Biotechnology & Bioinformatics Self & World: Impact of Technological Advances in Biotechnology Dr. Karen Guzman

Molecular Biology vs. Biotechnology Advances such as Restriction Enzymes, Cloning, Southern Analysis, etc. Sequence information has been key to advances… Recall: structure determines function Focus on Gene Expression… Genotype to Phenotype

Fundamental Technologies and Approaches of Biotechnology? Frequently two basic questions Technologies Approaches

Frequently two basic questions Is it there? How much?

Technologies RE / Gel electrophoresis Cloning / Genetic modification Southern, Northern, Western DNA Sequencing PCR Technologies

Approaches Loss or gain of function Transfer cloned genes: Mutagenesis transgenic genetically modified (GMO’s) Mutagenesis Truncation site-directed domain-switching CRISPR Turning off genes vs. Inactivation Approaches

What is bioinformatics? Technologies & Approaches Biotechnology bioinformatics

What is bioinformatics? Global vs Reductionist Approach Advances in Biotechnology & Informatics Resulted from: High-throughput Sophisticated data analysis &/or info storage (databases) Characterized by: Genomics Proteomics Metabolomics, etc. Omics… e.g. Northern vs. microarray Many vs. Individually What is bioinformatics?

Technologies & Approaches Microarrays Mass spectroscopy Genome wide association studies Data mining Protein structure & prediction Technologies & Approaches

Biotechnology & Bioinformatics Why are these approaches so popular and infiltrating other fields? If we understand the coded information and how it works in a system, can we answer all the fundamental questions of biology?