1. Biology Chapter 7
Biotechnology

2. Biotechnology
Biotechnology is the use of technology to enhance living organisms and processes.
We will be studying three areas in which biotechnology has made an impact:
Cloning
Genetic engineering and
Stem cell technology
When looking at these technologies, we need to keep in mind these things:
How does the Creation Mandate apply to these technologies?
How should Christians respond to the research and application of these technologies?

3. Clones and Cloning
A clone is an exact genetic duplicate of a cell or organism.
If an organism reproduces only by mitosis, the result is a clone. Clones have identical genomes. The genome of an organism is the hereditary information encoded in its DNA.
In addition to reproduction by mitosis, any asexual reproduction produces natural clones-clones that occur without man’s intervention. Plants reproduce this way.

4. Artificial Clones
Man economically important plants do not naturally reproduce asexually, but can be either helped or forced to do so.
For example, the “eyes” of desirable varieties of Irish (or white) potato are used to produce clones of that kind of potato. Eventually there can be fields full of genetic duplicates of this potato. Since man cloned this organism and helps the clone to continue, it is said to be an artificial clone.

5. Human Cloning
Human clones exist now. Identical twins are an example of clones. The hereditary material in both persons is almost identical because they come from one fertilized egg which divided into two cells that separated and developed into two individual embryos.
The next step is successful artificial cloning of humans. The question Christians need to consider is, “Should this be something humans should be doing?” What has been produced so far through cloning?
Virtually every organism produced via cloning thus far has been sterile. None have been able to reproduce. It is clear from this, that, whatever God feels about clones, He does not want them to continue on after their own kind.

6. In Addition
Not only is it impossible for clones to produce more clones, but because clones don’t have the attribute of reproduction, they are missing one of the attributes of life. Without one of the attributes of life, can we categorize a clone as an actually living thing, just as we say that a virus isn’t a living organism, because they can’t reproduce either?
The evidence points away from cloning being according to God’s will.

7. Genetic Engineering
What is genetic engineering? This is when man artificially manipulates the genetic make-up of an organism by means other than natural reproduction.
One of the most common methods of genetic engineering is called recombinant DNA, where a section of one DNA is joined with a section of a different DNA. The result is what is called recombinant DNA.
Enzymes are used to “cut” the DNA at the desired end. Two ends of the DNA will compliment each other and combine, “sticking” to one another, creating a new, genetically different DNA.

8. Cont.
To combine the DNA, scientists will have two chromosomes inserted into one another using a vector called a plasmid, which is a small piece of circular bacterial DNA, which is similar to a chromosome.
Recombinant DNA engineering is used to manufacture insulin. Insulin is normally produced in the pancreas, but people with diabetes either do not produce this or cannot make enough of it and need insulin injections.
Before recombinant DNA engineering, most insulin needed to be obtained from either pig or cow pancreases. This kind of insulin is fine for most people, but some people are allergic to it.

9. Stem Cell Technology
A stem cell is a primitive cell that has not developed into a specific type of cell yet. A stem cell has yet to become either a heart cell, or a bone, or muscle, or skin cell. Because it is a kind of “blank slate”, it could become anything.
The possibilities are seemingly amazing to many scientists. If a cell could become “anything”, that means, if someone has diabetes, where their pancreas has stopped functioning, stem cells could be applied to the pancreas, where these immature cells could grow, develop into actual pancreas cells that function, and the person’s diabetes could be cured because the pancreas would now function!

10. Two Kinds of Stem Cells
One kind of stem cell comes from the zygote, which is an embryo. It has yet to specialize into a specific cell. This kind of stem cell is called “totipotent”.
The other kind, “pluripotent”

11. Totipotent and Pluripotent Stem Cells
These are stem cells that have not differentiated yet and could become any kind of cell.
Pluripotent stem cells have lost some of their ability to specialize because they are somewhat specialized, but not entirely.

12. Sources of Stem Cells
Stem cell come from one of two sources: Embryos, and adults.
Embryonic stem cells are sometimes sought after because they are made of cells that are reproducing at a fast pace. These cells can be used to replace lost cells and will readily “become” whatever cell they need to become.
The problem with this is that it is the belief of Christians that humans are humans at the moment of conception. Because an embryo is a combination of both the mother’s egg and the father’s sperm, this is the beginning of an actual human being, and thus a created human who only needs a chance to grow to become a walking talking human who knows, loves, and lives for Jesus Christ. Using this embryo as a cure for a disease kills the small human, and interrupts God’s plan for these humans.

13. Cont.
Adult stem cells are cells that come from the human for which they will be used. For example, if a person needs stem cells as treatment for themselves, stem cells would be taken from their bodies, and used on them. This would be an example of “adult stem cell” usage. Christians are not against this at all because the stem cells that are used are not embryos, but rather stem cells that came from a part of the body of the receiver of the stem cells. Using stem cells from one’s own body is also safer.

14. Practical Uses of Biotechnology (Gene Therapy)
It may be discovered that a certain disease is due to a defective gene. Cancer is highly heritable, so if this trait can be changed, perhaps the chanced of getting cancer in the future may be able to reduce through gene therapy.
Some problems with gene therapy include short lived benefits from treatment, problems with the viral vectors, immunity issues in the recipient, and difficulty in treating diseases caused by multiple gene interactions.
In order to be successful, gene therapy needs to overcome these obstacles and treat the disease.

15. DNA Fingerprints
Even identical twins have different fingerprints. So far, two people have been found to have identical fingerprints.
A DNA fingerprint is a distinctive pattern of bands composed of fragments of an individual’s DNA.
There are more than three billion nucleotides in the DAN sequence of a human. Researchers have found that about 99% of the sequence is the same among individuals, leaving only a 0.1% difference. Although 0.1% seems like a very small amount of variation, it represents about three million nucleotides that are unique to that person.

16. Genetically Modified Plants
Some of the characteristics that researchers are working to achieve by genetic engineering include increased flavor and nutrient content, herbicide and pest resistance, and easier transportation. Plants that have undergone genetic engineering are called genetically modified (GM) plants.

17. Cont.
Since SM and non-GM crops are often not separated during processing, it is possible that food containing ingredients from any approved crops might contain some GM components.

18. The Future of GM Plants and Foods
Because the production and use of GM plants is relatively new, there are no long-term studies that document their safety and their impact on the environment. In the US, several government agencies are responsible for ensuring the safely of GM plants. They include the EPA, the Dept of Agriculture, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Much concern about these products is their potential impact on human health and the environment. Some people fear that the new proteins produced in GM plants might be toxic to humans or that the traits that produced herbicide-resistant plants could be transferred to wild varieties , producing “super weeds.”

19. Cont.
Another concern is the ownership of GM plan technology. Companies that spend millions of dollars on the development of new GM crops will certainly want financial success. If there is no demand for the product, there will be little incentive to plant the crop, even though it requires less of the chemical pesticides and herbicides or even though it has potential health benefits. On the other hand, a demand for the product might price the seeds beyond what farmers could afford to pay.

20. The End!