Download Biotechnology and Human Health

Introduction to Activity 3
Biotechnology
and
Human Health
Biotechnology and You
Background
• Biotechnology is used to:
– Diagnose disease
– Prevent disease
– Treat disease
How can biotechnology diagnose
disease?
• Enzyme Linked Immunosorbant Assay
ELISA
File Number: 2215359
How is biotechnology used prevent
disease?
• Vaccines
– Whole organism
– Partial organism
– Recombinant
How can biotechnology be used to
treat disease?
• Gene therapy
• Stem cells
• Cloning
Part A. Spread and Detection of
Infectious Disease
• Model the spread of a disease
• Use biotechnology to detect disease
How do diseases spread?
• Viral versus Bacterial
• Exposure levels
• Infectious versus genetic
Activity
• In this activity you will model how an infectious
disease is spread. You will then apply a test
developed through the use of biotechnology to
determine levels of infection.
• Each student will receive a container of fluid.
One of these containers has been
contaminated.
• Each student will exchange fluid with three
other classmates.
Activity
• After the exchanges are complete, you will use an
assay to determine if your sample is
contaminated.
• Assays are a type of biotechnology. They are
tests that indicate the presence of a particular
substance.
• Examples of medical assays include glucose
meters (used by diabetics), drug tests, pregnancy
tests and disease tests (such as for HIV).
File Number: 4641088
File Number: 5480149
Activity
• In this case, samples will change color if they
have been infected.
• A positive result (color change) indicates an
infected sample
• A negative result (no color change) indicates the
sample has not been infected.
Spread of diseases
Carrying
capacity
# infections
Exponential
growth phase
Lag phase
Number of
interactions
Reflection Questions
• What factors might affect the way a
disease spreads in real life?
• How was biotechnology used in this
activity?
• What types of assays are available ‘over
the counter’ in local stores?
Part B: Vaccinations
• Explore different types of vaccines
• Research and investigate required
vaccines
Vaccinations
• What vaccines have you
been given?
• What are these
vaccines designed to
prevent?
• How do vaccines work?
Types of Vaccines
• Whole Organism
• Partial Organism
• Recombinant
Whole Organism Vaccine
• Live, attenuated vaccine
http://www.vaccineplace.com/?fa=explore/general/14
• Dead vaccine
http://www.vaccineplace.com/?fa=explore/general/14
Partial Organism Vaccine
• Protein coat only
http://www.vaccineplace.com/?fa=explore/general/14
Recombinant Vaccine
• Produced by genetic engineering
http://www.vaccineplace.com/?fa=explore/general/14
Activity
Make an informational poster on one of the vaccines you are required to have.
Be sure to address the following questions:
•
What is the vaccine designed to prevent?
•
How is the vaccine made?
•
How does the vaccine work?
•
Is the vaccine live, attenuated or recombinant?
•
Is the vaccine required for all people? If not,
explain.
•
At what age is the vaccine given? Are boosters
required?
•
What are the benefits of the vaccine?
•
What are the risks associated with the vaccine?
•
List two debate topics associated with your vaccine.
Part C: Edible Vaccines
• Explore the science behind edible
vaccines
• Create your own edible vaccine
Vaccines
• How are vaccines most commonly given?
• What does ‘edible vaccine’ mean?
• How would an edible vaccine be created?
Benefits of Edible Vaccines
• Edible
• Safer because there is no needle
• Economical to mass produce and transport
• Heat stable
• Subunit vaccine so won’t cause disease
Risks of Edible Vaccines
• Oral Tolerance
• Accumulation of enough antigen
• Public perception of Genetically Modified
Organisms
• Transfers of genes to non-target organisms
• Dosage
Activity
Design an Edible Vaccine!
• What is the name of your transgenic plant?
• Describe the transgenic organism and describe
where the vaccine proteins are produced (stem,
flowers, fruit, etc). Why did you chose this
particular type of plant?
• What is the purpose of your edible plant vaccine
(or transgenic plant)? What type of disease
does it protect against?
• What are the benefits of this transgenic
organism?
• What are the risks of this transgenic organism?
• What country do you plan to market this plantbased vaccine? Why?
Part D: Transgenic Plants: Risks
and Benefits Assessment
• Define the different
categories of transgenic
plants
File Number: 355519
• Investigate the risks and
benefits associated with
the different categories of
transgenic plants
Risks and Benefits of Transgenic
Plants
• How do humans use plants?
• What are the different categories of use?
File Number: 4161005
Categories of Transgenic Plants
• Agronomic
• Pharmaceutical
• Food Crop
• Non-Food Crop
Risks and Benefits
• Agronomic transgenic plants
• Pharmaceutical Transgenic plants
• Food-crop versus non-food crop
transgenic plants
Activity
• Design a PowerPoint presentation of your
assigned topic
• Use the rubric provided to make sure you
include all the required information
Questions
• How should regulatory
organizations (such as the Food
and Drug Administration) deal
with the different categories of
transgenic organisms?
• How does human error figure into
risk assessment?
• How should the possibility that the
risks and benefits for different
groups of people be addressed?