Biotechnology and Its Applications

Bell Ringer Activity

  • Date: February 12th

  • Inquiry: What is biotechnology? When would you use it?

Introduction to Biotechnology

What is Biotechnology?

  • Definition: Biotechnology is the application of a technological process, invention, or method to living organisms.

  • Example: Corn transformed from a useless grass to a central component of current food products.

Methods of Biotechnology

Selective Breeding

  • Concept: The process of allowing only animals with desired characteristics to breed to produce offspring.

  • Purpose: Humans utilize selective breeding to capitalize on naturally occurring genetic variation to pass on desirable traits to subsequent generations.

  • Example: The variety of dog breeds developed through careful selection of breeding pairs.

Hybridization

  • Definition: Hybridization refers to the crossing of dissimilar individuals to combine the best traits of both organisms.

  • Common Outcome: Often results in one organism exhibiting disease resistance paired with the other’s superior food-producing capabilities.

Animal Cloning

  • Definition: A clone is a population of genetically identical cells produced from a single cell.

  • Historical Reference: In 1977, Dolly the sheep became the first mammal cloned from an adult somatic cell.

  • Discussion Points:

    • Benefits of animal cloning for species preservation.

    • Ethical concerns surrounding animal cloning practices.

Increasing Variation

  • Genetic Variation: Breeders can enhance genetic variation within a population by introducing mutations, which serve as the ultimate source of biological diversity.

Genetic Technologies

Gene Therapy and Genetic Testing

  • Context: When prospective parents suspect they may carry alleles for recessive genetic disorders, various genetic tests are available for diagnosing numerous disorders.

  • Gene Therapy: Involves modifying a gene to treat a disease or disorder.

Designer Babies

  • Definition: Designer babies are genetically modified (or gene-edited) children created with specific desired traits.

  • Methods:

    • Only embryos free of specific genetic disorders may be implanted.

    • CRISPR technology is employed to modify DNA during embryonic development.

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)

GMO Foods and Animals

  • Example: Golden Rice, a genetically modified rice variety developed to combat chronic vitamin A deficiency in the 2010s.

  • Human Proteins Production:

    • Bacteria are utilized to produce human proteins, such as Human Growth Hormone (HGH), which treats pituitary dwarfism.

    • Pigs are harnessed to create human insulin, beneficial for individuals with Type 1 Diabetes.

Polyploid Plants

  • Nondisjunction: Refers to the failure of one or more pairs of homologous chromosomes to separate properly during meiosis.

  • Application: Drugs preventing chromosomal separation during meiosis prove useful in enhancing plant characteristics.

Biotechnology in Law Enforcement

DNA in Crime Solving

  • DNA Fingerprinting: Analyzes sections of DNA that are often non-functional yet show high variability among individuals.

  • Process:

    • Enzymes are employed to digest DNA into smaller fragments.

    • Gel electrophoresis is used to separate these fragments by size.

    • The resultant DNA patterns are compared to the DNA collected at crime scenes.

Bacterial Mutations

  • Mutations: Defined as heritable changes in DNA that occur spontaneously; however, breeders can induce mutations using chemicals or radiation to accelerate this process.

  • Applications:

    • Mutations can be utilized to engineer bacteria capable of cleaning up environmental disasters, such as oil spills.

    • Current scientific efforts are focused on developing bacteria that can remediate radioactive materials and heavy metal pollution.