Biotechnology Principles, Types, and Applications

Vocabulary flashcards covering core biotechnology concepts, traditional versus modern biotechnology, selective breeding stages, and genetic engineering examples based on lecture notes.

Biotechnology

The manipulation of living organisms, biological systems, or organic material using scientific methods to produce new products, alter organisms, or improve human lives and the environment.

Bioremediation

The practice of using bacteria or biological agents to clean up environmental pollutants, such as cleaning oceanic oil spills.

Gene Therapy

A therapeutic approach aimed at repairing faulty genes to treat genetic diseases.

Traditional Biotechnology

Ways of using naturally occurring organisms to make or modify products (such as fermentation for bread, wine, cheese, and yogurt) using practices that lack high efficacy and accuracy.

Modern Biotechnology

Techniques started with recombinant DNA technology that intentionally and directly manipulate genes, cells, and living tissue in a controlled manner to alter an organism's genetic makeup with high efficiency and accuracy.

Humulin

Human insulin produced through modern biotechnology from genetically modified E. coli.

Golden Rice

A genetically modified crop created through modern biotechnology that is rich in vitamin A.

Selective Breeding

The process by which organisms with desirable traits are selectively bred so that the next generation of offspring inherits those traits.

Four Stages of Selective Breeding

A four-step cycle consisting of: Stage 1 (Characteristics selected), Stage 2 (Parents selected), Stage 3 (Offspring selected), and Stage 4 (Process repeated).

Genetic Engineering

The process of directly changing the DNA of an organism by adding or deleting traits, genes, or groups of genes on the DNA strand.

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)

Organisms produced by directly altering their DNA strand through genetic engineering.

Recombinant Proteins

Essential therapeutic proteins, hormones (like insulin), and antibodies produced by engineered microbes or methods that might not exist naturally.