iCEV: Intro to Biotechnology

Cell

The smallest unit of life capable of independent existence.

Chromosomes

Made of a molecule called DNA.

Mitosis

A process in which body cells duplicate.

Meiosis

Results in the cells having only half of the required set of genes.

Transgenic

The transfer of a gene into another organism.

Marker genes

Inserted with genes of interest to visually identify transgenic cells or organisms.

Agrobacterium

Ordinarily infects plant cells by injecting some of its genetic material into a cell, and using the cell to create its food.

BT

Stands for Bacillus thuringiensis, which is a soil-borne bacterium.

Golden rice

Rice into which genes for the production of vitamin A has been introduced.

Cloning

Creating organisms genetically identical to a parent organism.

Bioreactors

Living factories of important chemicals.

Immune reaction

The body's attack of foreign materials.

United States spending on pet diseases

Approximately five billion to six billion every year.

Lymphocytes

Produce antibodies, which neutralize bacteria, viruses and even cancers.

Biotechnology

A rapidly expanding field that uses molecular biology techniques to manipulate genes and gene products in medicine and agriculture.

Chromosomes

Structures made of DNA that contain the genetic instructions needed to make an entire organism.

DNA

A molecule that makes up chromosomes and contains the genetic information of an organism.

Gene

A specific building instruction recorded within DNA that controls traits in an organism.

Traits

Characteristics of an organism controlled by genes, such as eye color, hair color, and inherited diseases.

Mitosis

A process where body cells duplicate, allowing for the development and maintenance of the human body.

Meiosis

A process that results in cells having only half of the required set of genes, leading to sexual reproduction.

Haploid cell

A cell that has half the number of chromosomes, such as sperm or egg cells.

Fertilization

The process where a male haploid cell fuses with a female haploid cell to produce a complete set of genes.

Sexual reproduction

The process that occurs in nearly all multicellular organisms, involving the fusion of haploid cells.

Plant tissue culture

A technique that uses mitosis to produce cells capable of generating identical clones from a parent plant.

Transgenics

A biotechnology field that offers new tools for inserting genes from one organism into another.

Cold hardiness

The ability of certain organisms, such as specific fish, to survive under extremely low temperatures.

Gene transfer

The process of moving genes from one organism to another to affect traits like stress tolerance.

Genetic diversity

The variation in genes among individuals of the same species, which is critical for plant breeding.

Breeding

The process of mating organisms to produce offspring with desired traits.

Pollen transfer

The method of transferring pollen from one plant to another to facilitate breeding.

Cloning

The process of producing identical genetic copies of an organism.

Stress tolerance

The ability of an organism to withstand environmental stressors.

Genetic basis

The underlying genetic factors that determine traits in organisms.

Applications of biotechnology

Uses of biotechnology in various fields, including agriculture, medicine, and environmental science.

Transgenic Organism

An organism that receives a new gene from another organism, such as a plant receiving a fish gene.

Transgenics

The transfer of a gene into another organism, which can involve genes from bacteria or mammals.

Marker Genes

Genes incorporated into an animal to visually identify a transgenic animal, which can include traits like coat color, fluorescence, and antibiotic resistance.

Fluorescent Marker

A type of marker gene that shows a fluorescent color, such as green or red, when expressed in a cell.

Agrobacterium

A bacterium that infects plant cells by injecting its genetic material, which can be replaced with desired genes for plant biotechnology.

Gene of Interest

The specific gene that is transplanted into a cell's chromosomes during the process of genetic modification.

Plant Biotechnology

The overall goal of improving agriculture by enhancing traits in plants, such as resilience and herbicide resistance.

Agricultural Qualities

Traits scientists aim to enhance in plants, including resilience, herbicide resistance, harvestable quantity, flavor, nourishing quality, and spoilage resistance.

Marginal Areas

Regions that are traditionally too dry or have limited water where crops can be grown using biotechnology.

BT Corn

Corn that has been genetically modified to include a gene from Bacillus thuringiensis, which helps it resist insect damage.

Bacillus thuringiensis (BT)

A soil-borne bacterium whose gene can be incorporated into plants to make them resistant to insect larvae.

Cry toxin

A substance ingested by insects from BT corn that leads to the death of the larva.

Transgenic Cell

A cell that has been modified to contain a transgene, which may appear identical to a normal cell without markers.

Jellyfish Gene

A gene that can be incorporated into other organisms to produce a fluorescent protein, used as a marker in transgenic research.

Genetic Code

The set of instructions in a plant's DNA that can be altered to create transgenic organisms.

Soil-borne Pests

Pests that attack plants from the soil, which can cause significant agricultural losses.

