BIOTECHNOLOGY AND GENETIC ENGINEERING_1.pptx

Biotechnology and its uses

1. BIOTECHNOLOGY AND GENETIC ENGINEERING Ronica Mae Copias

2. Biotechnology is defined as “any technological application that uses biological systems, living organisms, or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or processes for specific use” (CBD, 1992). as the word suggests, is combination of biology and technology. refers to the technical applications of biological systems for the production of natural substances (antibiotics, biogas, enzymes, etc.) and involves manipulation of living organisms for the benefit of man (Soetan, 2008 ascited in Tonukari, Avwioroko, & Ehwerhemueoha, 2010).

3. is a multidisciplinary field encompassing microbiology, chemistry,biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, immunology, cell and tissue culture andphysiology, as well as engineering (Tonukari, 2004 as cited inTonukari, Avwioroko, &Ehwerhemueoha, 2010). broadly defined, includes any technique that uses living organisms (or parts of organism) to make or modify products, to improve plants or animals, or to develop microorganisms for specific uses. Biotechnology is the commercial and large scale exploitation of living organisms or their components, e.g., enzymes for the welfare of mankind through molecular genetics. (Kumar and Gupta, 2012).

4. Biotechnology Timeline (Kumar and Gupta (2012): YEAR Historical events in biotechnology 1750 BC Summerians brew beer 500 The Chinese use moldy curds as an antibiotic to treat boils 100 Powdered Chrysanthemum is used in China as an insecticide 1797 Jenner inoculates a child with a viral vaccine to protect him from smallpox 1855 The Escherichia coli bacterium is discovered as production tool for biotechnology 1859 F. Miescher discovers Nuclein (now known as DNA) from pus cells 1941 The term “genetic engineering” is first used by a Danish microbiologist

5. 1977 Genetically engineered bacteria are used to synthesize human growth protein 1981 The first “gene - synthesizing” machines are developed. The first genetically engineered plant was reported. 1982 Humulin, Genentech’s human insulin drug produced by genetically engineered bacteria for the treatment of diabetes, is the first biotech drug to approved by the Food and Drug Administration

6. 1984 The DNA fingerprinting technique was developed. The first genetically vaccine was developed. Chiron clones and sequences the entire genome of the HIV virus 1986 The first biotech- derived interferon drugs for the treatment of cancer, Biogen’s Intron A and Genentech’s Roferon A, are approved by the FDA. The first genetically engineered human vaccine, Chiron’s Recombivax HB, is approved for the prevention of hepatitis B. 1990 The first federally approved gene therapy treatment was performed successfully on a 4- year old girl suffering from an immune disorde

7. 1993 The FDA declares that genetically engineered foods are “not inherently dangerous” and do not require special regulation. 1994 Calgene’s Flavr Savr tomato, engineered to resist rotting, was approved for sale. 1995 The first full gene sequence of a living organism other than a virus is completed for the bacterium “Haemophilus influenzae”. 1997 Scottish scientist report cloning a sheep (Dolly), using DNA from adult sheep cells. 1999 The complete genetic code of the human chromosome is first deciphered. The rising tide of public opinion in Europe brings biotech food into the spotlight.

8. 2000 Golden Rice”, modified to make vitamin A, promises to help third- world countries alleviate night blindness. 2003 Dolly, the cloned sheep that made headlines in 1997, is euthanized after developing progressive lung disease. Dolly was the first successful clone of a mammal. 2008 Paolo Macchiarini carries out the world’s first tissue- engineered whole organ transplant, replacing a Colombian woman’s windpipe mad e with the patient’s own stem cells. 2012 Development of genetically engineered stem cells to seek out and kill HIV in mice.

9. Lesson 2: Branches and Fields in Biotechnology Based on applications, there are there are six branches of biotechnology, viz.,(a) bioinformatics , (b) blue biotechnology , (c) green biotechnology , (d ) red biotechnology , and (e) white/grey biotechnolog y. Moreover, there are three famous biotechnological fields, namely: genetic engineering, tissue culture and cloning.

