WHAT IS BIOTECHNOLOGY ?Chapter 1

Science for the New Millenium

WHAT IS BIOTECHNOLOGY ?

The study & manipulation of living things or their component molecules, cells, tissues or organs.

Humans have been manipulating living things for centuries to provide plants and animals with desired characteristics – see figure 1.16

Examples: Increased milk production, lean meat product, increased egg production, increased yields per acre in wheat, rye, corn, rice, soybeans, increased disease resistance in crops.

MORE BIOTECH EXAMPLES

Seedless watermelons

More apple varieties Roses with new

fragrances and colors

Dog breed varieties Flavr Tomatoes –

ripen longer on the vine

Human insulin to treat diabetes

Lovastin – grown w/bacteria to create medication to treat cholesterol

“stonewashed” jeans with enzymes

Cloning body parts for human transplants

GOALS OF BIOTECH COMPANY

Make a product that is useful to society

Generate profit for company to function and continue to conduct product research

R& D = Research & Development

4 CATEGORIES OF BIOTECH COMPANIES

Industrial & Environmental Agriculture Medical/Pharmaceutical Diagnostic Research

UNIVERSITY & GOVERNMENT LABS

Conduct “pure science” Strong working relationship with Biotech

Companies Research is based on industry needs so

usually industry provides funding

Examples: HIV research, malaria, diabetes, viral therapies, crop research

NIH & CDC: treatments for heart disease, cancer, Alzheimers

GMO – GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISM

Use restriction enzymes to cut DNA sequence of choice -----add specific enzymes to paste sequences together = RECOMBINANT DNA –rDNA

Examples: proteins in pregnancy tests, enzymes that increase juice production in apples, strawberry plants that can grow in cold climate, insect resistant cotton, virus resistant papaya, vitamin A production in rice to combat blindness in 3rd