Bulacan State University

IENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY

STS 101

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IENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY
STS 101

Biotechnology
7
Title of the Lesson: Understanding Biotechnology and Its Applications
Time Frame: 3 hours

INTRODUCTION

According to Ratledge & Kristiansen (2006), biotechnology is one of the major technologies
of the twenty-first century. Its wide-ranging, multi-disciplinary activities include recombinant
DNA techniques, cloning, and the application of microbiology and other cell culture
technologies to the production of a wide range of goods from bread to antibiotics. It
continues to revolutionize treatments of many diseases and is used to provide clean
technologies and to deal with environmental problems.

In addition to this, basic biotechnology uniquely combines biology and bioprocessing topics
to provide a complete overview of biotechnology. It explains the fundamental principles that
underpin all biotechnology and provides a full range of examples showing how these
principles are applied; from starting substrate to the final product. A distinctive feature of this
text is the discussions of the public perception of biotechnology and the business of
biotechnology, which set the science in a broader context. This comprehensive text is
essential reading for all students and practitioners of biotechnology and researchers in
academia, research institutes, and biotechnology industries.

OBJECTIVES

At the end of the lesson, the students are expected to:

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1. Define the importance and contributions of applied research like biotechnology.

2. Identify the different applications of biotechnology.
3. Promote knowledge of the different plant and animal products of biotechnology in terms
of food supply, health, and medical diagnosis.

DISCUSSION

Public Perception of Biotechnology

According to J.E. Smith (2013) of the University of Strathclyde in the United Kingdom, public
perception of new technologies can have pronounced effects on the timing and direction of
innovation, and rates of uptake or discrimination of the technology, and its products and
services. Public perception can be area - or region-specific (e.g. North America, Southeast
Asia, etc.) and will be dependent on several variables, namely
• economic affluence,
• level of education,
• cultural and religious values and traditions,
• social and institutional ways of participation.

Before entering into an examination of how the general public is believed to perceive modern
biotechnology, especially genomics and proteomics, it is pertinent to highlight how
biotechnology evolved historically to its present-day profound and positive impact on

• industry,
• medicine,
• agriculture,
• commerce
• and the environment

The following are examples of microbial aspects of biotechnology that evolved over
many centuries as an artisan skill rather than as a science exemplified in ancient
manufacturing:
• beer
• wine

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• cheese
• yogurts
• fermented meats such as salami, etc.

In all of these product examples, the industries involved with their manufacture contribute
to national prosperity and the well-being of the population.

Developments in the domain of genomics and, more recently, proteomics, can be expected
(and indeed have already been applied in some instances) to make important scientific
advances in the field of human health, namely

• the use of genetically modified organisms for the production of

biopharmaceuticals (i.e. insulin) and vaccines;
• elucidation of the molecular basis of many diseases;
• genome sequence obtainment of more human pathogens, allowing better
treatment for diseases;
• development of more successful gene therapy techniques for genetic diseases
and cancer;
• more rapid and easily used disease diagnosis making use of molecular,
biological, and immunological techniques;
• improved nutrition by selected application of GM technology of food plants;
• the development of biosensors, such as DNA probes, for monitoring metabolites
in the body.

Biotechnology and Its Applications

The applications of biotechnology include therapeutics, diagnostics, genetically modified

crops for agriculture, processed food, bioremediation, waste treatment, and energy
production (Sharma, 2021). Three critical research areas of biotechnology are:
(i) Providing the best catalyst in the form of an improved organism usually a microbe
or pure
enzyme.
(ii) Creating optimal conditions through engineering for a catalyst to act.
(iii) Downstream processing technologies to purify the protein/organic
compound.

Biotechnological Applications in Agriculture

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Three options that can be thought of for increasing food production:

(i) agro-chemical based agriculture;
(ii) organic agriculture; and
(iii) genetically engineered crop-based agriculture.

