Post on 20-Dec-2015
What is Biotechnology?
•Biotechnology (by-o-tek-nawl-a-gee)
•Bio—short for biology—the study of living things
•Technology—another word for tools, engineering, science
•Biotechnology is a tool that uses biology to make new and better products
•Biotechnology is a tool to find solutions that improve the health of the Earth and its people
What is Biotechnology?
Three areas of Biotechnology
AgricultureDeveloping plants and animals that can produce well
in a variety of environments.Ex: Can produce during drought, cold, or heat. Resistant
to disease, insects, herbicides. Use of less fertilizer, pesticide, and herbicide.
Science Producing food that will:
reduce spoilage ratetaste better
have an increased nutritional valuehave an improved texture or appearance
MedicineMiracle drugs
AntibioticsVaccines
Is Biotech New?
Biotechnology is
an extension of
Traditional Plant Breeding
Cells and Organelles
•Cells are the building blocks that make up all living things
•Everyone is made of cells
•The construction instructions for cells came from other living things….every cell contains DNA—the substance that makes us unique
•Cells are very small….you can only see them under a microscope
Gene Discovery & Expression
•Genes tell how to build and manage a cell
•You can’t see genes since they are microscopic
•All people, plants and animals inherit traits from their parents through genes
•How an organism looks and functions is a result of the cumulative effect of all molecules
TRADITIONAL PLANT BREEDING
Desired Gene
X
Many genes are transferred
Donor Plant
Commercial Plant Variety
New Plant
Variety
PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY
+
A single gene is
transferredDesired
Gene
Commercial Plant Variety
Improved Commercial Plant Variety
Desired Gene
DonorPlant
Biotechnology and You
•Improvements in food production—especially in cheese making
•Chymosin has replaced rennet that was traditionally used in cheese production
•Biotechnology has produced recombinant Chymosin (rtChymosin)
•USDA Approved the enzyme in 1990
•Chymosin has created an endless supply of a good quality product
How DNA Works
•DNA forms the genetic code
•Nearly every living thing has unique DNA
•DNA makes proteins
•DNA molecules are shaped like two long ladders twisted around and around
•There are 6 types of chemicals that make up DNA
• Identify and cut the selected gene using restriction enzymes
Recombinant DNA
• Insert that gene into a plasmid (a plasmid is a circular piece of DNA used like a bus or shuttle…)
•Place the plasmid into a bacterial cell where the desired traits can be produced.•Clone the plasmid.
Polymerase Chain Reaction •To make many copies of specific pieces of DNA
The Future of Biotechnology
•Land is a precious resource.
•The world’s population is growing but the amount of land we have for farming is not!
•It will become harder to grow food for everyone on Earth.
•Biotechnology is one method being used to help farmers grow more food.
•Someday, we could be able to grow food on land that was not good for farming—too dry, too rocky, etc.Apple Demo.swf