10. Branches of Biotechnology A. Bioinformatics - an interdisciplinary field which addresses biological problems using computational techniques, and makes the rapid organization and analysis of biological data possible. - Referred to as computational biology, and can be defined as, “conceptualizing biology in terms of molecules B. Blue biotechnology - Used to describe the marine and aquatic applications of biotechnology, but its use is relatively rare.

11. . C. Green biotechnology - Green biotechnology is the application of biotechnology processes in agriculture and food production. - Examples: selection and domestication of plants via micropropagation; designing transgenic plants to grow under specific environments in the presence (or absence ) of chemicals; engineering of a plant to express a pesticide, thereby ending the need of external application of pesticides, e.g. Bt corn; livestock breeding where modern biotechnology is being employed commercially to introduce novel performance features in productive livestock (e.g. different wool characteristics for sheep, or improved milk characteristics in cattle).

12. D . Red biotechnology - Applied to medical processes Examples: designing of organisms to produce antibiotics, and the engineering of genetic cures through genetic manipulation. E . Grey/White Biotechnology - Also known as industrial biotechnology, a biotechnology applied to industrial processes. Examples: designing of an organism to produce a useful chemical; using of enzymes as industrial catalysts to either produce valuable chemicals or destroy hazardous / polluting.

13. Fields in biotechnology Famous biotechnological fields are: 1) Genetic engineering - Genetic engineering, also called genetic modification, is the direct manipulation of an organism's genome using biotechnology. -Genes are the chemical blueprints that determine an organism's traits. - It will enable the plants and animals breeder to select the particular gene required for a desired characteristic and modify only that gene. Life forms containing ‘foreign’ DNA are termed transgenic

14. - In industrial microbiology it will permit the production in microorganisms of a wide range of hitherto unachievable products such as human and animal proteins and enzymes such as insulin and chymosin (rennet). - In medicine, better vaccines, hormones and improved therapy of diseases - and in environmental aspects, a wide range of benefits such as pollution control can be expected.

15. Products of Genetic Engineering Pharmaceuticals Human drugs such as insulin for diabetics, growth hormone for individuals with pituitary dwarfism, and tissue plasminogen activator for heart attack victims, as well as animal drugs like the growth hormones, bovine or porcine somatotropin, are being produced by the fermentation of transgenic bacteria that have received the appropriate human, cow, or pig gene.

16. Gene Therapy The first clinical gene therapy is underway to correct an enzyme deficiency called ADA in children. Bone marrow cells are removed, defective DNA in bone marrow cells is supplemented with a copy of normal DNA, and the repaired cells are then returned to the patient’s body. Transgenic Plants Transgenic plants that are more tolerant of herbicides, resistant to insect or viral pests, or express modified versions of fruit or flowers have been grown and tested inoutdoor test plots since 1987. The genes for these traits have been delivered to the plants from other unrelated plants, bacteria, or viruses by genetic engineering techniques

17. Adoption of Genetically Modified Crops Plants, bacteria, fungi and animals whose genes have been altered by manipulation are called Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO). GM plants have been useful in many ways. Genetic modification has: a. made crops more tolerant to abiotic stresses (cold, drought, salt, heat). b . reduced reliance on chemical pesticides (pest-resistant crops). c . helped to reduce post harvest losses. d . increased efficiency of mineral usage by plants (this prevents early exhaustion of fertility of soil).

18. e . enhanced nutritional value of food, e.g., Vitamin ‘A’ enriched rice. Some of the applications of biotechnology in agriculture is the production of pest resistant plants, which could decrease the amount of pesticide used. Bt toxin is produced by a bacterium called Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt for short). Bt toxin gene has been cloned from the bacteria and been expressed in plants to provide resistance to insects without the need for insecticides; in effect created a bio-pesticide. Examples are Bt cotton, Bt corn, rice, tomato, potato and soybean etc.

19. Figure 1: Genetic engineering process in plants

20. Transgenic Animals Presently, most transgenic animals are designed to assist researchers in the diagnosis and treatment of human diseases. Several companies have designed and are testing transgenic mammals that produce important pharmaceuticals in the animal’s milk. Products such as insulin, growth hormone, and tissue plasminogen activator that are currently produced by fermentation of transgenic bacteria may soon be obtained by milking transgenic cows, sheep, or goats.

