Introduction to Biotechnology BTEC3301. What career opportunities are available? Graduates work in pharmaceutical companies and hospitals (e.g diagnostics)

Introduction to Introduction to BiotechnologyBiotechnology

BTEC3301BTEC3301

What career opportunities are What career opportunities are available?available?

Graduates work inGraduates work in pharmaceutical companies and hospitals (e.g diagnostics)pharmaceutical companies and hospitals (e.g diagnostics) medical Lab (e.g insulin, cloning)medical Lab (e.g insulin, cloning) agricultural industries and dept of Agriculture (crops and agricultural industries and dept of Agriculture (crops and

animals eg the broccoflower, Dolly the sheep, cloning)animals eg the broccoflower, Dolly the sheep, cloning) in beverage and food production ( wine and dairy in beverage and food production ( wine and dairy

products)products) in a range of public and private diagnostic, research in a range of public and private diagnostic, research

laboratories coveringlaboratories covering microbiology, hematology, bioremediation,microbiology, hematology, bioremediation, immunology, forensic science (suspect in crime immunology, forensic science (suspect in crime

scenes)scenes) crop development, pest control (Biological control) crop development, pest control (Biological control) animal production, veterinary services, animal production, veterinary services, molecular biology and protein engineeringmolecular biology and protein engineering (e.g (e.g

insulin, yeast for fermentation)insulin, yeast for fermentation)

What career opportunities are What career opportunities are available?available?

The career options are expanding The career options are expanding rapidlyrapidly..

Advances in Advances in genetic engineering, genetic engineering, protein engineering, protein engineering, cell culture and cell culture and molecular biology have generated a molecular biology have generated a

virtually unlimited potential for altering virtually unlimited potential for altering the capabilities of living systems.the capabilities of living systems.

What is Biotechnology?What is Biotechnology?Biotechnology is essentially Biotechnology is essentially

the use of living organisms (often minute the use of living organisms (often minute microorganisms) and their products microorganisms) and their products

for health, social or economic purposes.for health, social or economic purposes.

Biotechnology is widely considered to be Biotechnology is widely considered to be the growth technology of the 21st the growth technology of the 21st Century and this will lead to huge growth Century and this will lead to huge growth in the Biotechnology industry and in the Biotechnology industry and exciting opportunities for graduates.exciting opportunities for graduates.

………….. .. What is What is Biotechnology?Biotechnology?

Applications of biotechnology are Applications of biotechnology are widespread, including the following: widespread, including the following: diagnosis and treatment of human diagnosis and treatment of human diseases. diseases. improved production of therapeutic agents. improved production of therapeutic agents. development of improved crop plant development of improved crop plant species. species. development of improved pest/pathogen development of improved pest/pathogen control processes. control processes.


development of biosensors for development of biosensors for environmental pollutants. environmental pollutants.

development of improved waste development of improved waste treatment processes and methods treatment processes and methods for remediation contaminated sites. for remediation contaminated sites.

production of transgenic organisms production of transgenic organisms for production of new drugs, for production of new drugs, improved transplantation success improved transplantation success and improved animal and plant and improved animal and plant


According to the Academic Standards According to the Academic Standards for Science and Technology, for Science and Technology, Biotechnology is the ways that Biotechnology is the ways that humans apply biological concepts to humans apply biological concepts to produce products and provide produce products and provide services. services.


Long before the term "biotechnology" Long before the term "biotechnology" was coined for the process of using living was coined for the process of using living organisms to produce improved organisms to produce improved commodities, people were utilizing living commodities, people were utilizing living micro-organisms to produce valuable micro-organisms to produce valuable products.products.

History of Biotechnology (Refer pg 2 text History of Biotechnology (Refer pg 2 text bk.). bk.).

Our ancestors used microorganisms and Our ancestors used microorganisms and used fermentation to make bread, used fermentation to make bread, cheeses, yogurt, alcoholic beverages etc.cheeses, yogurt, alcoholic beverages etc.


One of the most widespread and commonly One of the most widespread and commonly understood applications of Biotechnology is the understood applications of Biotechnology is the use of antibiotic Penicillin from the mold use of antibiotic Penicillin from the mold Penicillium (A.Flemming, 1928).Penicillium (A.Flemming, 1928).

In 1940, penicillin became widely a available, In 1940, penicillin became widely a available, scale-up and commercial production of scale-up and commercial production of antibiotics such as penicillin occurred.antibiotics such as penicillin occurred.


About two decades ago, biotechnology About two decades ago, biotechnology

became much more of a science (rather became much more of a science (rather than an art).than an art).

Since 1960, rapid development of our Since 1960, rapid development of our understanding of genetics and understanding of genetics and molecular biology has led to exciting molecular biology has led to exciting new innovations and applications in new innovations and applications in Biotechnology. Biotechnology.


