History of Biotechnology

By

Akrum Hamdy

Stages of BiotechAncientClassicalModern

Ancient BiotechBegins with early

civilizationDevelopments in ag and

food productionFew records exist

Ancient BiotechArcheologists research Ancient carvings and

sketches sources of information

Classical BiotechFollows ancientMakes wide spread use of

methods from ancient, especially fermentation

Methods adapted to industrial production

Classical BiotechProduce large quantities of

food products and other materials in short amount of time

Meet demands of increasing population

Classical BiotechMany methods developed

through classical biotech are widely used today.

Modern BiotechManipulation of genetic

material within organismsBased on genetics and the

use of microscopy, biochemical methods, related sciences and technologies

Modern BiotechOften known as genetic

engineeringRoots involved the

investigation of genes

Ancient BiotechNot known when biotech

began exactlyFocused on having food

and other human needs

Ancient BiotechUseful plants brought from

the wild, planted near caves where people lived

As food was available, ability to store and preserve emerged

AncientFood preservation most

likely came from unplanned events such as a fire or freeze

Domestication15,000 years ago, large

animals were hard to capturePeople only had meat when

they found a dead animalCame up with ways of

capturing fish and small animals

DomesticationFood supplies often seasonalWinter food supplies may get

quite lowDomestication is seen by

scientists as the beginning of biotech

DomesticationAdaptation of organisms

so they can be culturedMost likely began 11,000

– 12,000 years ago in the middle east

DomesticationInvolved the collecting of seed

from useful plants and growing crude crops from that seed

Involved the knowledge that the seed had to properly mature

DomesticationProper plantingNeed for water, light and other

conditions for plant growthEarliest plants likely grains

and other seeds used for food

DomesticationRaising animals in captivity

began about the same time in history

Easier to have an animal close by that to hunt and capture a wild one

DomesticationLearned that animals

need food and waterLearned about simple

breedingHow to raise young

DomesticationCattle, goats and sheep

were the first domesticated food animals

DomesticationAbout 10,000 years ago,

people had learned enough about plants and animals to grow their own food

The beginning of farming.

FoodDomestication resulted in

food supplies being greater in certain times of the year

Products were gathered and stored

FoodSome foods rottedOthers changed form and

continued to be good to eatFoods stored in a cool cave

did not spoil as quickly

FoodFoods heated by fire also

did not spoil as quicklyImmersing in sour liquids

prevented food decay

Food preservationUsing processes that

prevent or slow spoilageHeating, cooling, keeps

microorganisms (mo’s) from growing

Food preservationStored in bags of leather or jars

of clayFermentation occurs if certain

mo’s are presentCreates an acid condition that

slows or prevents spoilage

CheeseOne of the first food

products made through biotechnology

Began some 4,000 years ago

Nomadic tribes in Asia

CheeseStrains of bacteria were

added to milkCaused acid to formResulting in sour milk

CheeseEnzyme called “rennet” was

addedRennet comes from the

lining of the stomachs of calves

CheeseRennet is genetically

engineered todayNot all cheese is made from

produced rennet

YeastLong used in food

preparation and preservationBread bakingYeast produces a gas in the

dough causing the dough to rise

YeastFermented productsVinegarRequire the use of yeast in

at least one stage of production

YeastSpecies of fungiSome are useful Some may cause diseases

VinegarAncient product used to

preserve foodJuices and extracts from

fruits and grains can be fermented

FermentationProcess in which yeast

enzymes chemically change compounds into alcohol

In making vinegar the first product of fermentation is alcohol

FermentationAlcohol is converted to acetic

acid by additional microbe activity

Acid gives vinegar a sour tasteVinegar prevents growth of

some bacteria

VinegarKeeps foods from spoilingUsed in picklingBiblical references to wine

indicate the use of fermentation some 3,000 years ago

Fermentation controlIn ancient times, likely

happened by accidentAdvancements occurred in

the 1800’s and early 1900’s

FermentersUsed to advance

fermentation processSpecially designed chamber

that promotes fermentation

FermentersAllowed better control,

especially with vinegarNew products such as

glycerol, acetone, and citric acid resulted

DevelopmentOf yeasts that were

predictable and readily available led to modern baking industry

AntibioticsUse of fermentation

hastened the development of antibiotics

A drug used to combat bacterial infections

AntibioticsPenicillinDeveloped in the late1920’sIntroduced in the 1940’sFirst drug produced

