Developed by Mary Gutiérrez Phillips

Tulsa Community College

NSF/ATE Award #0602744

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. What is biotechnology?

Bio = lifetechno = tools

ology = the study of

Definition:

Biotechnology is the use of living organisms, their products or parts (such as protein, DNA or RNA) to make useful products.

• Examples: vaccines, genetically modified foods and animals, pharmaceuticals (drugs) such as insulin and growth hormone.

2. Is Biotechnology a new science?

Yes and No…

NO. Humans have been breeding crops and domesticating animals for thousands of years! (10,000 C.E. – 4,000 C.E.)

People have been baking bread, making cheese, yogurt and brewing alcoholic beverages.

(2000 C.E.)

Yes. Since the discovery of DNA, biotechnology has involved the use and manipulation of DNA, RNA and proteins for the development of genetically modified foods, animals, vaccines and other drugs.

The microscope is discovered. Leeuwenhoek describes protozoa and bacteria.

1797 Edward Jenner inoculates child with smallpox vaccine.

Cell Theory

1838-1839 Matthias Schleiden and Theodor Schawnn state: Plants and animals are made up of cells.

1855 Rudolph Virchow states: cells come from cells.

1863 Gregor Mendel discovers principles of how traits are passed from parents to offspring.

1859 Charles Darwin writes “The Origin of Species” and proposes the Theory of Evolution.

1861 Louis Pasteur proposes the “Germ Theory,” pasteurization and discovers the rabies vaccine (1885).

1917 – the first time the word “biotechnology” is used.

1928 - Alexander Fleming discovers the antibiotic penicillin – a mold.

1944 - Avery, MacLeod and McCarty discover DNA is the genetic material.

1915 –Thomas Hunt Morgan studied fruit flies and proposed that chromosomes carry genes.

James Watson and Francis Crick describe the structure of DNA. In 1962, they win the Nobel Prize.

Adult Stem Cell Research

April 19, 1971

Stanley Cohen and Herbert BoyerCut and paste bacteria and human genes

DNA - Recombinant DNA Science

http://inventors.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://web.mit.edu/invent/iow/boyercohen.html

U.S. Department of Energy Human Genome Program, http://www.ornl.gov/hgmis.

Word “nanotechnology” is coined by Norio Tanihuchi of Japan

Nano - means “dwarf”

the prefix nano means a billionth or 10-9

Tech- tools

ology- study of

Viruses are biological “nanobots.” They range in size between 20 – 200 nanometers.

http://www.swbic.org/

Definition:

Nanotechology manipulates atoms and molecules whose size range from 1-100 nanometers.

Special microscopes can see very small objects, molecules and atoms.

http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,19770418,00.html

http://www.allrefer.com/pictures/s4/p0013051-genetic-engineering

1981 Transgenic mice. Mice carry human genes that help scientists test how genes work.

Genentech launches commercialization of genetically engineered products.

FDA patent approved to use genetically engineered insulin.

http://www.fotosearch.com/IMG015/42-16341203/

FDA approves the first genetically engineered vaccine -hepatitis B

Project launched to map all of the human chromosomes

Genetic Science Learning Center, University of Utah, permission for educational use http://gslc.genetics.utah.edu.

Bioinformatics: The use of computers, mathematical analysis and technology to study biological information.

Proteomics: The study of how proteins function in the body.

New Fields of Study Emerge

FDA approves first genetically modified food substance- a recombinant enzyme called chymosin made from genetically modified yeast. Chymosin is used for making cheese.

Rennet (natural) comes from suckling calves stomachs.

November 8, 1993

.

FDA approved first genetically modified food. The tomato was resistant to rotting and could ripen on the vine longer.

SOURCES: NCFAP (www.ncfap.rg/whatwedo/pdf/2004finalreport.pdf) USDA NASS (www.nass.usda.gov)

GE CornAcreage 2005 USDA NASS

52% of total crop

GE SoybeanAcreage 2005 USDA NASS

87% of total crop

GE CottonAcreage 2005 USDA NASS

76% of total crop

GE CanolaAcreage 2002 USDA ERS

75% of total crop

GE Squash(yellow straight and crookneck; zucchini) 2003 NCFAP

19% of total crop

GE PapayaAcreage 2003 NCFAP

46% of total crop

http://www.ers.usda.gov/AmberWaves/September05/Findings/GECropsRising.htm

Hello DollyThe first animal cloned from an adult cell.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/1741559.stm

March 10, 1997

1998 - James Thompson

Human Embryonic Stem Cells

http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/media

August 7, 2006

August 20, 2001

August 30, 2004

First cloned cat – CC for “carbon copy”

Human Genome sequence completed. All the human genes are mapped.

