What is Biotechnology? The manipulation of living organisms to produce goods and services. The history of biotechnology can be divided into two eras: traditional and modern biotechnology.

What is Traditional Biotechnology? Traditional biotechnology refers to early forms of using living organisms to produce new commodities or modify existing ones. The developments and modifications were achieved at the organism, not cellular, level.

Traditional Biotechnology It includes such techniques as  1) selective breeding,  2) fermentation, and  3) hybridization.

Selective breeding Selective breeding is the process of breeding plants and animals for particular genetic traits.  Also known as Artificial Selection or traditional breeding

Pigeons  As a hobby, many people keep and breed fancy pigeons.

Dogs  All breeds descended from wolves  Selected for color, hair length, size, behavior, & oddities

BENEFITS AND CONCERNSBENEFITS Benefits of Selective Breeding:  Some benefits to selective breeding is that breeders get to choose which animals fit their criteria, so more of the right kind of animal can be produced, which makes more product.  An example of this is dairy cows; a farmer wants cows that produce a lot of milk, not cows that don’t produce a lot of milk.  The farmers now have the ability to choose what cows they want to increase milk production. CONCERNS – overuse of selective breeding can result in genetic disorders, such as inbred depression.

Concerns of Selective Breeding CONCERNS – overuse of selective breeding can result in genetic disorders, such as inbred depression.

Fermentation Using microorganism to produce a product: Can you list some products that are produced by Microbes?

Crossbreeding Crossbreeding occurs when two distinctly different breeds of animals are mated to each other.

Crossbreeding Crossbreeding is the process of producing offspring from parents who originate from different species, varieties, or regional populations. Used to create new varieties with beneficial characteristics from both parents.

Crossbreeding problems Irresponsible crossbreeding can result in weak offspring.