Biotechnology

Biotechnology

The use of living things to create products or processes, or to perform tasks for human beings.

Everyday uses of biotechnology

Includes genetic engineering, waste management, food production, animal and plant breeding, pharmaceutical and medical processes, and industrial processes.

Recombinant DNA technology

A method that involves using enzymes to manipulate and isolate DNA segments from different species to enhance desired characteristics in organisms.

Insulin production

An example of recombinant DNA technology where the human insulin gene is inserted into bacteria to produce insulin for diabetes treatment.

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO)

Organisms that have been altered through recombinant DNA technology to inherit modified traits.

Applications of GMOs

Used for medicinal purposes and to improve food quality, such as increasing nutrients and minerals.

Bt cotton

A genetically modified cotton plant that contains a gene from soil bacteria to resist pests and reduce pesticide use.

GloFish

A genetically modified zebra fish that glows due to a jellyfish gene, used to track pollution in water bodies.

Sudden death mosquito

A genetically modified mosquito designed to die after reproducing, aimed at controlling disease spread.

Human Genome Project

An international research project aimed at mapping and sequencing all human genes to understand hereditary diseases.

Importance of the Human Genome Project

Enables new therapies, drug design, and gene therapy by understanding hereditary diseases.

Stem cells

The body's raw materials that can differentiate into various cell types.

Embryonic stem cells

Stem cells derived from embryos that are 3-5 days old, capable of developing into any cell type.

Adult stem cells

Undifferentiated stem cells found in various tissues throughout the body, used for repair and treatment.

Cloning

The process of creating an exact genetic copy of an organism or producing embryonic stem cells.

Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT)

A cloning technique where the nucleus of a somatic cell is transferred into an enucleated egg cell to create a clone.

Dolly the sheep

The first mammal cloned from a somatic cell, demonstrating the SCNT process.

Therapeutic cloning

The creation of cloned embryos to produce embryonic stem cells for research and treatment development.

Cloning of whole organisms

The process of creating entire organisms through cloning techniques, allowing for rapid production of genetically identical individuals.