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Biotechnology in Agriscience
The Beginning…
 In your notebook write a definition
for biotechnology
The Beginning…
Life or living
Application of science to
an industrial or
commercial objective
Biotechnology – The
application of living
processes to technology
Improvement by Selection
 For centuries man has improved both
plants and animals by picking the best
parents for producing the next
generation.
 Selective breeding is the selection of
parents to get desirable characteristics
in the offspring.
 Hybrid – Plant or animal produced by
crossing two different species or
varieties.
History of Biotechnology
Biotechnology is not new.
Living Organisms have been used
for centuries to alter and improve
the quality and types of food for
humans and animals. Examples:
– Yeast to make bread rise
– Bacteria to ferment sauerkraut
– Bacteria to produce cheese, yogurt
– Transform grain into alcohol
Biotechnology
 Silage
– Used for animal feed
– Green grasses and grains stored in
air tight containers
– Converts sugars and starches to acids
Genetic Code of Life
 There are over 300,000 different
kinds of plants and over 1,000,000
kinds of animals on earth.
 All are different in some ways.
 All are similar in some ways.
Improvements by Genetics
 Genetics
– Biology of heredity
• Heredity is the transmission of
characteristics from an organism to its
offspring through genes in reproductive
cells
– Gregor Mendel
• An Austrian Monk credited at the father
of Genetics.
• Experimented with
garden pea plants.
The Genetic Connection
 Genes
– Components of cells that determine
individual characteristics of all living
things
– Comprised of DNA
• The “Blueprint” of cells and their
successive cells
The Genetic Connection
Animal Cell
The Genetic Connection
 Gene Mapping
– Matching a gene to a trait
• Determines what gene is responsible for
certain traits
Examples:
– Tendency of baldness
– Tendency of females to have twins
– Height of plants
Application of Biotechnology
 DNA Matching - CSI
– Identifying the parents of offspring
 Genetic engineering- Movement of
genetic information (genes) from one
cell to another
 GE was first performed in the early
1980’s
– It was a breakthrough in modifying the
genetic make-up of animals
and plants
Products of Genetic Engineering
 Insulin – genetically engineered E. coli
• Treats diabetes
 Herbicide resistant crops – Roundup
Ready soybeans, corn, and cotton
 BST (bovine somatotrapin)
• Increases milk production in dairy cows
 Lee-minus
• Bacteria that retards frost formation on plants
 Convert waste to fuel
• Bacteria are under development to convert solid
waste into fuel (hog lagoons, turkey liter)
DNA
 Found in all living
cells
 All DNA is similar
in structure and
function
– transmitter of
heredity
information
DNA
 Deoxyribonulceic acid
– Found in the nucleus of
all living cells.
 Come in pairs of strands
– connected by bases
– The bases are: A-Adenine,
G-Guanine, C-Cytosine and
T- Thymine
A,G,C,and T are known as the
Genetic alphabet.
DNA
 Shape – DNA strands can
be likened to the two sides
of a spiraling ladder.
The bases likened to rungs
of that wire ladder.
– Technically called a double
helix
DNA in Genetics
 Gene Splicing
– Removing and inserting genes into
DNA
– Alters a given characteristic
 Examples:
– Alter a plants susceptibility to disease
– Make a plant resistant to insects
– Alter bacteria to increase meat
production
Gene Mapping
 The process of finding and
recording the location of genes
– Human Genome Project –
Completed in 2003.
Recombinant DNA
 Improves animal and plant performance
by manipulation
– Alter microorganisms
– Control
• disease
• insects
• weeds
• pest
– Less use of chemicals more biological
control
• better for the environment
Concerns
 Federal and state governments
monitor use
 Extensive testing
– Laboratory to the greenhouse
– Final testing occurs outdoors prior to
final approval
 Final approval only after all phases
are completed
Issues
 Is Genetic Manipulation dangerous?
 Can mutations develop in the
environment from these mutated
genes? (Frankenstein theory)
 Is Genetic Manipulation morally and
religiously acceptable?
 Will new diseases and problems
develop?
 Who will profit from Genetic
Manipulation?
Assignment
 Organize a discussion group with two
other people.
 Explore four benefits and concerns of
biotechnology
 Record your benefits and concerns in
your notes with an explanation
 Provide the best solution for your
concerns
 Be ready to share your work