Chapter 1 : Intro to Biotechnology

Adhrit Srinivasan

What is the definition of biotechnology?

• Fusion of technology and biology

• Providing nature with enhancements/tools

• Reprogramming living organisms

What are three traditional biotechnology products?

• Yogurt

• Bread

• Cheese

What are two examples of modern biotechnology products?

• Therapeutic drugs

• Enzymes present in laundry detergent

When did the modern biotechnology industry begin?

• Rapid expansion began in the 1970s

• Revolutionized by Genentech (founded in 1976)

When did early humans begin selectively breeding plants and livestock?

• Approximately 8000 BC

When was wine first invented?

• Approximately 4000 BC

• Begun by the Egyptians

Who developed brewing and cheese making? When?

• Sumerians + Egyptians

• Approximately 2000 BC

What was the first antibiotic used? Which culture? When?

• Moldy soybean curds

• Used by Chinese

• 500 BC

Who developed the first smallpox vaccine? When?

• Edward Jenner

• 1796

• Utilization of cowpox to treat smallpox

Who discovered proteins?

• Jöns Jakob Berzelius

• 1838

When was the Origin of Species published?

• 1859

• Published by Charles Darwin

When was pasteurization first developed?

• 1861

• Developed by Louis Pasteur

• Heating process to get rid of harmful microorganisms

When did Mendel establish the principles of genetics?

• 1865

• Experimentation with pea plants

Who developed the first rabies vaccine? What year?

• Louis Pasteur

• 1885

When did the term “biotechnology” first appear in print?

• 1919

Who discovered penicillin? What year?

• Alexander Fleming

• 1928

• Antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections

Who discovered DNA as the carrier of genetic information?

• Oswald Avery

• 1943

When was the double-helix structure of DNA discovered?

• 1953

• Watson + Crick

When was mRNA discovered?

• 1961

• Discovery of its presence in protein synthesis

When was the gene first completely synthesized?

• 1971

When was recombinant insulin produced? By which company?

• 1977

• Genentech

• Recombinant DNA = DNA combined from multiple sources

When was DNA fingerprinting first used?

• 1984

• Forensics + Paternity

When were the first genetically modified tobacco plants grown?

• 1986

• Grown in open fields

When was the Human Genome Project first launched?

• 1990

• Mapping + sequencing the entire human genome

What was the first cloned mammal? What year?

• Dolly the sheep

• 1997

When was Golden Rice developed?

• 1999

• Combats Vitamin A deficiency

When was the Human Genome Project completed?

• April, 2003

When was the first HPV vaccine approved?

• 2003

When was the first self-replicating bacterial cell created?

• 2010

When was CrispR-Cas9 used for gene editing?

• 2012

• Recognized as precise genome editing tool

When were mRNA vaccines first used?

• 2021

• Covid-19

• Revolutionized vaccine development

What are the different sectors in biotechnology?

• Biological research

• Healthcare

• Agriculture

• Manufacturing

What are the key techniques in biotechnology?

• Molecular biology

• Cell biology

• Genetic engineering

What is the ethical consideration around biotechnology?

• Equity

• Safety

• Long-term impact

What are the tools in biotechnology?

• Whole cells (protein factories)

• DNA (code)

• RNA (messenger)

• Protein (machine)

What are two of the key instruments in biotechnology?

• Spectrophotometers

• PCR machines

What is chromatography?

• Separating out, identifying, and quantifying compositions of a substance

What is gene transfer?

• The delivery of genes from one organism to another

What is protein purification?

• Modifications to a protein to reach the final product

What is a spectrophotometer?

• Quantifies DNA + Proteins w/ light absorption

What is PCR?

• Polymerase Chain Reaction

• Amplifies (copies) DNA

What are the key concepts behind using biotechnology in national defense?

• Rapid identification

• Vaccines

• Stockpiling therapeutics

Which company was the founding biotechnology company? What was their first product?

• Genentech

• Humulin (Human insulin)

What is the difference between biotech and pharmaceutical industries?

• Pharmacies: Chemical drugs

  • Aspirin

  • Statins

  • Small molecule drugs

• Biotech: Biological drugs

  • Insulin

  • Monoclonal antibodies

  • Gene therapy

Who are the key users of biotechnology?

• Healthcare (vaccines)

• Agriculture (pest-resistant crops)

• Forensics (DNA profiling)

What is genomics?

• Study of the entire genome

What is proteomics?

• Study of all protein expression

What is precision medicine?

• (Personalized medicine)

• Tailored treatments to individual genetics profile

What happens during the drug discovery phase of drug development?

• Animal testing

• Lab environment

• 5-6 yrs

What happens during phase I clinical trials?

• Tens of volunteers

• Tests safety of drug

• 3-6 months

What happens during phase II clinical trials?

• Hundreds of volunteers

• Tests effectivity

• 1-2 yrs

What happens during phase III clinical trials?

• Thousands of volunteers

• Confirms phase II

• 1-4 yrs