Transcript Document 7208808

Introduction to
Biotechnology
BTEC3301
What career opportunities are
available?
Graduates work in
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pharmaceutical companies and hospitals (e.g diagnostics)
medical Lab (e.g insulin, cloning)
agricultural industries and dept of Agriculture (crops and animals
eg the broccoflower, Dolly the sheep, cloning)
in beverage and food production ( wine and dairy products)
in a range of public and private diagnostic, research laboratories
covering
microbiology, hematology, bioremediation,
immunology, forensic science (suspect in crime scenes)
crop development, pest control (Biological control)
animal production, veterinary services,
molecular biology and protein engineering (e.g insulin,
yeast for fermentation)
What career opportunities are
available?
The career options are expanding rapidly.
 Advances in
 genetic
engineering,
 protein engineering,
 cell culture and
 molecular biology have generated a virtually
unlimited potential for altering the capabilities
of living systems.
What is Biotechnology?
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Biotechnology is essentially
 the
use of living organisms (often minute
microorganisms) and their products
 for health, social or economic purposes.
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Biotechnology is widely considered to be
the growth technology of the 21st Century
and this will lead to huge growth in the
Biotechnology industry and exciting
opportunities for graduates.
…….. What is Biotechnology?
Applications of biotechnology are
widespread, including the following:
diagnosis and treatment of human
diseases.
improved production of therapeutic agents.
development of improved crop plant
species.
development of improved pest/pathogen
control processes.
…….. What is Biotechnology?
development of biosensors for
environmental pollutants.
 development of improved waste treatment
processes and methods for remediation
contaminated sites.
 production of transgenic organisms for
production of new drugs, improved
transplantation success and improved
animal and plant
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…….. What is Biotechnology?
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According to the Academic Standards for
Science and Technology, Biotechnology is
the ways that humans apply biological
concepts to produce products and provide
services.
…….. What is Biotechnology?
Long before the term "biotechnology" was
coined for the process of using living
organisms to produce improved commodities,
people were utilizing living micro-organisms to
produce valuable products.
 History of Biotechnology (Refer pg 2 text bk.).
 Our ancestors used microorganisms and used
fermentation to make bread, cheeses, yogurt,
alcoholic beverages etc.
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…….. What is Biotechnology?
One of the most widespread and commonly
understood applications of Biotechnology is the use of
antibiotic Penicillin from the mold Penicillium
(A.Flemming, 1928).
 In 1940, penicillin became widely a available, scale-up
and commercial production of antibiotics such as
penicillin occurred.
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…….. What is Biotechnology?
About two decades ago, biotechnology
became much more of a science (rather than
an art).
 Since 1960, rapid development of our
understanding of genetics and molecular
biology has led to exciting new innovations
and applications in Biotechnology.
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…….. What is Biotechnology?
The secrets of DNA structure and
functions have led to gene cloning and
genetic engineering, manipulating the DNA
of an organism.
 Regions of DNA (called genes) were found
to contain information that would lead to
synthesis of specific proteins
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…….. What is Biotechnology?
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A natural gene in simple bacteria such as
Escherichia coli (E. coli), a bacterium living
in intestines that has become the model
organism for much of biotechnology, if
found in this bacterium, scientist can have
this bacterium make a lot of the protein
coded for by the gene, regardless its
source.
…….. What is Biotechnology?
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Through genetic engineering scientists can
combine DNA from different sources and
this process is called recombinant DNA
technology (Chapter 3).
…….. What is Biotechnology?
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Recombinant DNA technology has led to
hundreds of applications including
development of disease resistant crops
with greater yield and nutrient value or
genetically engineered bacteria able to
degrade environmental pollutant
(Discussed under bioremediation).
…….. What is Biotechnology?
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Hence the mid-eighties and earlynineties, it became possible to transform
(genetically modify) plants and animals
that are important for food production.
"Transgenic" animals and plants, including
cows, sheep, tomatoes, tobacco, potato,
and cotton have now been obtained.
…….. What is Biotechnology?
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Recombinant DNA technology and genetic
engineering led to release of genetically
altered organisms into the environment,
this part of biotechnology is quite strictly
regulated at government levels
(Biotechnology regulation will be
discussed).
