What Is Biotechnology?

What Is Biotechnology? Using scientific methods with organisms to produce new products or new forms of organisms Any technique that uses living organisms or substances from those organisms to make or modify a product, to improve plants or animals, or to develop microorganisms for specific uses

Biotechnology ? The application of biological organisms, systems or processes to manufacturing and service industries The integrated use of biochemistry, microbiology and engineering sciences in order to achieve technological (industrial) application capabilities of microorganism, cultured tissue cells and part thereof A technology using biological phenomena by copying and manufacturing various kinds of useful substance The application of scientific and engineering principles to the processing of materials by biological-agents to provide goods and services

Biotechnology ? The science of the production processes based on the action of microorganisms and their active components and production processes involving the use of cells and tissues from higher organisms. It was not included medical technology, agriculture and traditional crop breeding The use of living organism and their component in agriculture, food and other industrial processes The use of microbial, animal and plant cells or enzymes to synthesize, breakdown and transform materials The integration of natural sciences and organisms, cells, parts thereof and molecular analogues to product and services

What Is Biotechnology? Manipulation of genes is called genetic engineering or recombinant DNA technology Genetic engineering involves taking one or more genes from a location in one organism and either Transferring them to another organism Putting them back into the original organism in different combinations

GMO GMO- genetically modified organisms. GEO- genetically enhanced organisms. With both, the natural genetic material of the organism has been altered. Roots in bread making, wine brewing, cheese and yogurt fermentation, and classical plant and animal breeding

History

Stages of Biotechnology Development Ancient biotechnology early history as related to food and shelter; Includes domestication Classical biotechnology built on ancient biotechnology; Fermentation promoted food production, and medicine Modern biotechnology manipulates genetic information in organism; Genetic engineering

TRADITIONAL PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY Traditional/old biotechnology The conventional techniques that have been used to produce beer, wine, cheese, many other food TRADITIONAL PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY breeding tissue culture inter-specific hybridisation mapping phenotypic/biochemical markers

New/modern biotechnology All methods of genetic modification by recombinant DNA and cell fusion techniques, together with the modern development of traditional biotechnological process

Areas of Biotechnology Organismic biotechnology uses intact organisms; Does not alter genetic material Molecular biotechnology alters genetic makeup to achieve specific goals Transgenic organism- an organism with artificially altered genetic material

What Subjects Are Involved With Biotechnology? Multidisciplinary- involving a number of disciplines that are coordinated for a desired outcome Science Life sciences Physical sciences Social sciences

What Subjects Are Involved With Biotechnology? Mathematics Applied sciences Computer applications Engineering Agriculture

Biotechnology: A collection of technologies

What is the career outlook in biotechnology? Biotech in 1998 1,300 companies in the US 2/3 have less than 135 employees 140,000 jobs Jobs will continue to increase exponentially Jobs are available to high school graduates through PhD’s

The Applications of Biotechnology Medical Biotechnology Diagnostics Therapeutics Vaccines Agricultural Biotechnology Plant agriculture Animal agriculture Food processing Food products Industry and manufacturing Environmental Biotechnology Cleaning through bioremediation Preventing environmental problems Monitoring the environment

Plant agriculture Plant Biotechnology Crop production and protection Genetically engineered (transgenic) crops Using biological methods to protect crops Exploiting cooperative relationships in nature Nutritional value of crops Improving food quality and safety Healthier cooking oils by decreasing the concentration of saturated fatty acids in vegetable oils Functional foods Foods containing significant levels of biologically active components that impart health benefits Plant Biotechnology

PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY a process to produce a genetically modified plant by removing genetic information from an organism, manipulating it in the laboratory and then transferring it into a plant to change certain of its characteristics . Now use a molecular approach to manipulation: molecular markers & mapping gene cloning plant transformation

Exogenous genes (non-plant genes) pathogen-derived genes bacterial genes any other organism Exogenous genes (non-plant genes) Applications: transgenic Pathogen resistance Herbicide resistance bioreactors Delivery systems

Endogenous genes (Plant genes) Enzymes in biochemical pathway Natural resistance genes Endogenous genes (Plant genes) Gene discovery (functional genomics) Mapping ESTs, libraries Silencing, expression Mutants, arrays Applications: markers transgenic Marker assisted breeding Plant improvement

Plant Tissue Culture and Applications Micro-propagation Somatic Embryos Chemicals from Plants Other Uses of Tissue Culture Protoplast Fusion Somaclonal Variation Germplasm Storage Plant Genetic Engineering Plant Transformation Transgenic Plant

What Are Genetic Engineering Organisms? Genetic engineering- artificially changing the genetic information in the cells of organisms Transgenic- an organism that has been genetically modified GMO- a genetically modified organism GEO- a genetically enhanced organism

