1. Introduction to Biotechnology
Dr. S. Rubanraj
Dept of Mathematics
St. Joseph’s College
Trichy

2. Biotechnology Biotechnology helps to meet our basic needs.
Food, clothing, shelter, health and safety

3. Biotechnology Improvements by using science
Science helps in production of plants, animals and other organisms
Also used in maintaining a good environment that promotes our well being

4. Biotechnology -Definition
One of the broadest definition of Biotechnology is the one given at the United Nations Conference on Biological Diversity in 1992 as “any technological application that uses biological systems, living organisms, or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or processes for specific use.”

5. Some of these include the use of microorganisms to make the antibiotic, penicillin or the dairy product, yoghurt; the use of microorganisms to produce amino acids or enzymes are also examples of biotechnology.

6. Biotechnology
Using scientific processes to get new organisms or new products from organisms.
Large area
Includes many approaches and methods in science and technology

7. Definitions :
Any technique that uses living organisms or substances from those organisms to make or modify a product, to improve plants or animals or to develop microorganisms for specific uses.

8. What is biotechnology?
Biotechnology = bios (life) + logos (study of or essence)
Literally ‘the study of tools from living things’
CLASSIC: The word "biotechnology" was first used in 1917 to describe processes using living organisms to make a product or run a process, such as industrial fermentations. (Robert Bud, The Uses of Life: A History of Biotechnology)
LAYMAN: Biotechnology began when humans began to plant their own crops, domesticate animals, ferment juice into wine, make cheese, and leaven bread (Acces Excellence)

9. GENENTECH: Biotechnology is the process of harnessing 'nature's own' biochemical tools to make possible new products and processes and provide solutions to society's ills (G. Kirk Raab, Former President and CEO of Genentech)
WEBSTER’S: The aspect of technology concerned with the application of living organisms to meet the needs and ends of man.
WALL STREET: Biotechnology is the application of genetic engineering and DNA technology to produce therapeutic and medical diagnostic products and processes. Biotech companies have one thing in common - the use of genetic engineering and manipulation of organisms at a molecular level.

10. What is biotechnology?
Using scientific methods with organisms to produce new products or new forms of organisms
Any technique that uses living organisms or substances from those organisms or substances from those organisms to make or modify a product, to improve plants or animals, or to develop microorganisms for specific uses

11. What is biotechnology?
Using scientific methods with organisms to produce new products or new forms of organisms
Any technique that uses living organisms or substances from those organisms or substances from those organisms to make or modify a product, to improve plants or animals, or to develop microorganisms for specific uses

12. What is biotechnology?
Biotechnology is a multidisciplinarian in nature, involving input from
Engineering
Computer Science
Cell and Molecular Biology
Microbiology
Genetics
Physiology
Biochemistry
Immunology
Virology
Recombinant DNA Technology  Genetic manipulation of bacteria, viruses, fungi, plants and animals, often for the development of specific products

13. What are the stages of biotechnology?
Ancient Biotechnology
early history as related to food and shelter, including domestication
Classical Biotechnology
built on ancient biotechnology
fermentation promoted food production
medicine
Modern Biotechnology
manipulates genetic information in organism
genetic engineering

14. Agricultural View
All of the applied science based operations in producing food, fiber, shelter, and related products
Milk production
New horticultural and ornamental plants
Wildlife, aquaculture, natural resources and environmental management

15. Multidisciplinary Involves many disciplines or branches of learning
Includes all areas of Life Sciences

16. What are the applications of biotechnology?
Production of new and improved crops/foods, industrial chemicals, pharmaceuticals and livestock
Diagnostics for detecting genetic diseases
Gene therapy (e.g. ADA, CF)
Vaccine development (recombinant vaccines)
Environmental restoration
Protection of endangered species
Conservation biology
Bioremediation
Forensic applications
Food processing (cheese, beer)

17. Cell Culture Monoclonal Antibodies Molecular Biology DNA technology
Transfer of new genes into animal organisms
Anti-cancer drugs
Culture of plants from single cells
Diagnostics
Cell
Culture
Monoclonal
Antibodies
Crime solving
Molecular
Biology
DNA technology
Tracers
Genetic Engineering
Synthesis of specific DNA probes
Cloning
Banks of DNA, RNA and proteins
Synthesis of new proteins
Gene therapy
Mass prodn. of human proteins
Localisation of genetic disorders
New types of plants and animals
New antibiotics
Complete map of the human genome
Resource bank for rare human chemicals
New types of food

