STS: Biotechnology

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Biotechnology

applies biological systems and organisms to create or modify products for human benefit.

Ancient

Early agriculture and domestication (e.g., saving seeds, selective breeding).

Classical

Fermentation processes for beer, bread, and antibiotics (e.g., penicillin in WWII).

Modern

Genetic engineering and recombinant DNA technology.

Restriction Enzymes

Molecular scissors that cut DNA at specific sequences

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

Amplifies specific DNA sequences.

Cloning

Replicates DNA or entire organisms.

Gel Electrophoresis

Visualizes DNA fragments for size and quality

Alcanivorax borkumensis

Cleans oil spills

Agrobacterium tumefaciens

Transfers genes into plants

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)

Produces insect-resistant proteins

Recombinant DNA

is a technology scientists developed that made it possible to insert a human gene into the genetic material of a common bacterium.

Gene cloning

Creates copies of genes or DNA segments

Reproductive cloning

Creates copies of entire animals

Therapeutic cloning

Creates embryonic stem cells that can be used to grow healthy tissue to replace damaged tissue in the human body

Gene therapy

is a medical technique that uses genes to treat or prevent disease by correcting a faulty gene or replacing it with a healthy one

Transgenic

Results of Genetic. Engineering. Are said to be “_______”