Biotechnology in Medicine, Agriculture, and Forensic Science: Key Concepts and Applications

What is biotechnology?

The use of living organisms or substances they produce to develop products or processes beneficial to humans.

What is recombinant DNA?

Molecules that contain DNA from two different sources.

What is a transgenic organism?

An organism that has had a gene transferred from one species to another for a specific goal.

Why are recombinant organisms useful?

They can improve strains and produce products not normally made by microorganisms.

What is a biological control agent?

Living organisms or their products used to alleviate plant disease or damage from environmental conditions.

Give an example of a biological control agent.

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), which produces toxins that kill certain pests but is harmless to plants, animals, and humans.

How can microorganisms reduce environmental pollution?

They can treat pollutants and extract heavy metals from environments.

What is gene knockin?

Inserting a gene into a noncritical site in an organism's genome.

What is gene knockout?

Inactivating a copy of a gene in an organism.

What is xenotransplantation?

Transplanting tissue, cells, or organs from one species to another.

What is molecular pharming?

Producing medically important proteins in the mammary glands of mammals.

What is reproductive cloning?

Creating two or more genetically identical individuals.

What are potential benefits of stem cell research?

Stem cells may enable regenerative medicine to replace damaged cells or tissue.

What is gene therapy?

The introduction of cloned genes to compensate for defects in mutant genes.

What are the two main techniques for gene therapy?

Viral and non-viral techniques.

What is an advantage of viral gene therapy?

High efficiency in delivering genes.

What is a disadvantage of viral gene therapy?

It can cause undesirable immune responses.

What is an advantage of non-viral gene therapy?

No immune response is triggered.

What is a disadvantage of non-viral gene therapy?

It has lower efficiency compared to viral methods.

What was the approach used in the first gene therapy trial for treating SCID?

Lymphocytes were removed from a SCID patient, the normal ADA gene was transferred into them via retrovirus, and then returned to the patient.

What are key features of stem cells?

They have the ability to divide and differentiate.

Why are the A and B chains of insulin made as fusion proteins with β-galactosidase?

To make purification easier, prevent degradation, and facilitate secretion from the cell.