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

Drug Animal Value/animal/year1

AAT sheep $15,000

tPA goat 75,000

Factor VIII sheep 37,000

Factor IX sheep 20,000

Hemoglobin pig 3,000

Lactoferrin cow 20,000

CFTR sheep, mouse 75,000

Human Protein C pig 1,000,000

1Current market price of the drug and supply produced by one animal.

Drug descriptions

AAT alpha-1-antitrypsin, inherited deficiency leads to emphysema

tPA tissue plasminogen activator, treatment for blood clots

Factors VIII, IX blood clotting factors, treatment for hemophilia

Hemoglobin blood substitute for human transfusion

Lactoferrin infant formula additive

CFTR cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator, treatment of CF

Human Protein C anticoagulant, 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?