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BioT Reviewer

Uploaded by

iavruiz30
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
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What is Biotechnology?

Biotechnology is defined by the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity as “any


technological application that uses biological systems, living organisms, or derivatives thereof,
to make or modify products or processes for a specific use.”

Historical Examples:

1. Fermentation:
○ Used by early ancestors to create breads, cheeses, yogurts, and alcoholic
beverages like beer and wine.
○ Yeast decomposes sugars during fermentation, producing ethanol (alcohol) as a
byproduct.
2. Selective Breeding:
○ Purposefully mating organisms with desirable traits to produce offspring with
similar characteristics.
○ Example: Creating the transparent "Casper" zebrafish by selective breeding,
which aids in cancer migration studies.
3. Antibiotics:
○ In 1928, Alexander Fleming discovered that the mold Penicillium inhibited
Staphylococcus aureus growth, leading to the purification of penicillin.
○ Antibiotics are substances produced by microorganisms that inhibit the growth of
other microorganisms.

Modern Examples:

1. Gene cloning.
2. Genetic engineering.
3. Recombinant DNA technology.
4. Human Genome Project (HGP).

Applications:

● Disease-resistant plants.
● Higher-yield crops (e.g., Golden Rice).
● Genetically engineered bacteria for environmental clean-up.
● Production of recombinant proteins.

Types of Biotechnology

1. Microbial Biotechnology:

● Involves manipulating microorganisms like yeast and bacteria.


● Applications:
○ Creating better enzymes.
○ Efficient waste decontamination processes.
○ Producing proteins for human medicine.

2. Agricultural Biotechnology:

● Predicts a 70% increase in food production is required by 2050 to sustain the global
population.
● Applications:
○ Genetically engineered plants with higher yield and disease resistance.
○ Crops with enhanced protein and vitamin content.
○ Reduction of production costs for better food accessibility.

3. Animal Biotechnology:

● Using animals as models for research or as sources of therapeutic proteins.


● Examples:
○ Transgenic animals expressing therapeutic proteins in milk.
○ Gene knockout studies to understand gene function.

4. Forensic Biotechnology:

● Applications:
○ DNA fingerprinting.
○ Paternity testing.
○ Identifying human remains.
○ Tracking disease spread.

5. Bioremediation:

● Using microorganisms to degrade pollutants.


● Examples:
○ Oil spill cleanups (e.g., Exxon Valdez, Deepwater Horizon).

6. Aquatic Biotechnology:

● Includes aquaculture and genetic engineering in marine life.


● Applications:
○ Disease-resistant oysters.
○ Vaccines for finfish.
○ Transgenic salmon with rapid growth rates.

7. Medical Biotechnology:

● Encompasses preventive medicine, disease diagnosis, and treatment.


● Technologies:
○ Gene therapy.
○ Stem cell treatments.
○ Pharmacogenomics (customized medicine based on genetic profiles).

8. Regulatory Biotechnology:

● Focuses on quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) for ensuring product safety
and consistency.

Biological Challenges of the 21st Century

1. Human Genome Project (HGP):

● Aims to map all human genes and their functions.


● Enables the identification of genetic variations (e.g., SNPs) that cause diseases.

2. Pharmacogenomics:

● Develops personalized medicine by tailoring drug therapies based on genetic profiles.

3. Nanotechnology:

● Uses small particles to deliver drugs effectively to specific cells.

4. Gene Therapy:

● Replaces defective genes with functional copies.


● Challenges:
○ Delivering genes to all body cells.
○ Managing long-term effects of introduced genes.

5. Stem Cell Technology:

● Uses embryonic (ESCs) or adult stem cells (ASCs) to regenerate damaged tissues or
organs.
● Example: Developing treatments for diabetes and spinal cord injuries.

6. Regenerative Medicine:

● Combines gene therapy and stem cell research to treat genetic disorders by modifying
the patient's cells.

The Biotechnology Workforce

Industry Overview:

● Generates $63 billion globally, with $40 billion in biological drug sales in the U.S.
Biotech vs. Pharmaceutical Companies:

● Biotech: Uses living organisms to create products.


● Pharmaceutical: Synthesizes drugs chemically.

Career Opportunities:

1. Research & Development: Bioinformatics, lab safety.


2. Operations: Process and product development.
3. Quality Assurance & Control: Ensuring product safety.
4. Clinical Research: Regulatory affairs.
5. Finance & Administration: Business development, IT.

Key Terms to Remember

● Antibodies: Proteins that help destroy foreign substances in the body.


● Enzymes: Catalysts that accelerate chemical reactions.
● Gene Knockout: Inactivating a gene to study its function.
● Mutation: Any change in the DNA sequence.
● Transgenic Organisms: Organisms with genes from other species.

Additional Notes

● Alcohol in DNA isolation precipitates DNA from solution.


● Dolly, the first cloned mammal, demonstrated the feasibility of cloning from adult cells.

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