GloFish -first genetically modified pet. Just for fun!

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/12/03/eveningnews/main586693.shtml

The zebra fish have a gene from jellyfish or coral that make them glow red, green or yellow.

FDA approves first vaccine against cancer.

The vaccine blocks several types of the HPV (human papillomavirus)

The virus causes genital warts

and causes over 70% of

cervical cancer.

Permission granted: http://rhino.bocklabs.wisc.edu/cgi-in/virusworld/virustable.pl?virusdata=hpv%2C+Human+papilloma+virus%2C+1L0T

3. Why is Biotechnology important?Biotech is important for many reasons:

U.S. 300,233,107

World 6,557,779,128

http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/world.html

1. Health care

2. Food and agricultural needs

3. Clean and safe water resources

4. Alternative fuels

Biotech is important for many reasons:

5. Forensics

6. Bioremediation (use of bacteria to clean the environment)

Careers and Education in Biotechnology

START EARLY

Education – sciences (biology, chemistry, microbiology, genetics biotechnology) , mathematics, business, computers.

Talk to teachers, counselors, people in the field, take special workshops, find out about shadowing or internships. Visit your community college!

Genetic testing, diseases organ transplants, vaccines, public health, epidemiologist, pharmaceutical development, fertility specialist,

Agriculture and wildlife- crop development, pesticide reduction, food safety, wildlife management, species protection, environment protection, clean water, waste management

Forensics and law, research how DNA and proteins function

Biotechnology and Fears

Improve Life or Destroy life?

November 13, 2006October 25, 2004

1. Biotechnology Learning Center Interactive Biotechnology Timelinehttp://www.childrensmuseum.org/biotech/timeline.htm

2. Access Excellence -Biotechnology 1977 to presenthttp://www.accessexcellence.org/RC/AB/BC/1977-Present.html

3. Interactive and animated timeline http://www.bio.org/speeches/pubs/er/timeline2.swf

4. Biotechnology Industry Organization Timeline

http://www.bio.org/speeches/pubs/er/timeline.asp

5. Biotechnology Timeline

http://www.abpischools.org.uk/resources/poster-series/biotech/timeline.asp

6. Biotechnology Institute Timeline

http://www.biotechinstitute.org/what_is/timeline.html7. Biotechnology Australia Biotechnology Timeline

http://www.biotechnologyonline.gov.au/foodag/timeline.cfmFood8. Monsanto Company – A Brief Biotech Timelinehttp://www.biotechknowledge.monsanto.com/biotech/bbasics.nsf/timeline.html?OpenPage9. North Carolina Biotechnology Center Timelinehttp://www.ncbiotech.org/resource_center/timeline.html10. Time Magazine Covers – Free archive http://www.time.com/time/coversearch/

References

11. Permission to use images for educational purposes:Virus image Cornelia Büchen-OsmondICTVdB Management, Columbia UniversityEmail: cb2009@columbia.edu

12. All Refer.com Reference -Genetic engineering of insulin graphic permission for educational purposes http://www.allrefer.com/disclaimer.html#1

13. Genetic Science Learning Center, University of Utah, permission for educational use http://gslc.genetics.utah.edu. (colorful chromosomes)

14. National Institute of Health – Stem Cell Information (Promise of Stem Cell diagram) http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics/defaultpage.asp

15. US Bureau Census – World Population Information - graphhttp://www.census.gov/ipc/www/world.html

16. Geek Philosopher royalty free photos (sheep, potato)http://geekphilosopher.com/MainPage/bkgVeg.htm

17. U.S. Department of Energy Human Genome Program http://www.ornl.gov/hgmis18. ArgenBio Spanish vocabulary and Timeline http://www.argenbio.org/h/lineat/index.php19. Man Receiving Injection 42-16341203 image100 Royalty Free Photograph

http://www.fotosearch.com/IMG015/42-16341203

20. NIH – stem cells Free image downlodas from NIH – stem cells http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/media/defaultpage.asp

21. Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page