The secrets of DNA structure and The secrets of DNA structure and functions have led to gene cloning functions have led to gene cloning and genetic engineering, and genetic engineering, manipulating the DNA of an manipulating the DNA of an organism.organism.

Regions of DNA (called genes) were Regions of DNA (called genes) were found to contain information that found to contain information that would lead to synthesis of specific would lead to synthesis of specific proteins proteins


A natural gene in simple bacteria A natural gene in simple bacteria such as such as Escherichia coliEscherichia coli ( (E. coliE. coli), a ), a bacterium living in intestines that has bacterium living in intestines that has become the model organism for become the model organism for much of biotechnology, if found in much of biotechnology, if found in this bacterium, scientist can have this bacterium, scientist can have this bacterium make a lot of the this bacterium make a lot of the protein coded for by the gene, protein coded for by the gene, regardless its source.regardless its source.


Through genetic engineering Through genetic engineering scientists can combine DNA from scientists can combine DNA from different sources and this process is different sources and this process is called called recombinant DNA recombinant DNA technology technology (Chapter 3).(Chapter 3).


Recombinant DNA technology has led Recombinant DNA technology has led to hundreds of applications including to hundreds of applications including development of disease resistant development of disease resistant crops with greater yield and nutrient crops with greater yield and nutrient value or genetically engineered value or genetically engineered bacteria able to degrade bacteria able to degrade environmental pollutant (Discussed environmental pollutant (Discussed under under bioremediation).bioremediation).


Hence the mid-eighties and early-Hence the mid-eighties and early-nineties, it became possible to nineties, it became possible to transform (genetically modify) plants transform (genetically modify) plants and animals that are important for and animals that are important for food production. "Transgenic" food production. "Transgenic" animals and plants, including cows, animals and plants, including cows, sheep, tomatoes, tobacco, potato, sheep, tomatoes, tobacco, potato, and cotton have now been obtained.and cotton have now been obtained.


Recombinant DNA technology and Recombinant DNA technology and genetic engineering ledgenetic engineering led to release of to release of genetically altered organisms into the genetically altered organisms into the environment, this part of environment, this part of biotechnology is quite strictly biotechnology is quite strictly regulated at government levels regulated at government levels (Biotechnology regulation will be (Biotechnology regulation will be discussed).discussed).


CCompleted in 2003, the Human ompleted in 2003, the Human Genome Project (HGP) was a 13-year Genome Project (HGP) was a 13-year project coordinated by the U.S. project coordinated by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Department of Energy and the National Institutes of Health. During National Institutes of Health. During the early years of the HGP, the the early years of the HGP, the Wellcome Trust (U.K.) became a Wellcome Trust (U.K.) became a major partner; additional major partner; additional contributions came from Japan, contributions came from Japan, France, Germany, China, and others. France, Germany, China, and others.

HGP Project HGP Project goals were to were to identifyidentify all the approximately 20,000- all the approximately 20,000-

25,000 genes in human DNA, 25,000 genes in human DNA, determinedetermine the sequences of the 3 billion the sequences of the 3 billion

chemical base pairs that make up human chemical base pairs that make up human DNA, DNA,

storestore this information in databases, this information in databases, improveimprove tools for data analysis, tools for data analysis, transfertransfer related technologies to the private related technologies to the private

sector, and sector, and addressaddress the ethical, legal, and social issues the ethical, legal, and social issues

(ELSI) that may arise from the project (ELSI) that may arise from the project

BIOTECHNOLOGY A SCIENCE OF BIOTECHNOLOGY A SCIENCE OF MANY DISCIPLINESMANY DISCIPLINES

Biotechnology can be broadly Biotechnology can be broadly defined as the application of defined as the application of biological systems or processes to biological systems or processes to the manufacturing, agricultural, the manufacturing, agricultural, health and service industries.health and service industries.

Biotechnology encompasses a wide Biotechnology encompasses a wide range of science and business range of science and business disciplinesdisciplines

Areas of application of Areas of application of BiotechnologyBiotechnology

The following lists the main areas and The following lists the main areas and application of Biotechnology from application of Biotechnology from which all others stem:which all others stem:

Fermentation Technology Fermentation Technology This is, historically, the most important This is, historically, the most important area in biotechnology. There has been area in biotechnology. There has been extensive development in progress with new extensive development in progress with new products such as medically important drugs, products such as medically important drugs, solvents, protein enhanced foods, etc. solvents, protein enhanced foods, etc.