by microbes

AntibioticsMany kinds available todayLimitations in their use keep

disease producing organisms from developing immunity to antibiotics

AntibioticsUse antibiotics only when

needed.Overuse may make the

antibiotic ineffective when really needed later

AntibioticsSome disease organisms

are now resistant to certain antibiotics

Used in both human and vet medicine

Modern BiotechDeals with manipulating genetic

infoMicroscopy and advanced

computer technology are usedIn-depth knowledge of science

Modern BiotechBased on genetics research

from the mid 1800’s

GeneticsStudy of heredityMost work has focused on

animal and plant geneticsGenes – determiners of

heredity

GenesCarry the genetic codeUnderstanding genetic

structure essential for genetic engineering

HeredityHow traits are passed from

parents to offspringMembers of the same

species pass the characteristics of that species

HeredityDifferences exist within each

species.Differences are known as

variability

Heredity &variabilityAre used in modern

biotechnology

Modern BiotechUse of biotech to produce

new life formsEmerged in mid 1900’sMade possible by rDNA

technology

rDNARecombinant DNA ProcessGenetic material is moved

from one organism to another

Materials involved are quite small

rDNAChallenging and often

controversialMany have opposing or

negative views of biotechnolgy

People in BiotechZacharias JanssenDiscovered the principle of

the compound microscope in 1590

Dutch eye glass maker

Anton Van LeeuwenhoekDeveloped single lens

microscope in 1670’sFirst to observe tiny

organisms and document observations

Anton V.L.Work led to modern

microscopesElectron microscope

developed in 1931 by group of German scientists

Gregor MendelFormulated basic laws of

heredity during mid 1800’sAustrian Botanist and monkExperimented with peas

MendelStudied inheritance of seven

pairs of traitsBred and crossbred thousands

of plantsDetermined that some traits

were dominant and other recessive

MendelFindings were published in

1866Largely ignored for 34 years

Johan Friedrich MiescherSwiss BiologistIsolated nuclei of white blood

cells in 1869Led to identification of

nucleic acid by Walter Flemming

Walter SuttonDetermined in 1903 that

chromosomes carried units of heredity identified by Mendel

Named “genes” in 1909 by Wilhelm Johannsen, Danish Botanist

Thomas Hunt MorganStudied genetics of fruit fliesEarly 1900’sExperimented with eye colorHis work contributed to the

knowledge of X and Y chromosomes

Thomas Hunt MorganNobel Peace Prize in 1933

for research in gene theory

Ernst RuskaBuild the first electron

microscope in 1932German electrical engineerMicroscope offered 400X

magnification

Alexander FlemingDiscovered penicillin in 1928First antibiotic drug used in

treating human diseaseObserved growth of molds

(Penicillium genus) in a dish that also contracted bacteria

Alexander FlemingBacteria close to the molds

were deadExtracting and purifying the

molds took a decade of research

Penicillin first used in 1941

Alexander FlemingPenicillin credited with

saving many lives during WWII when wounded soldiers developed infections.

Rosalind Elsie FranklinResearch in France and

England in mid 1900’sLed to discovery of structure

of DNAHer early research was used

to produce an atomic bomb

Rosalind FranklinSet up X ray diffraction labPhotographs of DNA

showed that it could have a double helix structure

Rosalind FranklinSome questions surround

the theft of her work in 1952Including x ray photographs

Watson and CrickJames WatsonFrancis CrickCollaborated to produce the

first model of DNA structure in 1953

Watson and CrickDescribed DNA dimensions

and spacing of base pairsHad major impact on genetic

engineering carried out today

WatsonBorn in the USCrick – born in EnglandCollaborative research at

Cambridge University in England

Norman E. BorlaugDeveloped wheat varieties

producing high yieldsResearch in MexicoSemi dwarf varietiesDeveloped wheat variety that would

grow in climates where other varieties would not

BorlaugNobel Peace Prize in 1971Credited with helping relieve

widespread hunger in some nations

Mary Clare KingResearch into nature of DNA

during late 1900’sDetermined that 99% of

human DNA is identical to chimpanzee

Mary Clare King1975 found similar gene

pools between humans and chimpanzee made it possible to research hereditary causes of breast cancer

Ian WilmutCloning of a sheep named

Dolly in 1997Produced from tissue of an

adult sheepPrevious cloning efforts had

been from early embryos

ResearchUse of systematic methods

to answer questions.Problems may be basic or

applied

BasicRequire generating new info

to gain understandingApplied – involve use of

knowledge already acquired.

ResearchSupplies facts that can be

used to improve a process or product

Settings range from elaborate labs to field plots

Field PlotSmall area of land that is

used to test questions or hypothesis

Belief is that same result would be obtained if carried out on larger scale

Field PlotsOften tested several timesKnown as replication

ResearchDone by agencies, universities,

private companies, individualsBiotech research in ag is

carried out by ag experiment stations and large corporations

DevelopmentCreation of new products or

methods based on findings of research

Carefully studied before being put into full scale use

DevelopmentNew products tested before

approvalGovernment agencies such as

the FDA are involvedPrototype is developed –

research model that is carefully tested

PrototypeBecomes a pattern for the

production of similar products

After being fully tested, full scale production begins.