BiotechnologyBiotechnology
IntroductionIntroduction
Biotechnology is a tool of agriscience Promises unprecedented advancements Has real dangers Definition of Biotechnology
Historic ApplicationsHistoric Applications
Living organisms have been used for centuries to alter and improve the quality and types of food for humans and animals
Yeast to make bread rise Bacteria to ferment sauerkraut Bacteria to produce cheese and other dairy
products Microorganisms to make alcoholic beverages Bacteria in silage production
Improving Plant and Animal Performance
Improving Plant and Animal Performance
Improvement by Selection
Improvement by Genetics
Improvement by Biotechnology
Improvement by SelectionImprovement by Selection
Soon followed domestication of the dog, horse, sheep, goat, ox and other animals thousands of years ago
Purchasing, selling, bartering and trading got people animals with desirable traits
Mating plants and animals with desirable traits resulted in selective breeding
Historical evidence in the development of the horse
Improvement by GeneticsImprovement by Genetics
Gregor Johann Mendel Austrian Monk who is credited with discovering
the affect of genetics on plant characteristics Experimented with garden peas Published findings in 1866 People didn’t pay much attention
Improvement by GeneticsImprovement by Genetics
Mendel’s work would have been lost if not recorded
1900 other scientist reviewed, built upon his observations, and conclusions
Today Gregor Johann Mendel is credited for discovering the principles of heredity
Improvement by BiotechnologyImprovement by Biotechnology
Improvement by manipulating the genetic content of cells
Permits more choices for the researcher, more rapid observation of results
New capability with amazing implications
DNA - Genetic Code of LifeDNA - Genetic Code of Life
Over 300,000 kinds of plants
Over 1 million kinds of animals
All are different in some ways
All plants and animals are alike in some ways
All contain DNA
DNA - Genetic Code of LifeDNA - Genetic Code of Life
Cloning is common scientific knowledge Early 1980’s Genetic Engineering developed Discovery credited to James Watson and
Francis Crick. Rosalind Franklin actually deserves most of the
credit. function composition transmitter of hereditary information
DNA - Genetic Code of LifeDNA - Genetic Code of Life
DNA occurs in pairs of strands intertwined Connected by chemicals called bases Likened to the two sides of a wire ladder Bases likened to the rungs and include:
Adenine (A) Guanine (G) Cytosine (C) Thymine (T)
DNA - Genetic Code of LifeDNA - Genetic Code of Life
Examples of traits: hair color tendency for baldness height of plants at maturity tendency of females to have twins
Gene Splicing Gene Mapping
Solving Problems with Microbes
Solving Problems with Microbes
Microscopic plants and animals lend themselves to genetic engineering
Produce quickly and can be genetically engineered to produce products needed by other plants, animals, and humans
One of first commercial products was insulin Used by people with diabetes to control their
blood sugar levels
Improving Plants and AnimalsImproving Plants and Animals
1988- first use of ice-minus 1988 use of genetically altered bacteria for
Dutch Elm Disease BST and PST Roundup and Liberty Ready corn and
soybeans BT Corn
Improving Plants and AnimalsImproving Plants and Animals
Genetic engineering and other forms of biotechnology hold great promise in controlling: Diseases Insects Weeds Other pests
Environment will be enhanced
Waste ManagementWaste Management
Environmental Pollution is a major problem
Landfills are becoming full Old dump sites are
creating problems Waste is piling up Sewage and chemical
disposal is a constant problem
Waste ManagementWaste Management
Genetically altered bacteria are used to feed on oil slicks and spills
Bacteria are being developed to decompose or deactivate dioxin, PCBs, insecticides, herbicides, and other chemicals
Bacteria are under development to convert solid wastes into sugars and fuel
Safety in BiotechnologySafety in Biotechnology
Federal and state governments monitor biotechnology closely
Fear of genetically modified organisms
Policies, procedures and laws have been developed
Gaining in public confidence