Enzyme EngineeringEnzyme Engineering

This area is used for the catalysis of This area is used for the catalysis of extremely specific chemical reactions extremely specific chemical reactions to create specific molecular converters to create specific molecular converters (bioreactors). Products formed include (bioreactors). Products formed include amino acids, high fructose syrup, semi-amino acids, high fructose syrup, semi-synthetic penicillins, starch and synthetic penicillins, starch and cellulose hydrolysis, etc.cellulose hydrolysis, etc.


Waste Technology Waste Technology

This has a long array of historical This has a long array of historical importance, but now emphasis is on the importance, but now emphasis is on the coupling of this field with the conservation coupling of this field with the conservation and recycling of resources. Examples would and recycling of resources. Examples would include foods, fertilizers, and biological fuels. include foods, fertilizers, and biological fuels.


Environmental TechnologyEnvironmental Technology

Problems like pollution control, Problems like pollution control, removing toxic wastes, recovery of removing toxic wastes, recovery of metals from mining wastes and low metals from mining wastes and low grade ores, are just some of the grade ores, are just some of the categories that fall under this field. categories that fall under this field.


Renewable Resources TechnologyRenewable Resources Technology

The use of renewable energy The use of renewable energy sources, in particular lignocellulose to sources, in particular lignocellulose to generate new sources of raw material generate new sources of raw material and energy - ethanol, methane, and and energy - ethanol, methane, and hydrogen. hydrogen.

Areas of application of Areas of application of Biotechnology………………Biotechnology………………

Each of these fields utilizes knowledge Each of these fields utilizes knowledge from from Biochemistry, Genetics, Biochemistry, Genetics, Chemistry, Applied Microbiology, Chemistry, Applied Microbiology, Chemical and Process Chemical and Process Engineering, and Mathematics and Engineering, and Mathematics and Computer TechnologyComputer Technology..

Products of Modern Products of Modern BiotechnologyBiotechnology

Insulin:Insulin:The first product of modern The first product of modern biotechnology made use of insulin, a biotechnology made use of insulin, a protein hormone produced in the protein hormone produced in the pancreas that the body uses to pancreas that the body uses to regulate the concentration of blood regulate the concentration of blood sugar (glucose). sugar (glucose).

To accomplish To accomplish this, the piece this, the piece of foreign DNA of foreign DNA is first inserted is first inserted into a plasmid a into a plasmid a small circle of small circle of DNA which DNA which serves as a serves as a carrier. The carrier. The new new "recombinant" "recombinant" plasmid plasmid carrying the carrying the human gene is human gene is then then reintroduced reintroduced into another into another bacterial cell, bacterial cell, as shown in the as shown in the figure above.figure above.

Types of BiotechnologyTypes of Biotechnology

Microbial, Microbial, Agricultural, Agricultural, Animal, Animal, Forensic, Forensic, Bioremediation, Bioremediation, Aquatic and Aquatic and Medical Biotechnology.Medical Biotechnology.

Types of Types of Biotechnology…………..Biotechnology…………..

Selective breedingSelective breeding

Selective breeding for new genetic Selective breeding for new genetic combinationscombinations livestock, crops, livestock, crops, yogurt, cheese bread, beer.yogurt, cheese bread, beer.


Genetic EngineeringGenetic EngineeringGenetic engineering makes it possible Genetic engineering makes it possible for organisms to get genes from for organisms to get genes from different species – makes products different species – makes products useful in agricultureuseful in agriculture


Genetically Modified FoodsGenetically Modified FoodsGenetically modified foods - produce Genetically modified foods - produce plants that yield more food, produce plants that yield more food, produce new types of food, plants prone to new types of food, plants prone to diseases and severe weather; increase diseases and severe weather; increase the disease resistance, size and the disease resistance, size and growth rate of animals, in medicine growth rate of animals, in medicine and industry.and industry.


Environmental BiotechnologyEnvironmental Biotechnology Environment (bioremediation, heavy Environment (bioremediation, heavy metal biotechnology, species metal biotechnology, species preservation).preservation).

Gene TherapyGene TherapyGene therapy – replace defective Gene therapy – replace defective genes with healthy ones (use of genes with healthy ones (use of viruses).viruses).

Further ReadingsFurther Readings

Types of Biotechnology Types of Biotechnology

Jobs in BiotechnologyJobs in Biotechnology

Browse Web Links Browse Web Links

ReferencesReferences

Introduction to Biotechnology by W.J. Introduction to Biotechnology by W.J. Thieman and M.A. Palladino. Thieman and M.A. Palladino. Pearson Pearson & Benjamin Cummings& Benjamin Cummings 2 2ndnd edition. edition.

http://en.wikipedia.orghttp://en.wikipedia.org

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Introduction to Biotechnology BTEC3301. What career opportunities are available? Graduates work in pharmaceutical companies and hospitals (e.g diagnostics)