Plants, bacteria, fungi, and animals whose genes have been altered by manipulation are
called Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO). GM plants have been useful in many ways.
Genetic modification has:
(i) made crops more tolerant to abiotic stresses (cold, drought, salt, heat).
(ii) reduced reliance on chemical pesticides (pest-resistant crops).
(iii) helped to reduce post-harvest losses.
(iv) increased efficiency of mineral usage by plants (this prevents early
exhaustion of fertility of soil).
(v) enhanced nutritional value of food, e.g., golden rice, i.e., Vitamin ‘A’ enriched
rice.

Applications of biotechnology in agriculture are the production of pest-resistant plants, which

could decrease the number of pesticides used like Bt toxin, which is produced by a
bacterium called Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt for short). Bt toxin gene has been cloned from
the bacteria and been expressed in plants to provide resistance to insects without the need
for insecticides; in effect creating a bio-pesticide like Bt Cotton, some strains of Bacillus
thuringiensis produce proteins that kill certain insects such as lepidopterans (tobacco
budworm, armyworm), coleopterans (beetles), and dipterans (flies, mosquitoes). B.
thuringiensis forms protein crystals during a particular phase of their growth.

Cotton boll:
(a)
destroyed
by
bollworms;
(b) a fully
mature
cotton boll
Source:
Vipin Kumar
Shaman,
2021

Another example
is using
Agrobacterium vectors, nematode-specific genes were introduced into the host plant

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shown below. The introduction of DNA was such that it produced both sense and anti-sense
RNA in the host cells. These two RNA’s being complementary to each other formed a double
stranded (dsRNA) that initiated RNAi and thus, silenced the specific mRNA of the nematode.
The consequence was that the parasite could not survive in a transgenic host expressing
specific interfering RNA. The transgenic plant therefore got itself protected from the parasite.

Host plant-generated dsRNA triggers protection against nematode infestation:

(a) Roots of a typical control plant; (b) transgenic plant roots 5 days after
deliberate infection of nematode but protected through a novel mechanism.
Source: Vipin Kumar Shaman, 2021

Biotechnological Applications in Medicine

The recombinant DNA technological processes have made an immense impact in the area
of healthcare by enabling the mass production of safe and more effective therapeutic drugs
(Sharma, 2021). The following are commonly known:

• Genetically Engineered Insulin - In 1983, Eli Lilly an American company

prepared two DNA sequences corresponding to A and B, chains of human insulin
and introduced them in plasmids of E. coli to produce insulin chains. Chains A
and B were produced separately, extracted and combined by creating disulfide
bonds to form human insulin.

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Maturation of pro-insulin into insulin (simplified)

Source: Vipin Kumar Shaman, 2021

• Gene Therapy - Gene therapy is a collection of methods that allows the correction
of a gene defect that has been diagnosed in a child/embryo. Here genes are
inserted into a person’s cells and tissues to treat a disease. Correction of a genetic
defect involves the delivery of a normal gene into the individual or embryo to take
over the function of and compensate for the non-functional gene.

The first clinical gene therapy was given in 1990 to a 4-year-old girl with
adenosine deaminase (ADA) deficiency. This enzyme is crucial for the immune
system to function. The disorder is caused due to the deletion of the gene for
adenosine deaminase. In some children ADA deficiency can be cured by bone
marrow transplantation; in others it can be treated by enzyme replacement
therapy, in which functional ADA is given to the patient by injection.

• Molecular Diagnosis - Effective treatment of a disease, early diagnosis, and

understanding of its pathophysiology is very important. Using conventional
methods of diagnosis (serum and urine analysis, etc.) early detection is not
possible. Recombinant DNA technology, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), and
Enzyme-Linked Immuno-sorbent Assay (ELISA) are some of the techniques that
serve the purpose of early diagnosis.

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Transgenic Animals

According to Singhal & Kansara (2010), organisms containing integrated sequences of

cloned DNA (transgenes), transferred using techniques of genetic engineering (including
those of gene transfer and gene substitution) are called transgenic animals. The
development of transgenic animals has been part of biotechnology research which has been
expanding rapidly. Transgenic animals are produced to yield better and good quality breed,
increased milk yield, as well as to produce organs to meet the demand for organ
transplantation. Genetically modified animals are proving ever more vital in the development
of new treatments and cures for many serious diseases.

