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Biotechnology
Improving lives through science?
OR…Adversely endangering the future?
Genetically modified
foods and the AmericanEuropean opinion divide.
Dolly…the cloned
sheep.
North Carolina is a leader in
Biotechnology
Biotechnology: What is it?
General Definition
The application of technology to improve
a biological organism or its condition.
Detailed Definition
The application of the technology to modify the
biological function of an organism by adding genes
from another organism
Fourteen month-old genetically engineered (“biotech”) salmon (left) and standard
salmon (right).
Biotechnology: Why use it?
These definitions imply biotechnology is needed because:
•Nature has a rich source of variation
• Here we see bean has many
seedcoat colors and patterns
in nature
But we know nature does not have
all of the traits we need
•Fruits with vaccines
•Grains with improved nutrition
Biotechnology: Genomics:
Mapping DNA
Genomics is the study of organisms'
entire genomes
Human genomics is involved in the sequencing
of entire genomes and in the investigation into
DNA function.
Public health genomics --the study of human health
conditions where genetics plays a major part in
determining public health. For example, for years we have
thought that "juvenile", or Type 1, diabetes appeared in a
human at a relatively young age depending on genes
inherited by that human from his/her ancestors.
Human Genome Project
• One person’s DNA was sequenced and all of the letters
were identified
• The base letters from the chromosomes were all ‘mapped’
• This project was completed in 2003
• Why do this?
• If we know the genes, we can figure out which genes code
for each protein
• If we know which mutations cause which disorders, we
may be able to ‘fix’ those disorders.
• We can also detect disorders in-utero, and predict cancers,
diabetes, parkinsons, huntington’s disease and other
diseases.
Biotechnology: Microbes
Microbial Biotechnology allows
scientists to improve the
functionality of key food
ingredients, such as enzymes in
these foods: cheese, bread,
yogurt.
Genetically modified microbes are routinely
used in industries to reduce microbe growth
including detergents and pollution clean-up.
Example: The protease subtilisin, from
Bacillus subtilis, forms a component of
Laundry detergent to remove and degrade
protein stains.
Subtilisin Protease
Biotechnology: Pharmaceutical and Medicine production
Examples: include Recombinant DNA and Human
Insulin Production.
These are mature and widely utilized biotechnologies.
DNA can be cut at specific sequences using restriction enzymes.
This creates DNA fragments useful for gene cloning.
Human Insulin Production by Bacteria
and cut with a restriction enzyme
6) join the plasmid and human fragment
Biotechnology: Forensics…DNA evidence and CSI
Includes: DNA Fingerprinting and
DNA databases.
DNA Fingerprinting is a method of
isolating and making images of sequences
of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)
The National DNA
database is a
government database
of DNA profiles which
can be used by law
enforcement
agencies to identify
suspects of crimes.
A DNA Fingerprint
When many genes
are analyzed, each
with many different
alleles, the chance
that two patterns
match by
coincidence is
vanishingly small.
DNA detective
animation
HGP fingerprinting
page
DNA and the Law:
DNA and the Law
SLT 3/8/05
Some applications of DNA fingerprinting
in the justice system.
Biotechnology: Bioremediation
(removing pollution)
Bioremediation- using biological
processes to solve environmental
problems
Biodegradation- natural processes
of microbes in breaking down
hydrocarbon materials
Biodegradable- capable of being
decomposed by microbes
It can be used on:
* Oil spills
* Wastewater treatment
* Heavy metal removal
* Chemical degradation
Biotechnology: Agricultural Improvements:
Livestock and Crop Production
Higher protein peanuts
Longer shelf life for bananas
and pineapples
Sweeter bell peppers
Tastier tomatoes
Lower fat vegetable oils
Healthier livestock
Biotechnology: Genetically Modified foods
Many foods in the US are
Genetically Modified. Should
they be?
Source: The Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology, 2004
Genetically Modified Crops
Genetically Modified Cotton
(contains a bacterial gene for pest
resistance)
Standard Cotton
Transgenic Animals
•
•
•
•
•
Inject animal eggs with BGH to produce larger fish, cows, pigs,
rabbits, & sheep with more meat.
Gene “pharming”: use of transgenic animals to produce
drugs in their milk (ie: insulin, cancer drugs, & drugs to
prevent blood clots during surgery) or urine (which is easier to
isolate).
Altered fat production (leaner meats)
Creation of human-like organs for transplantation
(xenotransplantation)
Glowing animals
Thanks to genes borrowed from a jellyfish, the albino
rabbit glows green when placed under special lighting.
Biotechnology: Cloning
Clone- new organism that has been
produced asexually from a single
parent.
Genotype is identical to parent
Cells or tissues are cultured.
Even under the best of
circumstances, the current
technology of cloning is very
inefficient.
Cloning provides the most direct
demonstration that all cells of an
individual share a common genetic
blueprint.
How does cloning work?
Cloning involves
the removal of
the nucleus from
one cell and its
placement in an
unfertilized egg
cell whose
nucleus has
either been
deactivated or
removed
Cloning: The Next Step?
Attempts at human cloning are viewed very unfavorably in the
scientific community.
Concerns over Biotechnology:
Most public concern about possible
hazards centers on genetically modified
(GM) organisms used as food.
Some are concerned about the creation
of “super weeds” from the transfer of
genes from GM crops to their wild
relatives.
Other worries include the possibility
that transgenic protein products might
cause allergic reactions.
Consumers Say Their Support for
Biotechnology Would Increase
If Biotechnology...
57% Improves taste of food
65% Improves nutritional value of food
69% Increases food production
73% Reduces pesticide use
American Farm Bureau Federation Consumer Poll
18.
Biotechnology: Ethical Issues and Questions:
• Should we develop transgenics or GMOs?
• Should we release transgenics or GMOs?
• Are transgenics or GMOs safe?
• Are transgenics or GMOs a threat to non-transgenic
production systems?
• Are transgenics or GMOs a threat to
natural eco-systems?
• Should organisms be cloned?
• Should humans be cloned?
Biotechnology: Careers
Medicine, agriculture, genetics, food science.
A few careers include:
* Pharmaceutical and Biological Researchers
* Agricultural Engineers and Scientists
* Food Scientists
* Genetic Engineers
Impact of Biotechnology
• The NC Biotechnology Center predicts that the
biotechnology industry in the state will contribute
more than $25 billion in annual income each year
within the next 25 years.
NC Biotechnology workforce is diverse.