Introduction to Biotechnology

Molecular Genetics Strand

What Is Biotechnology? - the manipulation of living organisms (at the molecular

level) to create, develop, or improve techniques or products

- it is an industry based on biology that integrates

knowledge and techniques from other scientific disciplines such as chemistry, biochemistry, physiology, engineering, physics, and computer science

- can also be explained by describing it as an umbrella

term that refers to a pool of techniques and procedures that are both traditional and modern (both are used today)

Traditional biotechnology techniques

- date back thousands of years to early farming societies

- examples :

● selective breeding – the breeding of specially selected plants and/or animals with the goal of producing offspring with desirable traits (i.e. cross-breeding two types of crops to make them heartier)

● hybridization – the result of cross breeding; hybrids are the result of this process and are offspring that come from two genetically dissimilar parents with the goal of creating an organism superior to the parental form

● fermentation – the process through which wine and beer are made where organic substances are broken down by microorganisms in the absence of oxygen

Modern biotechnology techniques

● recombinant DNA (rDNA) techniques – a DNA sequence produced artificially by joining pieces of DNA from different organisms used to produce desirable traits in living organisms using other living organisms, such as bacteria

(A specific example of something created using rDNA techniques is an environmentally friendly plant with traits that allow farmers to reduce their use of synthetic pesticides and herbicides.)

A Brief History of Biotechnology

● Since 8000 BC humans have been using biotechnology techniques to create or improve products

● In 6000 BC potatoes were first cultivated for food and

humans domesticated plant crops and livestock ● Ancient Egyptians first learned how to brew beer and make

cheese in 2000 BC ● In 1668 Jean Talon of Quebec City established Canada’s first

brewery using two traditional biotechnology techniques : yeast and fermentation

● In 1861 Louis Pasteur developed pasteurization (heating liquids to destroy harmful bacteria or viruses), an integral process to our daily lives still used today

● In 1865 the father of modern genetics, Gregor Mendel,

discovered the laws of heredity ● In 1919 Karl Ereky for the first time, used the term

‘biotechnology’ in print to describe the interaction of biology with human technology

● In 1922 Dr. Frederick Banting discovered that insulin can be

used to treat diabetes ● In 1928 Sir Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin

● In 1943 Canadian scientist Oswald Avery isolated pure DNA

● In 1944 Avery along with colleagues Colin MacLeod and

Maclyn McCarty proved that DNA carried genetic information

● In 1953 James Watson and Francis Crick discovered that

DNA is structured in a double helix and how genetic information is passed from generation to generation

● In 1970 Norman Borlaug won a Nobel Prize for

developing new wheat varieties that were able to increase their yield by 70%, and this marked the beginning of the Green Revolution in Agriculture internationally

● In 1973 Stanley Cohen and Herbert Boyer completed the first successful genetic engineering experiment by inserting a gene from an African clawed toad into bacterial DNA; this marked the development of recombinant DNA technology and was considered to be the birth of modern biotechnology

● In 1981 Allelix, Canada’s first biotechnology company, opens

its doors ● In 1985 testing on the first genetically engineered plants

resistant to insects, viruses, and bacteria, begun for the first time

● In 1989 the Exxon Valdez oil spill occurs and naturally

occurring bacteria are used to clean up the spill that occurred on the coast of Alaska

● In 1990 the plans for the world’s first Human Genome Project were launched with the goal to map all of the 80,000 to 100,000 human genes by 2003

● In 1992 Canada’s own Human Genome Project was announced ● In 1997 the first mammal is cloned by nuclear transfer and the world

is introduced to Dolly the sheep ● In 2003 as was hoped, the Human Genome Project is completed

showing between 20,000-25,000 genes in human DNA ● By 2005 Canada was home to more than 500 biotechnology

companies and was seeing annual revenues of over $4 billion ● In 2007 The Micronutrient Initiative, an Ottawa-based not-for-profit

organization created a device that adds essential vitamins and minerals to flour to help combat anemia and provide crucial assistance to people living in Third World countries

How Biotechnology Affects Our Lives

- biotechnology has the ability to touch almost every aspect of our lives

- the industry is split up into several different sectors which cover many different important aspects of how we live

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1. Health Care

- in biotech terms, this sector covers areas such as drug development, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and any combination of the above

2. Agriculture

- biotechnology reaches agriculture through the work and research being done in the area of genetic engineering by which we are able to produce plants that may increase nutritional value, grow faster, and be disease and pest resistant

3. Industrial and Environmental

- within this sector biotechnology is used to derive products, with the goal of reducing pollution, consumption, and waste

- this includes items such as biofuel, biodegradable materials and bioremediation techniques

4. Bioinformatics (Biotech + Information Technology)

- this sector focuses on using information technology to conduct research and experiments as well as to analyze and store biological information

5. Nanotechnology (Biotech + Engineering)

- this sector has allowed us to manipulate atoms and molecules at the nanometer (10-9 m) level

- it is focused on research and development of drug delivery systems, clinical diagnosis, and pathogen detection

6. Forensics (Biotech + Law)

- within this field, science is used to answer questions arising from crimes or that are related to the legal system

- most biotech research in Canada is within the Health Care sector

- some of Canada’s health innovations are : ● Vaccines ● Antibiotics ● Cancer therapy ● HIV and AIDS treatments ● Genetic testing ● Stem cell research ● Infectious disease treatment ● Diagnosis and treatment for autoimmune disorders

(diabetes, cystic fibrosis)

- other innovations :

● Apples that don’t turn brown

● Crops specifically grown for biofuel

● Healthier types of oilseed crops

● New types of plastics

● Reducing waste through biotechnology

(biofuels, polymers, forestry products)

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