Download How Does Biotechnology Affect Individuals, Society, and the

How Does Biotechnology
Affect Individuals, Society,
and the Environment?
Benchmark SC9.12.L.16.10
What is Biotechnology?
• Some Ideas?
• Some examples?
Biotechnology Definition
• Biotechnology is the transfer of DNA from one
organism to another to modify the genetic
makeup of that organism. The process of gene
transfer is used in many fields, including
medicine and agriculture.
• Gene manipulation
What is Biotechnology?
• In its most simple form, biotechnology is
the use of living systems (organisms) by
people to make products.
• Biotechnology uses many different
sciences, such as biology, chemistry,
physics, engineering, computers, and
information technology to develop tools
and products.
• Biotechnology changes genes of organisms
for specific purposes.
What is Biotechnology?
Recombinant DNA
• Biotechnology tool
• DNA from two different
sources is combined into
one molecule
• Inserted into a host
organism to produce
new genetic
combinations that are of
value to science,
medicine, agriculture,
and industry
Genetic Engineering
• Remove, modify or add genes to a DNA
molecule or organism
• Add new traits
• Cloning genes into new organisms, or altering
the DNA sequence to change the protein
product.
**Genes are the chemical blueprints that
determine an organism's traits
Terms to Know!
Gene Cloning
Genetic Engineering
• Gene cloning is the act
• Genetic engineering is
of making copies, or
the process of cloning
clones, of a single gene.
genes into new
Once a gene is
organisms, or altering
identified, clones can be
the DNA sequence to
used in many areas of
change the protein
biomedical and
product.
industrial research.
Vacanti Mouse
• A laboratory mouse resemblance of a
human ear on its back. Its actually an earshaped cartilage structure grown by
seeding cow cartilage cells into a
biodegradable ear-shaped mold. The
earmouse, was created by Dr. Charles
Vacanti, at the University of
Massachusetts in 1995. To demonstrate a
method of fabricating cartilage structures
for transplantation into human patients, a
resorbable polyester fabric was infiltrated
with bovine cartilage cells & implanted
under the skin of a hairless mouse.
Glofish
• Fluorescent zebrafish with bright red,
green, and orange fluorescent color.
• Fluorescent protein (GFP), originally
extracted from jellyfish, producing bright
green bioluminescence
• .Inserted the gene into a zebrafish embryo,
causing the fish to be brightly fluorescent
under natural white light & UV light.
• Goal was to develop a fish that could
detect pollution by selectively fluorescing
in the presence of environmental toxins.
Sudden Death Mosquito
What are some common examples of
biotechnology use?
• Pollution-eating microbes
(oil spills)
• Laundry detergents and
dish soaps
• DNA finger-printing
• Bio-pesticides for crops
• Vaccines for illnesses and
diseases
• Genetically Modified
Foods like cheese
• These are just to name a
few!
What are some common examples of
biotechnology use?
1. Bioengineered crop plants – wheat, corn,
potatoes, cotton are fortified (strengthened)
against disease & pests
2. Biofertilizers – add nitrogen to increase fertility
3. Gene Cloning – isolate & reproduce DNA
4. Human Gene Therapy – replace a nonworking
gene with a working one
5. DNA Fingerprinting – DNA pieces “Markers” are
used to identify people by blood/hair Ex crime
scene.
So... How Can or Does Biotechnology
Affect us as Individuals?
What does it mean?
Biotechnology affects our everyday lives!
• It provides medicine,
and can detect and
treat diseases
– Diabetes, sickle-cell
anemia, antibiotics, etc.
• It has and continues to
change what we are
able to eat
– Baking bread, making
cheese, etc.
SAMPLE: Biotechnology of Corn
• Scientists have
successfully been able to
change the genes of corn
for more desirable traits
• Biotech (Bt) corn may be
insect protected (no need
for pesticides), herbicideresistant, or both
• Another type of corn is
able to grow in times of
drought (no or low rain
seasons)
• As well, corn has been
engineered to contain
more healthy ingredients
How does corn affect us as
individuals?
PROS
CONS
• Many products we rely on • High fructose corn syrup,
contain a corn base (high
made from corn, is linked to
fructose corn syrup) such
diabetes in kids and other
as fast food, batteries,
health risks
candy, pop, cereal, etc.
• For those who have or may
• Genetically modified corn
develop an allergy for corn or
adding nutrition and
corn products, will have a very
medicines both increase
short list of foods they can
quality of, and help to
eat!
prolong, human life –
• Some genetically modified
especially in third world
corn have led to signs of organ
countries
damage in rats...
So… Did you know these products
have corn?
•
•
•
•
•
•
Toothpaste
Soap
Crayons
Glue
Batteries
Make-up
How can or does biotechnology affect
our society?
What does it
mean?
•
•
It changes the
quality of life
in our world!
•
•
•
Pros
Industrial Biotechnology can help
generate a new “greener”
economy with countless new
jobs.
May solve world food shortage
(agriculture and livestock)
Helps with discovery of new
medicines
Solving crimes with DNA and
forensic testing
Cons
There are safety and ethical debates
– How far do we draw the line?
– “Perfect” babies and cloning
– Accidental immunity of pests,
weeds, viruses, and bacteria
– Engineering even more foods
– Biological warfare
How does corn affect our society?
• When compared to original
unchanged corn, the
amount of biotech corn
being able to be produced
is much higher.
• This is important for
farming economies, like
Canada, which therefore is
able to feed more people
while also requiring less
work and time overall.
How does biotechnology affect the
environment?
What does that mean?
Public Environment
• We will have the ability to
find ways to use our
garbage to create new
needed products.
• Agricultural biotechnology
will help us to use our lands
more efficiently (no loss of
crops and money)
Natural/Physical Environment
• By 2030, the WWF
estimates that
biotechnology “has the
potential to save the planet
up to 2.5 billion tons of CO2
emissions per year.”
• Biotechnology will aid in the
removal of pollution from
our soils, water, and air
Advantages of Biotechnology
Are all of these biotechnology solutions safe?
• As we move towards a greener society,
biotechnology is the leading force to help us
solve problems that we, as humans, were
responsible for creating.
• We are able to understand the world that we
live in on a microscopic level.
Why or How is Corn Biotechnology
Good?
• May solve declining oil
issue and provide us
with new energy form
• Third world countries
especially prone to
insect infestation,
nutrition deficits, and
drought no longer
have to worry
Amazing Corn!
Disadvantages to Biotechnology
Are we planting new problems that may
haunt us in the future?
• Unknown/unintended harm to
environment
• Food Labelling and consumer choice
• Dependency
• Cost
Why or How is Corn Biotechnology
Bad?
• Insects may become immune to pesttolerant Bt corn and become more
harmful (already seen in mosquitoes) as
well as creating `superweeds`
True or False
1. Gene cloning is the process of isolating and
making copies of a chromosome. _____
2. Biotechnology has raised ethical questions.
______.
3. Insulin was the first human protein to be
produced by gene cloning. _______.
4. A disease such as cystic fibrosis, can be
potentially cured by:
A. Selective breeding
B. Vaccines
C. Gene therapy
D. antibiotics