Biotech Industry (Ch 1)

1. What is biotechnology

Technology based on biology, using living organisms or systems to make
products or processes.

2. Who defines biotechnology officially

The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (1992).

3. How did ancient civilizations use biotechnology

Through selective breeding and fermentation to produce yogurt, bread,
and wine.

4. What modern techniques define biotechnology today

In vitro nucleic acid techniques, recombinant DNA, direct nucleic acid
introduction, and cell fusion beyond taxonomic families.

5. What fields contribute
   to biotechnology

Genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry, cell biology, microbiology, engineering, chemistry, physics, and information technology.

6. What is the biotechnology toolkit

A set of biological, chemical, instrumentation, and software tools to solve
problems.

7. Example of a biological
   tool in biotechnology

Enzymes that cut and reattach DNA.

8. What is genetic engineering

Moving a gene from one organism to another to express a useful trait.

9. Example of genetic engineering success

Bacteria producing human insulin.

10. What are chemical
    tools in biotechnology

Chromatography resins that purify proteins based on properties.

11. Example of an instrument tool in biotechnology

Spectrophotometers measure light absorbance for quantifying bacteria,
proteins, or DNA.

12. What is PCR (polymerase chain reaction)
    used for

Rapid DNA replication, used in forensic DNA fingerprinting.

13. What is the goal of biotechnology research

To develop products and processes that solve problems.

14. What is bioethics

The study of ethical concerns raised by biotechnology's capabilities.

15. What major conference
    addressed DNA technology ethics

The Asilomar Conference of 1975.

16. What is "pharming"

Using farm animals to produce therapeutic drugs in their milk.

17. What is recombinant
    bovine somatotropin
    (rBST)

An injectable hormone used to increase milk production in cows.

18. What is Smartstax
    corn

Corn variety with eight stacked genetically engineered traits.

19. What plant is being explored to produce recombinant insulin

Safflower.

20. What is the concern
    with genetically engineered salmon

Potential environmental impact if they escape into the wild.

21. What is golden rice

Genetically engineered rice expressing beta-carotene to combat vitamin
A deficiency.

22. What industry first
    used biotechnology

The food industry through fermentation processes.

23. How has biotechnology
    improved dairy production

By genetically engineering virus-resistant fermentation bacteria.

24. What is an example of
    industrial biotechnology

Using cellulase enzymes to soften denim instead of acid washing.

25. Why are enzymes from
    extremophiles useful

They can function under harsh conditions like high salt, extreme temperatures, or pH.

26. What are biological
    plastics

Plastics made from plant sugars that are biodegradable.

27. What is bioprocessing
    in mining

Using bacteria to extract metals like copper from ore.

28. What is bioremediation

Using organisms to detoxify polluted environments.

29. Example of bioremediation success

Oil-eating bacteria cleaning up oil spills.

30. What bacterium has
    been engineered for
    radioactive waste
    cleanup

Deinococcus radiodurans.

31. What is biosensing

Using biological molecules to detect environmental pollutants.

32. What is DNA barcoding

Using unique genetic sequences to identify every living organism.

33. What is CBOL

Consortium for the Barcode of Life.

34. How has biotechnology
    impacted conservation
    efforts

By enabling genetic tracking of endangered species like African elephants.

35. How is biotechnology
    used in biodefense

Developing biosensors and treatments against biological threats.

36. How is biotechnology
    used in forensics

DNA fingerprinting to identify individuals uniquely.

37. What organization uses
    DNA evidence to overturn convictions

The Innocence Project.

38. Who was Otzi the Iceman

A 5,300-year-old mummy studied using DNA sequencing.

39. What is nanobiotechnology

Using nanoscale biological molecules in technology.

40. Example of nanotechnology in water purification

Using aquaporin proteins in artificial membranes.

41. Who founded Bio-Rad
    Laboratories

David and Alice Schwartz.

42. What was Bio-Rad's
    first product idea

Manufacturing tobacco mosaic virus (TMV).

43. What company developed Humulin

Genentech.

44. What distinguishes
    biotechnology companies from big pharma

Biotech focuses on biological therapeutics

pharma traditionally on chemical drugs.

45. What is a biotech
    "start-up"

A new, dynamic biotechnology company usually working on innovative projects.

46. What country is home
    to Biopolis, a biomedical R&D hub

Singapore.

47. What is ROI (Return on
    Investment)

Profit from products funding further R&D.

48. Who is the largest funder of biomedical research in the U.S.

National Institutes of Health (NIH).

49. What is bioinformatics

Using information technology to manage and analyze biological data.

50. What are "omics" sciences

Genomics, proteomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics.

51. What is high-throughput screening

Testing thousands of molecules at once for drug discovery.

52. What is a microarray

A tool to screen thousands of targets simultaneously on a microscope
slide.

53. What are preclinical trials

Testing drugs in cells, computers, and animals before human trials.

54. What is a transgenic animal

A genetically engineered animal used in drug testing or disease modeling.

55. What is Rexin-G

A nanoparticle-delivered cancer therapy derived from a genetically engineered virus.

56. What is pharmacogenomics

Personalized medicine based on patient's genetic makeup.

57. What is Herceptin used
    for

Treating HER2-positive breast cancer.

58. What is a double-blind
    study

Neither patient nor doctor knows who receives the treatment or placebo.

59. What are the three
    phases of clinical trials

Phase I (safety), Phase II (efficacy), Phase III (large-scale testing).

60. What does GLP stand
    for

Good Laboratory Practice.

61. What does GMP stand
    for

Good Manufacturing Practice.

62. What is ISO 9001

A quality management standard for manufacturing and business processes.

63. What is an SOP (Standard Operating Procedure)

Written instructions for consistent task performance.

64. What does an SOP
    header include

Title, document number, author, creation and approval dates, and page
numbers.

65. What is a patent

Legal protection granting exclusive rights to an invention for about 20
years.

66. Who issues patents in
    the U.S.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

67. What is a peer-reviewed publication

A scientific article evaluated by experts before publication.

68. What journals are considered prestigious

Nature and Science.

69. What is a biosensor

A device that converts a biological action into an electrical signal.

70. What agency regulates
    workplace safety in the
    U.S.

OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration).

71. What is autoclaving

Using steam under pressure to sterilize biohazardous waste.

72. What is bioremediation

Using microbes or plants to clean up environmental pollution.

73. What is the Animal Welfare Act (AWA)

Law regulating care and use of research animals.

74. What agency regulates
    GMOs in U.S. food supply

The FDA.

75. What agency regulates
    environmental impact
    of GMOs

The EPA.

76. What agency regulates
    agricultural aspects of
    GMOs

The USDA (APHIS division).

77. What is personalized
    medicine

Customizing healthcare treatments to individual genetic profiles.

78. What is an IPO
    in biotechnology business

Initial Public Offering — when a private company sells shares to the
public.

79. What is a "start-up"
    company risk

High risk but high potential rewards.

80. What is bioaccumulation

Accumulation of toxic substances in living organisms across food chains.

81. What organization governs NIH grant funding

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

82. What is the Guide for
    the Care and Use of
    Laboratory Animals

Standards for humane treatment of lab animals.