Why Change an organism? To get desirable traits Economic gain Increase production Disease resistance

How Can Genetically Engineered Plants Be Used? Agriculture Horticulture Forestry Environment Food Quality

What Are Methods of Classical Biotechnology? Plant breeding- improvement of plants by breeding selected individuals to achieve desired goals Cultivar- a cultivated crop variety

What Are Methods of Classical Biotechnology? Plant breeding methods; Line breeding- breeding successive generations of plants among themselves Crossbreeding- breeding plants of different varieties or species Hybridization- breeding individuals from two distinctly different varieties Selection

Why Are Plants Genetically Engineered? Resist pests Resist herbicides Improved product quality Pharmaceuticals Industrial products

What Is AI? Artificial insemination- the transfer of collected semen to a recipient female What Is a Test Tube Baby? In vitro fertilization- fertilization of collected ova outside the reproductive tract; Usually in a test tube

What Is Gender Reversal? Gender reversal- changing the sex of an animal Very young animals receive hormone treatments Most common among selected fish species

What Is Gender Preselection? Gender preselection- choosing the sex of offspring Sperm sorted before conception Sperm sorted on basis of chromosome differences X chromosomes produce female offspring Y chromosomes produce male offspring

What Is Embryo Transfer? Embryo transfer- removing fertilized ova (embryos) from donor and implanting in a recipient Surgical and nonsurgical methods are used to remove and implant A quality donor female can produce more offspring

What Is Multiple Ovulation? Multiple ovulation- promoting increased release of ova

What Is Cloning? Clone- new organism that has been produced asexually from a single parent Genotype is identical to parent Cells or tissues are cultured

How Are Hormones Used in Animal Production? Hormone- natural product of glands to produce a response in another part of the body Released by endocrine glands into blood system Hormones are identified, functions determined, and isolated Used to increase growth and production rates bST- promotes milk production in cows pST- promotes lean meat production in swine

What Is Bioremediation? 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

How Can Bioremediation Be Used? Oil spills Wastewater treatment Heavy metal removal Chemical degradation

What Is Phytoremediation? Phytoremediation- process of plants being used to solve pollution problems Plants absorb and break down pollutants Used with heavy metals, pesticides, explosives, and leachate

What Is Composting? Composting- a process that promotes biological decomposition of organic matter Compost bin- a facility that contains materials for composting In-vessel composting- using enclosed containers for composting

People in Biotech Zacharias Janssen Discovered the principle of the compound microscope in 1590 Dutch eye glass maker

What Did These Individuals Contribute to Biotechnology? Anton van Leeuwenhoek Developed single lens microscope in 1670’s First to observe tiny organisms and document observations Discovered cells Bacteria Protists Red blood

What Did These Individuals Contribute to Biotechnology? Gregor Johan Mendel Discovered genetics Formulated basic laws of heredity during mid 1800’s Austrian Botanist and monk Experimented with peasStudied inheritance of seven pairs of traits Bred and crossbred thousands of plants Determined that some traits were dominant and other recessiveFindings were published in 1866 Largely ignored for 34 years

Anton V.L. Work led to modern microscopes Electron microscope developed in 1931 by group of German scientists

What Did These Individuals Contribute to Biotechnology? Walter Sutton Discovered Chromosomes Determined in 1903 that chromosomes carried units of heredity identified by Mendel Named “genes” in 1909 by Wilhelm Johannsen, Danish Botanist

What Did These Individuals Contribute to Biotechnology? Thomas Hunt Morgan Discovered how genes are transmitted through chromosomes Studied genetics of fruit flies Early 1900’s Experimented with eye color His work contributed to the knowledge of X and Y chromosomes Nobel Peace Prize in 1933 for research in gene theory

What Did These Individuals Contribute to Biotechnology? Ernst Ruska Invented the electron microscope Build the first electron microscope in 1932 German electrical engineer Microscope offered 400X magnification

What Did These Individuals Contribute to Biotechnology? Sir Alexander Fleming Discovered penicillin in 1928 First antibiotic drug used in treating human disease Observed growth of molds (Penicillium genus) in a dish that also contracted bacteria Bacteria close to the molds were dead Extracting and purifying the molds took a decade of research Penicillin first used in 1941Penicillin credited with saving many lives during WWII when wounded soldiers developed infections.

