Transcript PowerPoint Presentation - Biotechnology and Recombinant DNA

Biotechnology
Biotechnology
Biotechnology
• The use of microorganisms or
biological substances to perform
specific industrial or manufacturing
processes
• Using organisms or their
products for commercial
purposes
Traditional vs. Modern
• Traditional: bread, cheese, alcohol,
selective breeding of food crops
and animals
• Modern: Genetically Modified
crops (GMO’s), bioremediation,
gene therapy, DNA fingerprinting
Genetically Modified Organisms
Benefits
• Crops
– Enhanced taste and quality
– Increased nutrients, yields, and stress tolerance
– Improved resistance to disease, pests, and
herbicides
• Animals
– Increased resistance and hardiness
– Better yields of meat, eggs, and milk
– Improved animal health
Genetically Modified Organisms
Controversies
– Potential human health impacts, including
allergens, and unknown effects
– Violation of natural organisms' intrinsic
values
– Cross-pollination from GM crops – such as
transferring herbicide resistance
– Labeling not mandatory in some countries
(e.g., United States)
Do the potential benefits
outweigh the potential risks?
Recombinant DNA
• Combining
DNA from
two
different
organisms
Genetically Modified Food Crops
• Soybeans – increase disease
resistance
• Corn – increase yield, insect resistance,
vitamin enrichment
• Tomatoes – increase shelf-life
• Potatoes – increase starch content
• Sugar cane – increase resistance and
increase sucrose content
• Rice – increase vitamin A content
Example of
using viruses
for gene
therapy
Cloning
Producing an offspring genetically identical to a
parent. This can be accomplished by
replacing the nucleus of an unfertilized ovum
with the nucleus of a body cell from the
organism.
Animals that have been successfully cloned
include sheep, cow, cat, dog and horse.
Selective Breeding
Breeding plants and animals for
specific traits
Examples: dog and cat varieties,
race horses, seedless grapes, food
crops and cattle.