Biotechnology

What is Biotechnology? The industrial use of living organisms, or parts of living organisms, to produce foods, drugs or other products It is used to aid science in: Sample collection and treatment Measurement Data collection and storage Computation Communication of information

Traditional vs. New Traditional biotechnology uses living organisms to solve problems and make useful products. Domesticating crop plants and farm animals through selective breeding Using yeast to make bread rise and produce wine New biotechnology uses living cells and their molecules to solve problems and make useful products. Stem cells are used to help paralyzed patients recover or to cure various diseases.

I still don’t understand… Biotechnology is not one type of technology, but several. There are millions of different types of plants, animals, and microorganisms in the world. Each have cells and molecules with unique characteristics that can be used in different ways. There are three different kinds of biotech tools: Working with cells Working with proteins Working with genes

What are some uses? The health care industry is developing better ways to diagnose, treat and prevent diseases. The food and agriculture industries are rapidly adopting the tools of biotechnology to enhance food production. Biotechnology is even making an impact on the energy and environmental areas, where living cells and their molecules can help us develop new methods to: clean up our environment detect environmental contamination (pollution) reduce our dependence on petroleum (oil, fossil fuel)

Is it ethical? Through the discoveries and advancements being made in biotechnology, we have new careers in medicine, agriculture, genetics and food science. It has benefited humans in many ways, but is it ethical? Ethics are the moral principles of a person, what a person believes is right and wrong. The threat of microbial hazards will be reduced as we increase our knowledge and make advancements in this area of science.

So what does this have to do with me? Biotech affects us in every area of our lives: Food Water Medicine Shelter Modern biotechnology: Can make medicine in large quantities Make human insulin to treat diabetes Fight crime through DNA testing and forensics Remove pollution from soil and water (bioremediation) Improve the quality of agricultural crops and livestock products

Controversial areas in Biotech Cloning Genetic modification (genetic engineering) uses biotechnology to change the genetic makeup of an organism. What do you think? Should we clone animals for our own benefit or pleasure? Should we modify crops to make them resistant to diseases or stronger in varying weather conditions?