…….. What is Biotechnology?
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Completed in 2003, the Human Genome
Project (HGP) was a 13-year project
coordinated by the U.S. Department of
Energy and the National Institutes of
Health. During the early years of the HGP,
the Wellcome Trust (U.K.) became a major
partner; additional contributions came
from Japan, France, Germany, China, and
others.
HGP Project goals were to
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identify all the approximately 20,000-25,000
genes in human DNA,
determine the sequences of the 3 billion
chemical base pairs that make up human DNA,
store this information in databases,
improve tools for data analysis,
transfer related technologies to the private
sector, and
address the ethical, legal, and social issues
(ELSI) that may arise from the project
BIOTECHNOLOGY A SCIENCE OF MANY
DISCIPLINES
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Biotechnology can be broadly defined as
the application of biological systems or
processes to the manufacturing,
agricultural, health and service industries.
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Biotechnology encompasses a wide range
of science and business disciplines
Areas of application of
Biotechnology
The following lists the main areas and
application of Biotechnology from which all
others stem:
Fermentation Technology
This
is, historically, the most important area in
biotechnology. There has been extensive
development in progress with new products such
as medically important drugs, solvents, protein
enhanced foods, etc.
Areas of application of
Biotechnology
Enzyme Engineering
This
area is used for the catalysis of
extremely specific chemical reactions to
create specific molecular converters
(bioreactors). Products formed include
amino acids, high fructose syrup, semisynthetic penicillins, starch and cellulose
hydrolysis, etc.
Areas of application of
Biotechnology
Waste Technology
This
has a long array of historical importance, but
now emphasis is on the coupling of this field with
the conservation and recycling of resources.
Examples would include foods, fertilizers, and
biological fuels.
Areas of application of
Biotechnology
Environmental Technology
Problems
like pollution control, removing
toxic wastes, recovery of metals from
mining wastes and low grade ores, are just
some of the categories that fall under this
field.
Areas of application of
Biotechnology
Renewable Resources Technology
The
use of renewable energy sources, in
particular lignocellulose to generate new
sources of raw material and energy ethanol, methane, and hydrogen.
Areas of application of
Biotechnology………………
Each
of these fields utilizes knowledge from
Biochemistry, Genetics, Chemistry,
Applied Microbiology, Chemical and
Process Engineering, and Mathematics
and Computer Technology.
Products of Modern
Biotechnology
Insulin:
The first product of modern biotechnology
made use of insulin, a protein hormone
produced in the pancreas that the body uses
to regulate the concentration of blood sugar
(glucose).
To accomplish
this, the piece of
foreign DNA is
first inserted into
a plasmid a small
circle of DNA
which serves as a
carrier. The new
"recombinant"
plasmid carrying
the human gene
is then
reintroduced into
another bacterial
cell, as shown in
the figure above.
Types of Biotechnology
Microbial,
Agricultural,
Animal,
Forensic,
Bioremediation,
Aquatic
and
Medical Biotechnology.
Types of Biotechnology…………..
Selective breeding
Selective breeding for new genetic
combinations
 livestock, crops,
 yogurt, cheese bread, beer.
Types of Biotechnology…………..
Genetic Engineering
Genetic engineering makes it possible for
organisms to get genes from different
species – makes products useful in
agriculture
Types of Biotechnology…………..
Genetically Modified Foods
Genetically modified foods - produce
plants that yield more food, produce new
types of food, plants prone to diseases and
severe weather; increase the disease
resistance, size and growth rate of animals,
in medicine and industry.
Types of Biotechnology…………..
Environmental Biotechnology
 Environment (bioremediation, heavy metal
biotechnology, species preservation).
Gene Therapy
Gene therapy – replace defective genes
with healthy ones (use of viruses).
Further Readings
Types of Biotechnology
 Jobs
in Biotechnology
 Browse
Web Links
References
Introduction to Biotechnology by W.J.
Thieman and M.A. Palladino. Pearson &
Benjamin Cummings 2nd edition.
 http://en.wikipedia.org
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