What Did These Individuals Contribute to Biotechnology? Rosalind Elsie Franklin Research led to the discovery of the double helix structure of DNA Research in France and England in mid 1900’s Her early research was used to produce an atomic bomb Set up X ray diffraction lab Photographs of DNA showed that it could have a double helix structureSome questions surround the theft of her work in 1952 Including x ray photographs

What Did These Individuals Contribute to Biotechnology? James Watson and Francis Crick Collaborated to produce the first model of DNA structure in 1953 Described DNA dimensions and spacing of base pairs Had major impact on genetic engineering carried out today

What Did These Individuals Contribute to Biotechnology? Mary-Claire King Mapped human genes for research of cancer treatments Research into nature of DNA during late 1900’s Determined that 99% of human DNA is identical to chimpanzee 1975 found similar gene pools between humans and chimpanzee made it possible to research hereditary causes of breast cancer

What Did These Individuals Contribute to Biotechnology? Ian Wilmut Created the first true clone, the Dorset ewe Dolly Cloning of a sheep named Dolly in 1997 Produced from tissue of an adult sheep Previous cloning efforts had been from early embryos

Johan Friedrich Miescher Swiss Biologist Isolated nuclei of white blood cells in 1869 Led to identification of nucleic acid by Walter Flemming

Watson Born in the US Crick – born in England Collaborative research at Cambridge University in England

Norman E. Borlaug Developed wheat varieties producing high yields Research in Mexico Semi dwarf varieties Developed wheat variety that would grow in climates where other varieties would not

Borlaug Nobel Peace Prize in 1971 Credited with helping relieve widespread hunger in some nations

Products of Biotechnology

Products of Biotechnology One of the first commercial products of genetic engineering was insulin E. coli bacteria was genetically engineered to produce insulin.

Products of Biotechnology BST (Bovine Somatotropin) Increases milk production in dairy cattle. BST became available commercially as a result of genetic engineering

Animal Feed Livestock such as cattle are commonly fed genetically engineered feed (corn, grain)

Products of Biotechnology Herbicide Resistant Crops

Products of Biotechnology Biodiesel - diesel-equivalent, processed fuel derived from biological sources.

Biotechnology in Animal Science used in determining the sex and parents of animals Artificial Insemination allows us to control genetic input of offspring.

Biotechnology in Animal Science Embryo Transfer – Allows for cattle to have multiple calves per year.

Pharming Pharming is the production of pharmaceuticals in animals engineered to contain a foreign, drug-producing gene.

Pharming These goats contain the human gene for a clot-dissolving protein that is produced in their milk.

Biotechnology in Animal Science Cloning creates a genetically identical copy of an animal or plant. Plants are often cloned – cuttings Human identical twins are also clones.

Regulations Prior to marketing products from biotechnology, Companies works with regulatory agencies in the U.S. and many other countries to assess the products’: Safety Nutrition Agronomic performance.

Ethics in Biotechnology

Why Ethics in Biotechnology New technology Plurality of moral convictions Divergent economic, political, and social objectives Growing sensitivity of the public Doubts of the public about internal control mechanism of scientific institutions and the scientific community to adequately consider moral implications of research and its consequences Complexity of ethical issues involved

Bioethics Bioethics: A discipline dealing with the ethical implications of biological research and applications Bioethics: a discipline dealing with the ethical implications of biological research and applications Ethics: motivation based on ideas of right and wrong

Ethics and Biotech Not everyone believes that biotechnology is going to benefit us in the future. Let nature be… not in God’s plan… etc…

Concerns Unexpected impact on environment and to other organisms Expanse of G.E organisms Safety of foods Lack of education

Concerns Some countries have banned GMO’s and others have turned down food that has been genetically modified.

Two Kinds of Ethical Arguments Used to Evaluate Concerns Over Biotechnology Extrinsic objections say the possible consequences of some biotech applications are objectionable, but others may be acceptable GMOs are wrong because risks outweigh benefits. Intrinsic objections say the process of biotechnology is objectionable in itself GMOs are wrong , no matter how great the benefits. Comments on Intrinsic versus Extrinsic Objections: These terms are simply one way to formulate ethical arguments for and against something, ultimately leading to a deeper understanding of the issue. Intrinsic objections basically argue that the ends do not justify the means. For example, if you believe that taking another life is wrong under any circumstances, the “good” that could come out of “murder” is irrelevant. That would include taking another life in war, for self-defense, or to protect your daughter from a rapist. Thus, if someone finds that “any technique that uses living organisms...” is unacceptable based on intrinsic objections, biotechnology would be unacceptable. Period. Extrinsic objections argue that the means may be acceptable, but the ends are not. Using the example above, it may be permissible to “take another life” under certain conditions but not others (just because that $*#* took your parking space!). This exercise was to simply help students analyze in a more structured manner why they object to biotechnology (or anything else for that matter). Further, if their arguments fall under the extrinsic objections category, using sound logical analysis, a person can better explore under what conditions do they find biotechnology acceptable and why. Is Bt corn ok - but human cloning not? This would incorporate the possible positive social and/or environmental consequences regarding biotechnology. This discussion is also a perfect lead-in to classroom activities on risk identification, assessment and management.

