Biotech’sGREEN EGGS & HAM

Coming SOON to a supermarket pharmacy near you!

Gloria Vachino, MSCityLab Academy

Instructor, Biomedical Laboratory and Clinical SciencesBoston University School of Medicine

Health Care Pathways: Connecting Education with Careers

Friday April 11, 2008

Introduction to Biotechnology

- explanation of how biotech industry emerged and introduction to core science of biotechnology

-applications of biotechnology/ significance of green eggs and ham

Bringing Biotech into the Classroom

-types of resources

-approaches to building a foundation

Career Paths in Biotech

-educational requirements for jobs in biotech

-types of jobs

SUMMARY

How did the Biotechnology industry get started?

Biotech industry emerged in 1970’s around the discovery of methods that allowed human genes to be transferred (“cut and pasted”) into bacteria.

First commercial application of gene transfer: ▪ Human gene for insulin was transferred into bacterial cells. ▪ Bacteria containing the human insulin gene manufactured human

insulin. ▪ Process of fermentation allowed large quantities of human insulin to

be produced for the first time ever.

INTRODUCTION TO BIOTECH

www.nia.nih.gov

What is a gene?

HUMAN CELL

How is it possible for bacteria to manufacture human proteins?

Genes are made of DNA. DNA is constructed of 4 types of building blocks

(nucleotides), which are the same across species.

Genes provide instructions- in DNA language- on how to make proteins. The vast majority of species use the same genetic code to interpret these instructions.

The genetic code specifies which sequence of nucleotides corresponds to a particular amino acid. (Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins).

Thus, bacterial cells carrying the human gene for insulin:-have the instructions for making human insulin-can manufacture insulin because they use the

same genetic code as human cells

publications.nigms.nih.gov

4) Bacterial cells produce recombinant human insulin.

2) “Hybrid” DNA (referred to as recombinant DNA) is transferred to bacterial cell.

+bacterial DNA

1) Human gene for insulin is merged with DNA from bacteria.

Human gene for insulin

Biotech Industry’s Production of Human Insulin by Bacteria

Recombinant DNA Technology (Genetic Engineering)

3) Bacteria multiply

http://www.littletree.com.au/dna.htm, http://www.accessexcellence.org/RC/VL/GG/inserting.html, http://www.iptv.org/exploremore/ge/what/insulin.cfm,http://www.ctbiobus.org/curriculum/pdfs/lightingthemagiclantern_04.pdf

Bacterial cell

Recombinant DNA technology permits:

1) gene cloning (making multiple copies of a gene) and

2) production of the protein encoded by the gene

Is Recombinant DNA Technology Still Used Today in the Biotech Industry?

Applications of Recombinant DNA Technology: production of genetically engineered / recombinant protein drugs Examples: interferon, blood clotting proteins, growth hormones EPO, Avastin, Xolair, Remicade, Humulin (insulin)genetically engineered animals (referred to as transgenic animals) for drugs, food and as models of human diseases gene therapy vaccines (e.g. hepatitis B) genetically engineered plants (referred to as transgenic plants)

Recombinant DNA technology is also used to make multiple copies of genes for:

DNA fingerprinting DNA sequencing

-Human Genome Project- identify genes involved in disease processes- study evolutionary trends

YES!

Please note that other technologies also allow copying of DNA ; e.g. PCR

…..and the Green Eggs and Ham?

The transfer of genes into cells is a hit-or-miss process. The ability to easily identify which cells have successfully taken up a gene of interest is extremely important.

A popular method of tracking transferred genes relies on Aequorea victoria, a jellyfish that carries the gene for GFP (green fluorescent protein). When a gene of interest is linked to the GFP gene, cells that take up the linked genes glow green under blue light.http://userpages.umbc.edu/~jili/ench772/index.html

Thus, GFP provides a “visual report” on the location of the gene of interest.

Example of how the GFP method benefits gene transfer processes: When creating transgenic animals, the GFP method makes it possible to determine which cells and tissues carry a gene of interest.

http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2008/01/10/these_little_piggies_were_born_green/?rss_id=Boston+Globe+--+Today's+paper+A+to+Z

Biotech’s Green Eggs and Ham

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4605202.stm

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://quad.bic.caltech.edu/~fraserlab/people/lansford/research/images/GFP%2520retro%2520embryo%25206in%2520copy.jpg&imgrefurl=http://quad.bic.caltech.edu/~fraserlab/people/lansford/research/research.html&h=527&w=900&sz=74&hl=en&start=25&tbnid=kzGf_jZkuAiDoM:&tbnh=85&tbnw=146&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dgfp%2Bin%2Bchicken%2Bembryo%26start%3D20%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN

Applications of transgenic animals: producers of recombinant protein drugs (e.g. chicken eggs, dairy animals) source of organs for transplantation (e.g. pigs) source of vaccines (e.g. chicken eggs)http://www.scq.ubc.ca/the-new-macdonald-pharm/

BRINGING BIOTECH INTO THE CLASSROOMResources

Online▪ written materials for middle school and high school levels ▪ images and animations▪ exercises with paper & scissor models ▪ simple lab experiments for classroom

Online documentariesThe Secret of Life http://www.pbs.org/wnet/dna/episode1/#Cracking the Code of Life http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/genome/

