Biotechnology North Carolina

What is Biotechnology Biotechnology? Biotechnology: the branch of molecular biology that studies the use of microorganisms to perform specific industrial processes; "biotechnology produced genetically altered bacteria that solved the problem"

Biotechnology Introducing foreign DNA into an organism in order to modify the organism’s DNA

Areas of Use Agriculture Medicines Genetics Food science Criminal Investigations

Biotechnology and Agriscience

Agriculture Food crop manipulations Disease-resistant crops Biological Pesticides

Agricultural Positives More Food Produced Less Hunger Increased Profit Needs less land Negatives Biodiversity Human Health Nature

Genetically Modified Organism Is an organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques.organismgenetic engineering These experimental combinations of genes from different species cannot occur in nature or in traditional crossbreeding. 6/8/2016

Impact of Biotechnology Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are consumed by millions of people (especially Americans) EVERY DAY. – Almost 56% of all soybean plantings worldwide are genetically engineered (much higher in the US)

Impact of Biotechnology Genetically modified crops were produced on more than 167 million acres in 18 countries in 2003, a 15% increase from 2002 – The US was the largest single producer with more than 60% of the total acreage in production.

Transgenic Is a gene or genetic materialgenegenetic that has been transferred naturally, or by any of a number of genetic engineering genetic engineering techniques from one organism to another. The introduction of a transgene has the potential to change the phenotype of an organism.phenotype 6/8/2016

Plant Science Wide scale production of transgenic plants impacting horticulture

Farming & the Environment Reduces the use of pesticides Decreases soil erosion Helps protect water Conserves land & fossil f uels

Farmers Increases crop yields Reduces farmer production costs Decreases farmer exposure to pesticides Improves farming efficiency

Efficiency  Must keep the cost of improving products as low as possible  Biotech results in greater efficiency

Animal Science Increased use of methods of in vitro fertilization and artificial insemination improve selected breed programs

Environmental Science Use of biotechnology techniques in environmental science for cleaning contaminants and protecting endangered species – Bioremediation-use of natural organisms to clean contaminants – Example Gulf Oil Spill

6/8/2016 Did you know that the key to ridding the oceans of oil may already lie in underneath its surface? Bioremediation — using naturally present microorganisms to clean up oil spills — makes use of bacteria living in the ocean who actually “eat” the oil when it enters their natural habitat. Adding sulfate or nitrate fertilizers to the microorganism population causes them to multiply beyond their natural state and eat up the toxic metals invading their home at up to five times the rate that they would without assistance.

Problems with Biotechnology in Agriculture

Problems with Biotechnology Transfer of genes found in transgenic organisms to natural populations. – Terminator genes have been used to minimize this risk

Unexpected impacts of genetically modified organisms and biotechnology processes on other organisms and the environment Problems with Biotechnology

Expense of the utilization of many biotechnology techniques – Cost of producing transgenic animals (There are transgenic fish, but no livestock yet.) Problems with Biotechnology

Concerns over the safety and ethics of incorporating GMO’s into food for human consumption – Allergens – Example: The use of Star link corn in taco shells not approved for human consumption Problems with Biotechnology

Lack of education among both consumers and producers concerning biotechnology processes and products Problems with Biotechnology

Health/Agri-medicine Pharming-the creation of plants and animals capable of producing medical substances The use of biological barriers to prevent the spread of harmful microorganisms that could contaminate food sources

Health/Agri-medicine DNA analysis/paternity testing has emerged as a technique to test the genetic ancestry of animals

Medicines Vaccines Tissue Replacement – Ex Organs grown to replace your own Genetic Origins of Diseases – Ex. Is it linked to your genetic make-up Medicine – Ex. Penicillin/Alexander Fleming – Human Insulin for diabetes

Genetics Being able to alter genes Cloning Genetically engineered babies Link disease genetically

Cloning Process of producing a new organism from cells or tissues of existing organism cloned sheep – “Dolly” in Edinburgh Scotland

Genetic Engineering Changing the genetic information in a cell Specific trait of one organism may be isolated,cut, and moved into the cell of another organism

DNA Finger Print A technique used especially for identification (as for forensic purposes) by extracting and identifying the base-pair pattern in an individual's DNA —called also DNA typing

Criminal Investigation DNA fingerprinting – Evidence that person was involves in a crime. Data Bases – Allows criminal investigator to have access to people’s DNA to compare to evidence

DNA Finger Print Forensic Investigator – Criminal Activity Police – Criminal Activity – Identify a Person

6/8/2016 Careers Research – Labortory Agricultural – Development of plants and animals Biology Genetics Forensic Investigator Biotechnician – Create safe products for consumers Medicine – Doctor Predict Patients genetic health

6/8/2016 Ethical Issues Benefits of technology outweigh the harm Example of some issues – Decreased biodiversity – Cloning – Designer babies – Companies requiring – Selective Breeding – Environmental Harm – Super Germs

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.

6/8/2016 North Carolina Over 400 companies great impact on economy Improved crop yield Created disease resistant crops(greatest benefit) Improved livestock producing higher quality meat Creates Jobs

6/8/2016 North Carolina 237,665 jobs $59 billion in North Carolina business volume $1.73 billion in taxes generated for state and local government A thriving industry with more than 500 companies

6/8/2016