Biotechnology Unlocking the secrets of life

Biotechnology: The use of living organisms to make or improve a product Bio (life) technology (the application of knowledge for practical use)

History of Biotech Ancient bread baking Wine brewing Cheese making Yogurt fermentation Animal and plant breeding

Biotechnology Today Biotechnology is a $30 billion a year industry that has produced some 160 drugs and vaccines. There are more than 370 biotech drug products and vaccines currently in clinical trials targeting more than 200 diseases, including various cancers, Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, AIDS and arthritis.

Biotechnology is responsible for hundreds of medical diagnostic tests (pregnancy tests, blood tests) Seven million farmers in 18 countries grew genetically engineered crops on 16.72 million acres last year. Environmental biotechnology products make it possible to clean up hazardous waste more efficiently.

DNA fingerprinting, a biotech process, has dramatically improved criminal investigation and forensic medicine. There are 1,473 biotechnology companies in the United States, of which 314 are publicly held.

Utah Biotechnology In 2007 biotechnology included about 20,126 jobs Jobs for high school graduates to PhD’s Average annual wage (2007) $53,976

Biotechnology Pathway

Assignment Develop a timeline of events outlining advances in the field of biotechnology. You may use the World Wide Web in the Career Center to search for these events.

History of Biotechnology 1860’s-Botanist Gregor Mendel recognizes heredity information is stored in units (now called genes) 1870’s-chromosomes are discovered 1953-DNA Double Helix is discovered by James Watson and Francis Crick (England)

History of Biotechnology 1968-a process was developed for identifying chromosomes (Switzerland) 1973-First successful combining of DNA from unrelated organisms (recombinant DNA) (USA) 1978-First test tube baby (Louise Brown) was born in England

History of Biotechnology 1984-Sheep and goat embryo cells are fused together to create a sheep-goat 1986-Light-producing gene of firefly is transferred to tobacco creating tobacco plants with glowing leaves 1987-calf cloned from an embryo

History of Biotechnology 1991-sheep created that makes drug in milk to treat cystic fibrosis 1994-first transgenic food approved (Flvr Savr) tomato 1996-goat injected with a human gene produces an anticancer drug 1997-Adult sheep cloned (“Dolly”)

Career Examples Laboratory work Experimental Farms Field jobs working on gene maps growing plants from cells working with animal embryos Experimental Farms Field jobs Industry jobs manufacturing regulatory affairs (FDA, USDA) sales

Education High School Courses Post-secondary Basic Biology Agriculture Biotechnology Post-secondary Biology Microbiology Genetics Biochemistry

Education North Carolina has an online biotechnology center Information on NC Biotechnology Educational Opportunities News Hot Topics www.ncbiotech.org/

Assignment Research two different careers related to biotechnology Find information regarding: Salary Education Job Description Job Demand Write a one paragraph summary for each career Keep the summaries in your notes