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.