1. What is Biotechnology?
Biotechnology is the study and manipulation of living things or their component molecules, cells, tissues, or organs for the benefit of humans (or other animals).
This term has been used since the 1970’s to reflect the application of exciting new technologies to the research and development of products from plant and animal cells.
Biotechnology is the study and manipulation of living things or their component molecules, cells, tissues, or organs.
This term has been used since the 1970’s
It is an expansive field that includes many modern techniques that involve DNA such as
rDNA (recombinant DNA)
PCR
Cloning
Biotech Bio Byte
Biotech Bio Byte

2. Biotech Includes (but is not limited to)
Recombinant DNA (rDNA) technology
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
Cloning
Fermentation
The creation of
Insulin to treat diabetes
Proteases (enzymes used to remove stains from clothing)
Antibodies (for recognizing and fighting certain diseases
Selective Breeding (dog breeds, flowers, fruits)
Pharmaceutical drugs
Cellular manipulation products (growing human ears on mice)
Recombinant DNA (rDNA) technology
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
Cloning
Fermentation
The creation of
Insulin to treat diabetes
Proteases (enzymes used to remove stains from clothing)
Antibodies (for recognizing and fighting certain diseases
Selective Breeding (dog breeds, flowers, fruits)
Pharmaceutical drugs
Cellular manipulation products (growing human ears on mice)

3. Examples of Early Biotech
Historical accounts have shown that the Chinese, Greeks, Romans, Babylonians, and Egyptians (among many others) have been involved in Biotech since 2000 BC!
Early ancestors took advantage of microorganisms and used fermentation to make breads, cheeses, yogurts, and alcoholic beverages such as beer and wine.

4. Fermentation
Fermentation is when strains of yeast decompose sugars to derive energy, and in the process they produce ethanol (alcohol) and carbon dioxide as a waste product.
When bread dough is being made, added yeast (saccharamyces cerevisiae) ferments sugar releasing carbon dioxide, which causes the dough to rise and creates holes in the bread. The alcohol produced by the yeast evaporates when the bread is cooked.
When making cheese, added bacteria undergo fermentation by breaking down Lactose (milk sugar) and converting it to Lactic Acid which causes the milk to curdle and form cheese!

5. Antibiotics
In 1928 Alexander Fleming discovered that mold Penicillium inhibited the growth of Stapholococcus aureus. His discovery came from a pile of “contaminated” Petri dishes.

6. Viral Vaccines
Edward Jenner was an English country doctor who pioneered vaccination. Jenner's discovery in 1796 that inoculation with cowpox gave immunity to smallpox, was an immense medical breakthrough and has saved countless lives.

7. More Current Examples of Biotechnology
In 1972 the DNA composition of humans is shown to be 99% similar to that of chimps and gorillas
In 1981 the first genetically-engineered plant is reported and the 1st mouse was successfully cloned
In 1982 Humulin (a human insulin drug), was produced by genetically-engineered bacteria and was the first biotech drug approved by the FDA

8. In 1994 the first breast cancer gene is discovered
In 1996 scientists clone identical lambs from early embryonic sheep
In 1998 embryonic stem cells are used to regenerate tissue and create disorders that mimic diseases

9. The Human Genome Project
The Human Genome Project (HGP) was an international, 13 year effort that began in 1999 and was completed in The project goals were to
Determine the complete sequence of the 3 billion DNA subunits (bases)
Identify all human genes, and make them accessible for further biological study.
As part of the HGP, parallel sequencing was done for selected model organisms such as the bacterium E.coli to help develop the technology and interpret human gene function.

10. Domains of Biotechnology
The domain areas in Biotechnology can be
simplified into eight different concentrations
Microbial
Agricultural
Animal
Forensic
Bioremediation
Aquatic
Medical
Regulatory

11. Microbial Biotechnology: The manipulation of microorganisms such as yeast and bacteria. Example: Fermentation
Agricultural Biotechnology: The genetic engineering of plants in hopes of
Giving the plant pest resistance
Producing foods with a higher protein or vitamin content
Developing drugs that can be grown and isolated in plant products

12. Animal Biotechnology: This branch includes
Using animals as a source of medically valuable proteins
Antibodies
Using animals as an important model in basic research
Gene “knockout” experiments (where genes have been turned off)
Designs and testing of drugs and genetic therapies
Animal cloning
Source of transgenic organs (animal organs that can be transplanted into humans without fear of rejection).

13. Forensic Biotechnology
DNA fingerprinting
Inclusion or exclusion of a person from suspicion
Paternity cases
Identification of human remains
Endangered species
Tracking and confirmation of the spread of disease
Bioremediation
The use of biotechnology to process and degrade a variety of natural and manmade substances
Particularly those that contribute to pollution
For example, bacteria that degrade components in crude oil
1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska
Gulf Oil Spill

14. Aquatic Biotechnology
Aquaculture – raising finfish or shellfish in controlled conditions for use as food sources
30% of all fish consumed by humans worldwide
Genetic engineering
Disease-resistant strains of oysters
Vaccines against viruses that infect salmon and other finfish
Rich and valuable sources of new genes, proteins and metabolic processes with important applications for human benefits
Marine plankton and snails found to be rich sources of anti-tumor and anticancer molecules

15. Medical Biotechnology
Involved with the whole spectrum of human medicine
Preventive medicine
Diagnosis of health and illness
Treatment of human diseases
New information from Human Genome Project
Gene therapy
Stem cell technologies
Regulatory Biotechnology
Quality Assurance (QA)
All activities involved in regulating the final quality of a product
Quality Control (QC)
Part of QA process that involves lab testing and monitoring of processes and applications to ensure consistent product standards