1. Extrinsic objections A. Unsafe for consumers “Frankenfoods”

2. Extrinsic objections B. Unsafe for environments “superweeds” Herbicide resistance - canola gene flows into weedy relatives Bt toxin kills monarch butterfly larvae

Extrinsic objections “Rich get richer, poor get poorer” C. Unfair to small farmers “Rich get richer, poor get poorer” Vandana Shiva Monocultures of the Mind she has established Navdanya, a movement for biodiversity conservation and farmers' rights

Thanks

Definition Manipulation of living organisms and organic material to serve human needs.

Ancient Biotech Begins with early civilization Developments in ag and food production Few records exist

Ancient Biotech Archeologists research Ancient carvings and sketches sources of information

Classical Biotech Follows ancient Makes wide spread use of methods from ancient, especially fermentation Methods adapted to industrial productionFollows ancient Methods adapted to industrial production Many methods developed through classical biotech are widely used today.

Modern Biotech Roots involved the investigation of genes Manipulation of genetic material within organisms Based on genetics and the use of microscopy, biochemical methods, related sciences and technologiesOften known as genetic engineering Roots involved the investigation of genes

Ancient Biotech Not known when biotech began exactly Focused on having food and other human needs Useful plants brought from the wild, planted near caves where people lived As food was available, ability to store and preserve emergedFood preservation most likely came from unplanned events such as a fire or freeze

Domestication 15,000 years ago, large animals were hard to capture People only had meat when they found a dead animal Came up with ways of capturing fish and small animalsFood supplies often seasonal Winter food supplies may get quite low Domestication is seen by scientists as the beginning of biotech Adaptation of organisms so they can be cultured Most likely began 11,000 – 12,000 years ago in the middle east

Domestication Learned about simple breeding How to raise young Involved the collecting of seed from useful plants and growing crude crops from that seed Involved the knowledge that the seed had to properly matureProper planting Need for water, light and other conditions for plant growth Earliest plants likely grains and other seeds used for foodRaising animals in captivity began about the same time in history Easier to have an animal close by that to hunt and capture a wild one Learned that animals need food and water Learned about simple breeding How to raise young Cattle, goats and sheep were the first domesticated food animals

Domestication About 10,000 years ago, people had learned enough about plants and animals to grow their own food The beginning of farming.

Food Domestication resulted in food supplies being greater in certain times of the year Products were gathered and stored

Food Some foods rotted Others changed form and continued to be good to eat Foods stored in a cool cave did not spoil as quickly

Food Foods heated by fire also did not spoil as quickly Immersing in sour liquids prevented food decayStored in bags of leather or jars of clay Fermentation occurs if certain mo’s are present Creates an acid condition that slows or prevents spoilage

Food preservation Using processes that prevent or slow spoilage Heating, cooling, keeps microorganisms (mo’s) from growing

Cheese One of the first food products made through biotechnology Began some 4,000 years ago Nomadic tribes in Asia Strains of bacteria were added to milk Caused acid to form Resulting in sour milk

Cheese Enzyme called “rennet” was added Rennet comes from the lining of the stomachs of calvesRennet is genetically engineered today Not all cheese is made from produced rennet

Yeast Long used in food preparation and preservation Bread baking Yeast produces a gas in the dough causing the dough to rise

Yeast Fermented products Vinegar Require the use of yeast in at least one stage of production Species of fungi Some are useful Some may cause diseases

Vinegar Ancient product used to preserve food Juices and extracts from fruits and grains can be fermented Keeps foods from spoiling Used in pickling Biblical references to wine indicate the use of fermentation some 3,000 years ago

Fermentation Process in which yeast enzymes chemically change compounds into alcohol In making vinegar the first product of fermentation is alcoholAlcohol is converted to acetic acid by additional microbe activity Acid gives vinegar a sour taste Vinegar prevents growth of some bacteria

Development Of yeasts that were predictable and readily available led to modern baking industry

Antibiotics Use of fermentation hastened the development of antibiotics A drug used to combat bacterial infections

Antibiotics Penicillin Developed in the late1920’s Introduced in the 1940’s First drug produced by microbes

Modern Biotech Based on genetics research from the mid 1800’s Deals with manipulating genetic info Microscopy and advanced computer technology are used In-depth knowledge of science Based on genetics research from the mid 1800’s

Modern Biotech Use of biotech to produce new life forms Emerged in mid 1900’s Made possible by rDNA technology