Books

▪ Biotechnology: Science for the New Millennium, Ellyn Dougherty, EMC Paradigm Publications 2007 http://www.skipwagner.net/smbiotech/bioteched.htm

▪ Shoestring Biotechnology: Budget-Oriented High Quality Biotechnology Laboratories for Two-Year College and High School, National Association of Biology Teachers http://www.biotechinstitute.org/resources/index.html

Kits ▪ educational companies / lab supply companies http://www.carolina.com/

Websites listed in “Building a Foundation” slide below

Hands-on lab workshops and other supplementary resources

CityLab Boston University www.bumc.bu.edu/citylab

▪ conducts hands-on lab workshops for middle and high school students

▪ in partnership with MBC (Massachusetts Biotechnology Council):

- staffs MobileLab that travels to schools state-wide

- conducts BioTeach program to train teachers

Massachusetts Biotechnology Council (MBC) www.massbio.org

▪ awards funds to help schools incorporate biotechnology into curriculum http://massbio.org/massbioed/community_labawards.php?bc=labawards

▪ provides information on biotech careers, salaries and educational requirements: http://massbio.org/directory/careers/descriptions_qa.html

▪ lists publications on biotech for K-12 http://

massbio.org/directory/resources/publications.html

PBS http://www.pbs.org/teachers/search

Resources (continued)

I) FUNDAMENTAL SCIENCE OF BIOTECHNOLOGY Cells, Genes and DNA

▪ cell structure and function/ eukaryotes vs. prokaryotes ▪ relationship between chromosomes, genes and DNA and proteins

http://www.cellsalive.com/toc.htm

DNA Structure / Function ▪ structure of nucleotides, DNA’s “building blocks” ▪ how 2 chains of DNA’s double helix bind to each other ▪ role of genes / gene expression ▪ DNA sequence / The Human Genome Project ▪ protein synthesis / RNA / the genetic code http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/teachers/regaction.cfm http://www.nigms.nih.gov/Publications/FactSheet_Genes.htm http://www.accessexcellence.org/RC/AB/BA/dnaintro/index.html http://www.accessexcellence.org/RC/AB/WYW/wkbooks/SFTS/activity6.html http://faculty.etsu.edu/MILLERH/Workshop/DNA%20structure.htm http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/sci_edu/waldron/#trans

http://www.genomicseducation.ca/educationResources/grade_12/biological_molecules.asp the above websites range from written information to paper/scissor exercises and simple lab experiments. Many emphasize inquiry-based learning.

BRINGING BIOTECH INTO THE CLASSROOM Building a FoundationBuilding a Foundation

II) CONCEPT OF USING DNA AS A “TOOL” IN BIOTECH ▪ assist students with investigating how knowledge of DNA structure and function has allowed DNA to be used as a tool.

http://www.biotechinstitute.org/what_is/

http://www.dna.gov/dna_resources/generalresourceshttp://www.accessexcellence.org/RC/AB/BC/Speaking_Language_rDNA.htmlhttp://www.bio-rad.com/cmc_upload/Literature/54133/4110034B.pdf &

http://www.ejbiotechnology.info/content/vol5/issue3/teaching/01/index.html(text and simple lab exercises that can be tailored to grade level)

▪ have students explore the uses of DNA in biotechnology Medicine: recombinant protein drugs, diagnostic tests, genome sequencing

http://www.dna.gov/dna_resources/generalresourceshttp://biobasics.gc.ca/english/View.asp?x=782#drugs

http://www.koshlandscience.org/exhibitdna/inf03.jsp#

Agriculture: a) transgenic plants that withstand pests, disease, drought

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/harvest/exist/ b) transgenic animals with desirable traits

http://www.actionbioscience.org/biotech/margawati.html

Forensics: http://www.koshlandscience.org/exhibitdna/crim01.jsp

Biofuels: http://genomicsgtl.energy.gov/education/index.shtml

Building a Foundation Building a Foundation (continued)

Also important in preparing students for careers in biotechnology (and other applied sciences) is teaching them how to:

▪ collect data ▪ write lab reports▪ maintain lab notebooks▪ draw and interpret graphs (by hand using graph paper and using computer software e.g. Excel)▪ do basic math without a calculator! ▪ tackle word problems▪ apply the scientific method

Building a Foundation Building a Foundation (continued)

JOBS

EDUCATION

CertificateAssociate’s Degree Bachelor’s

Degree

Career/ Education Options in Biomedical Science / Biotechnology for High School Graduates

Environmental Technician

Glasswasher

Shipper/Receiver

Lab Assistant

Manufacturing Technician/Associate

Aseptic Fill Technician

Quality Control (QC) Technician

Quality Assurance (QA) Documentation

Coordinator/Associate

Lab Technician

Research Assistant

Aseptic Fill Technician

Quality Control (QC) Analyst

Please note the overlap in credentials needed for some jobs. Many variables influence an employer’s decision to hire individuals who do not meet minimal educational requirements. For a complete list of jobs and job descriptions, visit: http://massbio.org/directory/careers/descriptions_ops.html#16,http://massbio.org/directory/careers/overview_s.html,http://www.careervoyages.gov/biotechnology-main.cfm