Department of Zoology, R.U. BIOTECHNOLOGY Speaker: Ananda Kumar Saha Department of Zoology, R.U.

BIOTECHNOLOGY Biotechnology: The development and utilization of biological processes for obtaining maximum benefits to man and other forms of life.   Biotechnology: The use of living organisms for the manufacture of useful products: It may involve algae, bacteria, fungi, yeast cells of higher animal and plants.

GENETIC ENGINEERING Genetic Engineering: The formation of new combinations of heritable material by the insertion of nucleic acid molecules into any virus, bacterial plasmids or other vector system so as to allow their incorporation into a host organism in which they do not naturally occur but in which they are capable of continued propagation (Smith, 1996). Genetic Engineering is the production of new genes and alteration of genomes by substituting or adding new genetic material.

HISTORY OF BIOTECHNOLOGY Traditional Biotechnology (Old) New Biotechnology (Modern) Traditional Biotechnology: The Traditional biotechnology refers to the conventional technology which have been used for many centuries. Beer, Wine, Cheese and many foods have been produced using traditional biotechnology.

HISTORY OF BIOTECHNOLOGY (contd.) The Traditional biotechnology is an art rather than a science. Modern Biotechnology: Capability of science to change the genetic material for genetic new products for specific requirement through recombinant DNA technology.

Application of Biotechnology

SCOPE OF BIOTECHNOLOGY 1. Health care: (a) In 1982, human insulin (humulin) has been produced by microorganisms in fermenters. (b) Hepatitis B vaccines (Recombivax HB), genetically engineered vaccines produced biotechnologically.

SCOPE OF BIOTECHNOLOGY (contd.) 2. Gene Therapy: This is in a way, genetic engineering of humans, which would allow a person suffering from a disabling genetic disorder to lead a normal life. 3. Immunotechnologies: Monoclonal antibodies (MABs) for diagnosis and therapy. Antibodies, special sets of proteins present in humans that enable them to fight incursion of their bodies by harmful chemicals or microorganisms.

Gene therapy

Gene Therapy

Gene Therapy

SCOPE OF BIOTECHNOLOGY (contd.) 4. Tissue culture: Tissue culture of both plant and animal cells. These are used for Micropropagation of elite or exotic materials (such as orchids), production of useful compounds such as taxol (the widely used anti-cancer drug) and vanillin, and preparation in the laboratory of “natural” tissues such as arteries for arterial graft or skin for burn victims.

SCOPE OF BIOTECHNOLOGY (contd.) 5. Stem cell techniques: Which would involve purification and isolation of stem cells from various tissues and develop into the desired tissue which could then be used, for example, for transplantation. 6. New DNA technologies: These include DNA fingerprinting, sequencing of genomes, development and use of new molecular markers for plant identification and characterization.

Stem Cell

Stem Cell Therapy

SCOPE OF BIOTECHNOLOGY (contd.) 7. Organotransplantation: Xenotransplantation that is transplantation into humans of organs from other animals. It appears that pig may be the most suitable for this biochemically, anatomically and immunologically.   8. Bioremediation: Bioremediation is the use of microorganisms to detoxify pollutants, present in the environment usually as soil or water sediments.

Bioremediation

SCOPE OF BIOTECHNOLOGY (contd.) 9. Human Genome Project (HGP): Human genome has been sequenced and chromosome map has been developed in various laboratories world-wide through coordinated efforts.   10. Bioinformatics: Application of information sciences to increase the understanding of biology, biochemistry and biological data.

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