring through genes in reproductive cells
Mendel determined that traits could be passed onto offspring and that some traits were dominant over others
Genetics and Biotechnology
These genes are located in the nucleus of the cell and are contributed from each parent.
They are made up of DNA which determines what that cell will become.
Genetics and Biotechnology
In the past, selective breeding was used exclusively to pass on desired genes from parents to their offspring.
It all comes down to DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is found in ALL living cells
All DNA is similar in structure and function
DNA Structure DNA is composed of 2
chains wound around each other in a spiral, called a double helix.
The chains are made up of units called nucleotides.
Is this a new process?
No, biotechnology has been around since at least ancient Egypt(4000 bc) The use of yeast to make bread rise. Fermentation techniques to make wine
History of Biotechnology
Early civilizations also used bacteria to produce cheese and enzymes to produce yogurt.
Major event timeline
1972 – three scientists developed a modified DNA molecule by transplanting or recombining DNA from two different organisms.
Major events timeline
1980’s numerous medicines were
developed to help patients with AIDS, stroke, heart disease, asthma, cancer
Diagnostic tests were developed for pregnancy, AIDS, Cancer and other conditions
Major events timeline
1982 – The first biotech drug, human insulin, was approved for sale. Insulin occurs naturally in most human beings. A
lack of insulin production results in Diabetes. Prior to 1982, insulin was harvested from blood
of other animals (expensive) Human insulin was developed by moving an
insulin gene from a human cell to cells of a bacterium (E.coli) Higher supply of insulin and less expensive
Major Events Timeline
1988 Congress funded the Human
Genome Project – one of the most ambitious undertakings of the biotech community.
Purpose – decode the entire genetic sequence of humans
Completed in 12 years
Major Events Timeline
1990’s In Vitro testing technique unveiled Flavrsavr tomato produced, first whole
food produced through biotechnology First mammal cloned, Dolly the sheep Commercial genetically modified crops
grown worldwide reach 5 million acres
Major Events Timeline
2000’s Genetically modified crops growth
reaches 122 million acres in more than 18 countries
First complete food plant, rice, is sequenced
Japanese develop a biotech coffee bean that is naturally decaffeinated
Major Events Timeline
2000’s Bioethanol for commercial biofuel
production is achieved in Canada California votes pass Proposition 71
supporting embryonic stem cell research
Major Events Timeline
2001 Rice genome sequenced, the first
food plant genome, which could help create nutrient rich rice to help feed people in developing countries
“Golden Rice”
What Did These Individuals Contribute to Biotechnology?
Anton van Leeuwenhoek
Discovered cells Bacteria Protists Red blood
What Did These Individuals Contribute to Biotechnology?
James Watson and Francis Crick
Discovered DNA
What Did These Individuals Contribute to Biotechnology?
Ian Wilmut Created the first
cloned mammal, the Dorset ewe Dolly
Gene Mapping
Used to determine which genes are responsible for certain traits and their locations
It is the first step in isolating a gene. Offers evidence that a disease transmitted
from parent to child is linked to one or more genes.
Gene Mapping
Genetic maps have been used successfully to find the single gene responsible for rare inherited disorders, like cystic fibrosis and muscular dystrophy.
Guiding scientists to the many genes that are believed to interact to bring about more common disorders, such as asthma, heart disease, diabetes, cancer and psychiatric conditions.
Gene Mapping – how?
Blood or tissue samples. Scientists isolate DNA from a sample
and examine it for the unique patterns of bases seen only in family members who have the disease or trait.
These characteristic molecular patterns are referred to as markers.
Genetic Markers?
Markers can tell a researcher the identity of the person a DNA sample came from.
This makes markers extremely valuable for tracking inheritance of traits through generations of a family,
Useful in criminal investigations and forensic science
Genetic Engineering
Once the genes are located, scientists can use genetic engineering to move genes from one cell to another
This is done through the use of gene splicing
Gene Splicing
You can also take an undesirable trait and replace it with a desirable trait
Scientists use bacterial or viral Vectors to carry the new gene into the organism
Importance of Recombinant DNA
Improve plants and animals performance through the manipulation of genes
Alter characteristics or performance of microorganisms
Importance of Recombinant DNA
Control Insects, disease, weeds and other pests through genetic engineering.
Less use of chemical pesticides and more genetic use of biological controls result in a safer environment.
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