Student responses: The original term was coined in 1919 by a Hungarian Engineer. He stated that...

Student responses:

The original term was coined in 1919 by a Hungarian Engineer. He stated that using another living organism for one’s own benefit is biotechnology.

Do you agree? (Discussion)

Humans have been manipulating living things for centuries to produce plant and animals with desired characteristics. In fact you can date this type of biotechnology in it’s purest form to the beginning of civilizations.

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› Increase milk production› Density of meat› Number of eggs per laying period› Increase yields in wheat, rice, corn, tobacco› Healthier, disease resistant plants› Seedless varieties such as watermelon› Variety of apples, roses, specific fragrances› Esthetics such as the Great Dane or Chihuahua› Cross pollination such as Mendel’s work› Wildlife management programs› And many, many more

Therefore one of the oldest forms of biotechnology is agriculturally applied selective breeding. This has both benefitted people and improved the quality of life for centuries.

Manipulating the whole species through parent selection and controlled reproduction for a particular characteristic is selective breeding.

This process was greatly influenced by the work of Gregor Mendel in the 1800’s. His focus on inherited traits identified dominant and recessive characteristics allowing for manipulation of the outcome of the offspring. His work for the most part was ignored until the early to mid-1900’s.

Microbial fermentation is a process where organisms metabolize lactose and produce the waste products of CO2 to leaven bread or make yogurt and cheese.

Another form of Fermentation involves an oxygen deprivation environment causing cells to create a sugar conversion by metabolizing glucose in order to produce needed energy. This process is seen in the brewing of beer and wines.

So what are some more recent examples of Biotechnology other than Selective breeding and Fermentation; other forms of Food Processing, Vaccinations, Medications, products of the Textile Industry, Bioremediation, Genetic Engineering, Cloning, Archeology, and Forensics to name a few.

When scientist manipulate molecules, cells, tissue, and organs to manufacture products they are using technology to bioengineer specific cells, molecules, tissue and organs. Human insulin, faded jeans, stain removers, antibiotics and other medications are all examples produced by modern advanced biotechnological techniques.

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http://irtflash.austincc.edu/flvplayer/index.html?instructional/BioTech&id=biotechnology

Modern Advanced Biotechnology is the study and manipulation of living things or the component molecules, cells, tissue, or organs of those living things for a given product.

Biotechnology is an expansive field that includes many modern techniques that involve deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), recombinant DNA (rDNA) technology (“cutting and pasting” or recombining the DNA molecules), polymerase chain reaction (PCR – copying short pieces of DNA), and cloning (producing identical organisms).

This means we will begin with a few older techniques of biotechnology and progress into the modern world of DNA isolation processes while developing assays. (An assay is a test for a specific item such as protein.)

We will work towards mastery of laboratory techniques and create a legal scientific notebook that you can use to enter the work force with.

We will bring in outside presenters, go inside the real work place for tours, and find places looking to employ you for summer internships for those of you interested.

Three ring binder for notes – a one or one and a half inch will do, filler paper

Composition notebook – scientific black Black, blue, and red ball point pens One black waterproof sharpie (to be

kept in the classroom with your other personal supplies (goggles provided but you may purchase your own safety glasses –see form)

Lab coat – white, name written in the inside (optional)

Lab pants – grape scrubs, name on the inside (optional)

Close toed shoes mandatory

Research and Development• Organizational unit in a

company that finds ideas for products

• Directly involved in designing and running experiments to see if the ideas are feasible

• Responsible for developing promising ideas into marketable products

Production/Manufacturing• Manufactures products that

have been given to them by R&D

• Often involves scale-up of protocols

• Routine cleaning, calibration and maintenance of equipment

Organization of a Biotech Company

Quality Assurance/Quality Control• Monitors and checks

final products for quality before they are sent to the consumer

• Compares data to established standards

• Maintains documentation

Organization of a Biotech Company

Support Departments• Filling and packaging bulk

products in individual containers for customer use

• Metrology ensures instruments are operating properly

• Facilities technicians maintain critical day to day functions such as housekeeping and repairs

Organization of a Biotech Company

Business Services• Marketing and sale of

the product• Accounting

department manages financial reports

• Customer service interacts with customers to address questions and complaints

Organization of a Biotech Company

Regulatory Affairs Many products are regulated by government agencies

and a regulatory affairs staff is needed to interpret the rules and ensure compliance with these three federal agencies

1. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – regulates the safety of genetically modified food and pharmaceutical products

2. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) – regulates the purity and quality of meat, poultry and eggs and monitors safety of genetically modified food and plants

3. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – regulates environmental release of genetically modified organisms

Organization of a Biotech Company

Virtual Tour of a Biotech Company

Organization of a Biotech Company