Selective Advantage

A trait that increases the likelihood of survival and reproduction in a given environment.

Nourishing Quality

The nutritional value of a crop that can be enhanced through biotechnology.

Spoilage Resistance

The ability of a crop to resist decay and spoilage, which can be improved through genetic modification.

Fluorescent Color

The visible color produced by a fluorescent marker gene, indicating the presence of a transgene.

Insect Resistance

The ability of a plant to withstand attacks from insects, which can be enhanced through genetic engineering.

Fungi Resistance

The ability of a plant to resist fungal infections, which can be improved through biotechnology.

Virus Resistance

The capability of a plant to defend against viral infections, achievable through genetic modification.

Bacterial Resistance

The ability of a plant to resist bacterial infections, which can be enhanced through genetic engineering.

BT gene

A gene that, when incorporated into plants, allows them to produce a protoxin that kills insect larvae when ingested.

Pesticide application reduction

The decrease in pesticide applications from 15 to 1 per season in BT cotton farming.

Herbicide-resistant crops

Plants engineered to be immune to herbicides, allowing for more efficient weed control.

Mechanical cultivation

The process of using machinery to control weeds, which is reduced by using herbicide-resistant crops.

Soil erosion

The displacement of the upper layer of soil, which can be reduced by less mechanical cultivation.

Water efficiency

The effective use of water resources in agriculture, which can be improved through biotechnology.

Cotton fiber production

Research aimed at increasing the yield of cotton fiber from each plant.

Photosynthesis enhancement

Genetic engineering aimed at increasing the rates of photosynthesis in plants to boost productivity.

Fruit and vegetable engineering

The genetic modification of crops to enhance flavor and color for better consumer enjoyment.

Tomato harvesting

The process of picking tomatoes at a green stage to ensure firmness for machine harvesting.

Flavor development in crops

The introduction of genes that slow down softening, allowing crops to develop flavor before harvest.

Nutritional enhancement

The process of engineering crops to improve their nutritional content, such as increasing vitamins and minerals.

Vaccines in plants

The development of plants that can produce vaccines, making immunization more efficient and affordable.

Staple food engineering

The process of creating food crops that provide essential nutrients to improve health in underdeveloped regions.

Insecticide reduction

The decrease in the need for conventional pesticides due to the use of BT crops.

Beneficial insects

Insects that help control pest populations, such as ladybugs, which can be harmed by conventional pesticides.

Increased yield

The result of having more flowers on a plant, leading to higher productivity.

Cultivation practices

Traditional methods of farming that involve plowing and mechanical weed control.

Environmental benefits of BT crops

The positive impact on the environment from reduced pesticide use and improved farming practices.

Consumer benefits of biotechnology

The advantages to consumers from improved food quality and reduced pesticide residues.

Vaccine in Bananas

A technology that allows bananas to carry and express a vaccine, enabling consumption for vaccination.

Childhood Diseases

Diseases such as diarrhea that kill millions of children every year, particularly in the third world.

Gene Transfer Technology

A method of transferring genes into animals, varying by species.

Cloning of Sheep

The process of creating genetically identical sheep to produce high-quality wool and meat.

Pig Cloning

The cloning of pigs to achieve similar meat quality traits and performance traits for cost management.

Human Organ Transplant

The use of cloned pigs for the possibility of transplanting organs into humans.

Pig Skin Tissue

Used in human medicine to treat severe burns by repairing skin.

Pig Heart Valves

Transplanted into humans for heart repair.

Pig Arteries and Veins

Used to repair damaged arteries and veins in humans.

Cattle, Sheep, and Goats

Not suitable for human organ transplant due to size and functional differences.

Cloning in Cattle

Cattle cloning is easier compared to other species due to extensive research and data.

Future of Cloning

Predicted to become affordable in 10 to 15 years, improving organ production and disease management.

Bioreactors

Animals transformed into living factories for producing important chemicals.

Sheep and Goats as Bioreactors

Utilized for their large mammary systems to produce proteins from human genes.

Cattle as Bioreactors

Cattle can produce large quantities of milk for isolating humanized proteins.

Challenges with Cattle and Goats

Difficulty in inserting human genes into cattle and goats for protein production.

Pigs as Bioreactors

Chosen for their organ tissue similarity to humans, allowing for similar protein production.

Transgenic Compounds

Compounds produced by genetically modified organisms for human administration.

Mammary System

The biological system in animals that allows for milk production, crucial for bioreactor function.

Protein Production

The process of generating proteins from inserted human genes in bioreactor animals.

Organ Size Differences

The reason cattle, sheep, and goats are not suitable for human organ transplants.