Example:

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Transposon DNAs were microinjected into fertilized embryos and the blastocysts with transgene were
transferred into the recipient cow. Some transgenic cattle were born, and NGS analysis was used for their
genome variants. Source: Efficient generation of transgenic cattle using the DNA transposon and their analysis
by next-generation sequencing, (Yum, 2021).

Philippine National Policy Statement on Modern Biotechnology

Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued on July 16, 2021 the Philippine National
Policy Statement on Modern Biotechnology, which articulates the government policy on
promoting the safe and responsible use of modern biotechnology and its products as one
of the means to achieve food security, equal access to health services, sustainable and safe
environment, and industry development.

“We shall promote the safe and responsible use of modern biotechnology and its products
as one of several means to achieve and sustain food security, equitable access to health
services, sustainable and safe environment, and industry development.

“We shall ensure that all technologies that we promote, including modern biotechnology, will
provide farmers and fisherfolks the opportunity to increase their over-all productivity and
income; enhance the welfare of consumers; promote efficiency, competitiveness, and
improved quality standards of local industries – all within the paramount objective of
attaining safely and sustainable development, including its human, social and environmental
aspects.

“The Departments of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Health, Environment and

Natural Resources, Trade and Industry, and other concerned agencies are hereby directed
to address the current issues associated with the local and global dimensions and trends of
modern biotechnology, including its potential health, environmental and social impacts.
Towards this end, they shall conduct public consultations with representatives from civil
society, government and business; formulate departmental directives and regulations on the
access to and use of the products of modern biotechnology, coordinate activities and
programs on research, development and application; and allocate appropriate resources for
the upgrading of capacities and capabilities to effectively regulate the technology and its
products, including but not limited to product testing and labeling.”

Competent National Authorities and Associated Departments and Agencies

1. Department of Science and Technology (DOST) - as the premiere science and

technology body in the country, shall take the lead in ensuring that the best available
science is utilized and applied in adopting biosafety policies, measures, and guidelines,
and in making biosafety decisions.

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2. Department of Agriculture (DA) - As the principal agency of the Philippine government

responsible for the promotion of agricultural development growth, and rural development to
ensure food security and contribute to poverty alleviation.
3. Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) - as the primary
government agency responsible for the conservation, management, development, and
proper use of the country’s environment and natural resources, they shall ensure that
environmental assessments are done and impacts identified in biosafety decisions.
4. Department of Health (DOH) - as the principal authority on health, shall formulate
guidelines in assessing the health impacts posed by modern biotechnology and its
applications. The DOH shall also require, review and evaluate the results of environmental
health impact assessments related to modern biotechnology and its applications.
5. Mandate of Associated Departments and Agencies - in coordination with other
concerned departments and agencies, and consistent with the requirements of
transparency and public participation as provided, all other departments and
agencies shall exercise such jurisdiction and other powers that it has been conferred
with under existing laws.

SUMMARY

Biotechnology has made a huge impact in the agriculture like plant improvements that may
be obtained from genetic engineering, increased tolerance of herbicides, greater resistance
to insect, fungus, and virus pests, develop flowering, delay of fruit degradation and flower
senescence, color alteration in floricultural crops, and enhanced resistance to pollutants.
Meanwhile, in the part of health and medicine like diagnosis and biopharmaceuticals, it
revolutionized medical care and clinical therapies since then and examples are
bioprocessing and regenerative medical technologies. Biotechnology covers a wide range
of commercialization for almost three decades.

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REFLECTION

Despite the high benefits of Bt eggplant, critics of the technology filed a case in 2012
to stop the field trials of Bt eggplant in the Philippines, which was actually completed
prior to the filing of the case. The following year, the Philippine Court of Appeals (CA)
issued a ruling in favor of the critics. The respondents filed a petition to the Supreme
Court to review the CA decision. In 2015, the Supreme Court declared that the testing
of Bt eggplant should be stopped but reversed this decision in 2016 and granted
Motions of Reconsideration submitted by the Bt eggplant developers and co-
petitioners.

