Chapter 1
The Biotechnology
Century and Its Workforce
Define Biotechnology
The use of living organisms and
biological molecules to solve
problems or make useful products.
History of Biotechnology
 Fermentation
History of Biotechnology
Selective breeding
History of Biotechnology
Mendel’s work in genetics
History of Biotechnology
Vaccinations
History of Biotechnology
Pharmaceuticals
History of Biotechnology
Genetic engineering
Relating Biotechnology to
Current World Issues
Biotechnology is used in:
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Agriculture – reducing the use of harmful pesticides
Bioremediation – cleaning up the environment
Food Processing – genetically modified food
Textile industry– enzymes replacing harmful chemicals
Forensics – criminal investigations
Archeology – determine ancestry of mummies and fossils
Medicine – cheaper medicines and diagnostic tests
Introductory Biotech Video
Copyright © Texas Education Agency 2009. All rights reserved.
Biotechnology: A Science of
Many Disciplines
Basic sciences
form the roots
for biotech
Distribution of US Biotech
Companies
Jobs in Biotechnology
Organization of a Biotech Company
Organization of a Biotech Company
Research and Development
• Organizational unit in a
company that finds ideas for
products
• Directly involved in designing
and running experiments to
see if the ideas are feasible
• Responsible for developing
promising ideas into
marketable products
Organization of a Biotech Company
Production/Manufacturing
• Manufactures products that
have been given to them by
R&D
• Often involves scale-up of
protocols
• Routine cleaning, calibration
and maintenance of
equipment
Organization of a Biotech Company
Quality Assurance/Quality
Control
• Monitors and checks final
products for quality before
they are sent to the
consumer
• Compares data to
established standards
• Maintains documentation
Organization of a Biotech Company
Support Departments
• Filling and packaging bulk
products in individual
containers for customer use
• Metrology ensures
instruments are operating
properly
• Facilities technicians maintain
critical day to day functions
such as housekeeping and
repairs
Organization of a Biotech Company
Business Services
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Marketing and sale of the
product
Accounting department
manages financial reports
Customer service
interacts with customers
to address questions and
complaints
Organization of a Biotech Company
Regulatory Affairs
• Many products are regulated by government agencies
and a regulatory affairs staff is needed to interpret
the rules and ensure compliance with these three
federal agencies
1. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – regulates the safety
of genetically modified food and pharmaceutical products
2. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) – regulates the
purity and quality of meat, poultry and eggs and monitors
safety of genetically modified food and plants
3. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – regulates
environmental release of genetically modified organisms
Organization of a Biotech Company
Virtual Tour of a Biotech Company