biotechnology

What is Biotechnology? The application of technology to natural biological processes. –Transgenic –Reproductive –Forensic –Personalized medicine

Biotechnology tools Restriction enzymes –Discovered in 1970’s –Naturally occurring enzymes found in bacteria that cut up DNA from invading viruses. –Cut at very specific locations on the DNA. –Produce ‘sticky ends’ on DNA, these can stick to complimentary DNA sequences. –1,000 different restriction enzymes are available.

Plasmids –Rings of DNA material found in bacteria. –These plasmids can be picked up by bacteria by a process called transformation.

Transgenic Biotechnology The splicing of DNA from one species to another. –Human growth hormone A hormone that is secreted by the human pituitary gland and is responsible for promoting growth in children. Previously collected from dead human bodies. Too little, expensive, unsafe. Produced in E. coli bacteria, clinically indistinguishable from that produced in the pituitary gland

DrugAnimalValue/animal/year1 AATsheep$15,000 tPAgoat75,000 Factor VIIIsheep37,000 Factor IXsheep20,000 Hemoglobinpig3,000 Lactoferrincow20,000 CFTRsheep, mouse75,000 Human Protein Cpig1,000,000 1 Current market price of the drug and supply produced by one animal. Drug descriptions AATalpha-1-antitrypsin, inherited deficiency leads to emphysema tPAtissue plasminogen activator, treatment for blood clots Factors VIII, IXblood clotting factors, treatment for hemophilia Hemoglobinblood substitute for human transfusion Lactoferrininfant formula additive CFTRcystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator, treatment of CF Human Protein Canticoagulant, treatment for blood clots Value of product produced by transgenic animal. Description of the drug that the transgenic animal produces.

Golden rice has the ability to form its own beta carotene, which the human body converts into Vitamin A.

Reproductive Cloning Cloning – to make an exact copy of a single gene or an entire organism. –Dolly the sheep was the first mammal to be cloned from an adult mammal, –Horses, mules, cows, pigs, cats, mice have all been cloned. –We do not have the ability to clone primates.

Forensic biotechnology The use of biotechnology to establish identity. –Uses PCR or Polymerase Chain Reaction to create copies of even the tiniest amount of DNA. Criminal data base 130 prisoners have been freed in the past 15 years based on DNA information that proved their innocence.

Personalized medicine Adverse drug reactions caused 100,000 deaths last year and are a leading cause of hospitalization. Human beings differ from one another in their genetic makeup and these variations can cause different reactions to medications

Controversies in Biotechnology Genetically modified food –Proponents see opportunity to feed starving people –Opponents see potential harm to human health and the Earth’s ecosystem Bacillus thuringiensis and genetically modified cotton plants Farmers required to plant 20% of crop as non- Bt plants

Human cloning –Is it ethical to clone a human being with the intention of having it develop from an embryo to an adult? Genetic profiles –Who has the right to see these? Your insurance company might like to know if you are susceptible to disease. –What about your employer, would he hire you if he knows what is in your profile?