Biotechnology Is simply introducing foreign DNA into an organism in order to modify the organism’s DNA to produce a better desired result.

Biotechnology Dolly and surrogate Mom Genetically modified rice. Stem cell

GMO Genetically Modified Organism- An organism that is created by inserting a piece of DNA from another organism to change a specific trait.

Cloning The production of identical copies of DNA, cells, or organisms. Dolly the sheep is the most famous clone. Live a very short life. Only six years and most sheep live about 12 years. Transgenic organism- organism that has had foreign DNA placed into their original DNA.

Dolly and Mother

Areas of use for Biotechnology Agriculture- Medicines- Genetics- Food Science- Criminal Investigations-

Biotechnology in Agriculture Food Crop Manipulations- Genetically modified to produce larger yields (more harvest on less land). Disease Resistant Crops- Genetically modified to resist diseases (Frost resistant strawberries, cotton resistant to boll weevil, drought resistant corn, etc.) Biological Pesticides- Genetically to have a specific pesticide actually growing in the plant to reduce the cost of spraying. Sometimes it kills pollinators also.

GMO Crops Today 98% of all corn grown in the USA is a GMO 58% of all soybeans grown in the USA are GMO About 40% of all cotton grown in the USA are GMO About 7% of the world’s rice is a GMO with vitamin A inserted

GMO Corn

GMO Soybeans

Genetically Modified Crops Genetically Modified Cotton (contains a bacterial gene for pest resistance) Standard Cotton

Natural Colored Cotton

GMO Rice

Biotechnology in Agriculture The positives of using biotechnology is more food produced on the same amount of land, less hunger in the world because of producing more food, increased profits for the farmer (less spraying, fertilizer, watering), and more eye appealing vegetable and fruit products.

Biotechnology in Agriculture The negatives to using biotechnology is it cuts down on biodiversity (everything is exactly alike), concerns about human health because it is so new on not many study of its effects are available, and many people feel science should not be playing with nature or trying to play “God”.

Biotechnology in Agriculture Problems: Modified genes accidentally transferred to natural populations of plants. How genetically modified impacts the environment. Cost of gene modification is huge. Concern of genetically modified in human consumption. Lack of education of producers and consumers.

Biotechnology and Medicine It is called gene pharming. Genetically modified can produce medicines cheaply. Insulin is produced by inserting the gene to produce insulin into bacteria and then harvesting the insulin from trillions of bacteria that multiply so quickly.

Insulin

Biotechnology and Medicine Creation of biological cures to prevent the spread of harmful pathogens (hospitals struggling with drug resistant staff bacteria). “Superbugs” MRSA

Biotechnology and Medicine 1. DNA used to determine paternity cases 2. New vaccines. (possibly AIDS, Cancer?) 3. Tissue/limbs replacement (ethical issues). 4. Genetics to cure malfunctioning genes.

Biotechnology and Genetics Being able to alter genes may offer choices of characteristics to potential parents. Engineered traits. Assembly line babies. Potential cloning of humans opens up a huge potential of legal and ethical issues. Currently against the law to clone humans in any fashion. Potentially link genetic diseases to specific gene sequences and create cures.

Biotechnology in Food Science Creation of much large faster growing animals (ex. Much large faster growing fish, cattle, chickens). Creation of new fruits and vegetables with the best characteristics of many varieties of crops. (SITN article limes with red insides). More food to feed a starving world. Fruits and vegetables with characteristics to fight disease or promote better health.

Biotechnology Biotechnology, defined broadly, is the engineering of organisms for useful purposes. Often, biotechnology involves the creation of hybrid genes and their introduction into organisms in which some or all of the gene is 1144not normally present. Fourteen month-old genetically engineered (“biotech”) salmon (left) and standard salmon (right).

Biotechnology in Crime DNA finger printing allows positive identification of criminals using tissues samples (blood, hair, saliva) from crime scenes. Data bases that investigators could have access to the search for criminals. Possible use in the future to “ hiring status ” by companies selecting employees based on certain genetic traits

DNA Fingerprinting

Bioremediation The biological treatment of hazardous waste by living microorganisms turning it into harmless material. Examples: waste water treatment plants, oil eating bacteria in the Gulf of Mexico, removing salt from contaminated soil.

Biotechnology Careers Research Agriculture Biology Genetics Medicine Bio technician

Biotechnology Ethical Issues Decreased biodiversity- everything is the same if really a clone- Cloning issue itself- Designer Babies- pick and choose. Hiring by companies for traits- Environments harm- Super germs or bugs-

Biotechnology and the Economy In NC creating jobs with biotechnology Projected $25 billion per year impact on NC for each of the next 25 years. 500 plus companies in NC involved in some way with biotechnology Potentially creating new ways to improve our plants and livestock.