Fate of Bt protein in FSB, non-target organisms, and humans

Source: Pocket K No 48: Bt eggplant, 2019 / cafs.uplb.edu.ph

What do you think are the reasons of the critics of technology have to stop the field
trials in the Philippines?

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SUGGESTED READINGS AND WEBSITES

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4963533/

https://www.science.org/content/article/dollyrip#:~:text=Dolly.,diagnosing%20an%20incura
ble%20lung%20tumor.

https://dolly.roslin.ed.ac.uk/facts/the-life-of-dolly/index.html

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/20-years-after-dolly-the-sheep-led-the-way-
where-is-cloning-now/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4349060/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3987984/

https://www.yourgenome.org/facts/why-use-the-fly-in-
research/#:~:text=Fruit%20fly%20are%20small%20(3,to%20maintain%20in%20the%20la
boratory.

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GLOSSARY
Term Definition

Bacteria singular bacterium, any of a group of microscopic single-

celled organisms that live in enormous numbers in almost
every environment on Earth, from deep-sea vents to deep
below Earth’s surface to the digestive tracts of humans.
Bacteria lack a membrane-bound nucleus and other internal
structures and are therefore ranked among the unicellular
life-forms called prokaryotes (Kadner, 2022)

Bioprocessing is the creation of useful products through the use of a living

thing - usually cells or cell components, viruses, or an entire
organism. End products can be anything from biofuels
produced from algae, or antibiotics created from mold, such
as penicillin (Muenz, 2021).

Clone the aggregate of genetically identical cells or organisms

asexually produced by or from a single progenitor cell or
organism or an individual grown from a single somatic cell or cell
nucleus and genetically identical to it (Merriam-Webster, 2022).

DNA any of various nucleic acids that are usually the molecular
basis of heredity, are constructed of a double helix held
together by hydrogen bonds between purine and pyrimidine
bases which project inward from two chains containing
alternate links of deoxyribose and phosphate, and that
in eukaryotes are localized chiefly in cell nuclei (Merriam-
Webster, 2022).

Fungus any of a kingdom (Fungi) of saprophytic and parasitic spore-

producing eukaryotic typically filamentous organisms
formerly classified as plants that lack chlorophyll and include
molds, rusts, mildews, smuts, mushrooms, and yeasts
(Merriam-Webster, 2022).

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Genome one haploid set of chromosomes with the genes they contain
(Merriam-Webster, 2022).

Proteomic a branch of biotechnology concerned with applying the

techniques of molecular biology, biochemistry, and genetics
to analyzing the structure, function, and interactions of the
proteins produced by the genes of a particular cell, tissue, or
organism, with organizing the information in databases, and
with applications of the data (Merriam-Webster, 2022).

RNA any of various nucleic acids that contain ribose and uracil as
structural components and are associated with the control of
cellular chemical activities (Merriam-Webster, 2022).

Transgene gene that is taken from the genome of one organism and
introduced into the genome of another organism by artificial
techniques (Merriam-Webster, 2022).

Kadner, R.J. (2022). Encyclopedia Britannica

https://www.britannica.com/science/bacteria

Muenz, R. (2021). Lab Manager: Run Your Lab like a Business

https://www.labmanager.com/big-picture/bioprocessing-overview-and-trends/a-
brief-overview

Ratledge, C., & Kristiansen, B. (2006). Basic Biotechnology, Third Edition. Cambridge
University Press.
Shaman, V.K. (2021). Impacts of Bt Transgenic Cotton on Integrated Pest
Management
Sharma, V. K. (2021). BioPedia Notes for Medical Entrance. Altis Vortex Publishers.
Singhal M., Kansara, N. (2010). Transgenic animal: production and application
Yum, S.-Y. (2021). Efficient generation of transgenic cattle using the DNA transposon and
their analysis by next-generation sequencing. Nature.
https://ncbp.dost.gov.ph/19-guidelines/28-philippine-national-policy-statement-on-
modern-biotechnology

https://cafs.uplb.edu.ph/bt_pub/pocket-k-no-48-bt-eggplant/

Online Dictionary

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Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, https://www.merriam-

webster.com/dictionary/transgene. Accessed 15 Aug. 2022

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