18. Organismic Biotech
Working with complete, intact organisms or their cells
Organisms are not genetically changed with artificial means

19. Organismic Biotech Help the organism live better or be more productive
Goal – improve organisms and the conditions in which they grow

20. Organismic Biotech Study and use natural genetic variations
Cloning is an example of organismic biotech

21. Cloning
Process of producing a new organism from cells or tissues of existing organism.
1997 cloned sheep – “Dolly” in Edinburgh Scotland

22. Molecular Biotech Changing the genetic make-up of an organism
Altering the structure and parts of cells
Complex!
Uses genetic engineering, molecular mapping and similar processes

23. Genetic Engineering Changing the genetic information in a cell
Specific trait of one organism may be isolated,cut, and moved into the cell of another organism

24. Transgenic Results of Gen. Eng. Are said to be “transgenic”
Genetic material in an organism has been altered

25. Biotech examples Medicine Agriculture Environment Forestry
Food and beverage processing

26. Medicine
Some new developments delve into the hereditary material of humans known as gene therapy

27. Medicine
Therapeutant - product used to maintain health or prevent disease
Biopharmaceuticals – drug or vaccine developed through biotechnology
Called designer drugs

28. Medicine
Biopharming – production of pharmaceuticals in cultured organisms
Combination of the agriculture and pharmaceutical industries

29. Medicine
Certain blood – derived products needed in human medicine can be produced in the milk of goats

30. Environment
Any biotechnological process that may promote a good environment
Organisms developed during the gulf war to “eat” oil
Organism used in gold mining to “eat” contaminants

31. Environmental
Problems naturally solved by microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi break down contaminant into a form less harmful or not harmful

32. Ag and Forestry
Plant biotech
Animal biotech

33. Plant biotech Improve plants and the products produced from them
Insect and disease resistance
Engineered to have desired characteristics

34. Plant biotech
Corn plant produced with high levels of the amino acid Lysine

35. Animal Biotech Improve animals or the products they produce
Animals may be used to produce products that promote human health

36. Animal Biotech Increase productivity
Pigs engineered to produce human hemoglobin

37. Food and Beverages Use of technology in production and processing
Some biotech principles have been employed for hundreds of years (Yeast in baking bread)
Genetically altered crops
rBGH milk

38. Biotechnology Helps meet human needs -Food, clothing and shelter
Plants and animals are used in manufacturing food, clothing and materials for shelter.
Used to make products more useful or desirable
Ex: conversion of milk into cheese or yogurt

39. Efficiency Must keep the cost of improving products as low as possible
Biotech results in greater efficiency.
Inoculating legume seeds with bacteria that allow the plant to pull nitrogen out of the air and put it into the soil - Saves the producer the cost of applying N fertilizer.
Results in trees that grow faster and produce wood that is more desirable.

40. Greater Production Increases yields
bST use in cows to produce more milk
Higher crop yields from drought, disease & insect resistant crops

41. Health Promoting Foods
Food with unique traits
Some contain therapeutants
Some designed with nutrient enrichment

42. Safety
Consumers want foods to provide needed nutrients and in some cases, enhanced foods
Do not want side effects from those enhanced foods

43. Easy preparation Flavr-Savr Tomato Reached the market in early 1990’s
Engineered to have a longer shelf life
Flavr-Savr - No soft spots ; No rotten spots; Tomato resists spoilage.

44. Synthetic biology
Creating lifelike characteristics through the use of chemicals
Based on creating structures similar to those found in living organisms
Need for synthetic cells lead to the development of the vesicle
Vesicle – tiny rounded structure with cell like traits

45. Vesicle
Tiny structures similar to soap bubbles were created to serve as the cell membrane
Visible only with powerful microscope
Once the cell membrane has been successfully developed, development of the materials within the cell is initiated.

46. Synthetic biology
Is important because it brings science closer to creating life in the lab
Cells and tissues may be developed to treat human injury and disease