1. What is Biotechnology? “a collection of technologies that use living cells and/or biological molecules to solve problems and make useful products”

2. An Evolving Idea Genetic Engineering: a process that alters an organism’s genetic information. This process involves taking a gene or piece of DNA from one organism, manipulating the gene or DNA, and putting it into a second, different organism. Organisms that contain genes from a different species are called Transgenic Organisms.

3. Medical Biotech Used to create medicines, treat diseases, and research genetic disorders.

4. Biotech Medicines Since 1982 over 95 biotech medicines have been approved by the FDA. Used to treat heart disease, diabetes, cystic fibrosis, various infections, and cancer. Work in a variety of different ways.

5. Human Gene Therapy Gene therapy:an experimental procedure aimed at replacing, manipulating, or supplementing nonfunctional or malfunctioning genes with healthy genes. When conducting gene therapy, scientists must insert the replacement genes into the appropriate cells. Then scientists must make sure that they are in the correct place.

6. The Human Genome Project Project that aims to identify all the ~300,000 genes in human DNA. Was scheduled to take 15 years, but in 2003 scientists announced the completion of the sequencing Of the 300,000 genes. Hopes to improve our understanding of genetic mutations that lead to diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

7. Ethical Issues in Use of Biotech Are genetically engineered crops safe to eat? How far should we go in the genetic engineering of humans? Who has the right to your genetic information?