What isWhat isBiotechnology?Biotechnology?

BiotechnologyBiotechnology

Break it down to the root words and what do you get?

“The use of living organisms to solve problems or make useful products.”

Electron microscopephotograph

of yeast cells

BiotechnologyBiotechnology

We have been using Biotechnology for thousands of years.

The ability of microorganisms to produce acids and gasses as a result of normal cell metabolism has been taken advantage of to make new and exciting foods for generations.

Can you think of some examples of such products?

BiotechnologyBiotechnology

Bread

Cheese

Beer and Wine

BiotechnologyBiotechnology

For years humans have been also been manipulating the genetic makeup of organisms to make more useful products.

For example: Peas, Corn, Domesticated farm animals (Cows, sheep, etc.)

The Biotechnology The Biotechnology RevolutionRevolution

So why are we talking about a Biotechnology revolution? Why are you in this class? What’s so New?

Our knowledge of cell and molecular biology has reached a point where we can manipulate organisms at the molecular level.

““New”New” BiotechnologyBiotechnology There are now several thousand

companies that have been born to take advantage of the new techniques and knowledge available to biologists to create products that are useful to human society.

A collection ofA collection ofTechnologies & SkillsTechnologies & Skills

Biotechnology uses a collection of scientific skills mixed with Sales, Marketing, Legal, Regulatory, and Human Resource skills

Biotechnology research Biotechnology research DisciplinesDisciplines

Biochemistry Cell Biology Molecular Biology Microbiology Genetics Immunology Engineering Materials science Computer science Mathematics

Biotechnology Biotechnology ApplicationsApplications

Medical Diagnostic Therapeutics Vaccines

Environmental Environmental monitoring Bioremediation Pollution prevention

Agriculture Crop yield Animal Health Food Quality

Genetic EngineeringGenetic Engineering

Isolation of genes with a specific (useful) Isolation of genes with a specific (useful) function.function.

Insertion of that gene into an organism Insertion of that gene into an organism that will transcribe and translate that that will transcribe and translate that product.product.

Expression of the gene at high volume to Expression of the gene at high volume to make a productmake a product E.g. InsulinE.g. Insulin

The core of this class will focus on The core of this class will focus on the biology and tools of genetic the biology and tools of genetic engineering engineering

BioinformaticsBioinformatics

Is the use and organization Is the use and organization of information about biology.of information about biology.

A fusion of Computer A fusion of Computer science, mathematics, and science, mathematics, and molecular biology. molecular biology.

Whole genomes can be Whole genomes can be sequenced in days.sequenced in days.

Massive amounts of data Massive amounts of data available e.g. at: available e.g. at: (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/)

Comparisons of sequencesComparisons of sequences Analysis of Protein structuresAnalysis of Protein structures Correlation of marker Correlation of marker

sequences with disease or sequences with disease or reaction to drugs.reaction to drugs.

Interesting LinksInteresting Links DNA Chip Technology

http://www.sumanasinc.com/webcontent/animations/content/dnachips.html

Glow-pig: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Y1d2-ObxPQ

Heart of stem-cells: http://www1.umn.edu/umnnews/Feature_Stories/Researchers_create_a_new_heart_in_the_lab.html(video) http://www.startribune.com/video/13711842.html

Super-carrot: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7188969.stm Curing deafness: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7582640.stm

Artificial life: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7203186.stm