21. 2. Tissue culture Tissue culture, a method of biological research in which fragments of tissue from an animal or plant are transferred to an artificial environment in which they can continue to survive and function. The cultured tissue may consist of a single cell, a population of cells, or a whole or part of an organ. Cells in culture may multiply; change size, form, or function; exhibit specialized activity (muscle cells, for example, may contract); or interact with other cells.

22. Figure 2: Steps in plant tissue culture

23. 3 ) Cloning Cloning describes the processes used to create an exact genetic replica of another cell, tissue or organism. The copied material, which has the same genetic makeup as the original, is referred to as a clone. The most famous clone was a Scottish sheep named Dolly. There are three different types of cloning: - Gene cloning, which creates copies of genes or segments of DNA - Reproductive cloning, which creates copies of whole animals - Therapeutic cloning, which creates embryonic stem cells. Researchers hope to use these cells to grow healthy tissue to replace injured or diseased tissues in the human body .

24. Figure 3. Gene cloning

25. Figure 4. Reproductive cloning

26. Figure 5. Therapeutic cloning

27. Lesson 3: Applications, Drawbacks and Safety Considerations in Biotechnology The use of biology to develop technologies and products for the welfare of human beings is known as Biotechnology . It has various applications in different fields such agriculture, medicine, industry and environment .

28. I. APPLICATIONS OF BIOTECHNOLOGY A . Biotechnology and Agriculture Reduced vulnerability of crops to environmental stresses Increased nutritional qualities Improved taste, texture or appearance of food Reduced dependence on fertilizers, pesticides and other agrochemicals Production of novel substances in crop plants

29. B. Biotechnology and Medicine Genetic testing Parasitology Gene therapy and virology

30. C. Production of Biochemicals and Biopharmaceuticals Biotechnology has enhanced the production and manipulation of enzymes for the benefit of mankind in biochemistry and chemistry (Soetan, 2008 as cited in Tonukari, Avwioroko, & Ehwerhemueoha, 2010). Biotechnology is used in the production of recombinant pharmaceuticals .Production of recombinant insulin has been used in the management of diabetes. (Soetan and Abatan, 2007 as cited in Tonukari, Avwioroko, &Ehwerhemueoha, 2010).

31. D. Environmental Applications of Biotechnology Environmental biotechnology can be defined as a discipline that studies the application of biotechnology to solve environmental problems. (Soetan, 2008 as cited in Tonukari,Avwioroko, & Ehwerhemueoha, 2010). Environmental sanitation has now been made easy through the use of biotechnology. Microorganisms are engineered and adapted by this renowned technology in an effort to find sustainable ways to clean- up contaminated environments.

32. II. DRAWBACKS OF BIOTECHNOLOGY Ethics Uncertainty Cost Health Concerns Environmental Concerns Gene Flow

33. III. SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS IN BIOTECHNOLOGY Pathogenicity The potential ability of living organisms and viruses (natural and genetically engineered) to infect humans, animals and plants and to cause disease. Problems of biologically active biotechnology products Biotechnology must always be subjected to sound regulations for its successful application. The potential risks of biotechnology are manageable, and regulations have been constructed for that management.

34. Biowarfare and bioterrorism The use of biological weapons (i.e. disease causing microorganisms) in warfare has a long and disgraceful history, easily predating gunpowder and nuclear warfareas instruments of mass destruction . Bioterrorism has been defined as the intentional or threatened use of viruses, bacteria, fungi or toxins from living organisms or agents to produce death or disease in humans, animals and plants (Center of Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta,USA).

35. Three categories of Potential biological agents (Centre of Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA) Category A : agents include the most serious – smallpox, anthrax, plague, botulism,tularaemia and viral haemorrhagic fevers such as Ebola Category B: agents have a similar potential for large-scale dissemination butgenerally cause less serious illnesses – typhus, brucellosis and food poisoning agents such as Salmonella and E. coli 0157 Category C : agents include novel infectious diseases, which could emerge in future threats.

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