What is
Biotechnology?
Biotechnology
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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 microscope
photograph
of yeast cells
Biotechnology
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?
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Biotechnology
 Bread
 Cheese
 Beer
and Wine
Biotechnology
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.)
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The Biotechnology Revolution
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.
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“New” Biotechnology
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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 of
Technologies & Skills
 Biotechnology
uses
a collection of
scientific skills
mixed with Sales,
Marketing, Legal,
Regulatory, and
Human Resource
skills
Biotechnology research
Disciplines
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Biochemistry
Cell Biology
Molecular Biology
Microbiology
Genetics
Immunology
Engineering
Materials science
Computer science
Mathematics
Biotechnology Applications
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Medical
 Diagnostic
 Therapeutics
 Vaccines
Environmental
 Environmental monitoring
 Bioremediation
 Pollution prevention
Agriculture
 Crop yield
 Animal Health
 Food Quality
Genetic Engineering
The core of this class will focus on the
biology and tools of genetic engineering
Isolation of genes with a specific (useful)
function.
 Insertion of that gene into an organism that
will transcribe and translate that product.
 Expression of the gene at high volume to
make a product
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E.g. Insulin
Bioinformatics
Is the use and organization of
information about biology.
 A fusion of Computer science,
mathematics, and molecular
biology.
 Whole genomes can be
sequenced in days.
 Massive amounts of data
available e.g. at:
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(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/)
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Comparisons of sequences
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Analysis of Protein structures
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Correlation of marker sequences
with disease or reaction to drugs.
Interesting Links
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DNA Chip Technology
http://www.sumanasinc.com/webcontent/animations/content/dnachip
s.html
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Glow-pig: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Y1d2-ObxPQ
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Heart of stem-cells:
http://www1.umn.edu/umnnews/Feature_Stories/Researchers_creat
e_a_new_heart_in_the_lab.html
(video) http://www.startribune.com/video/13711842.html
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Super-carrot: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7188969.stm
Curing deafness: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7582640.stm
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Artificial life: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7203186.stm