Biotechnology
BIOLOGY PRESENTATION BY: TERRENCE AND DAVIES
What is biotech?
Biotech is the study involving the use of living organisms to carry out
processes that we want. The different types of biotech that are
commonly used are:

Bacteria

Yeast

Enzymes

Penicillin

Genetic Engineering
Bacteria
This is the most common type of microorganism
used in biotech. They are useful because they
are capable of producing complex molecules
(eg certain bacteria added to milk produce
enzymes that turn the milk into yoghurt).They are
also useful because they reproduce rapidly,
meaning the amount of chemicals they can
produce can also rapidly increase
Examples of biotech using bacteria
Yeast
Yeast is a single celled fungus that uses
sugar as its food source. When it respires,
ethanol and carbon dioxide are produced
(and energy is released). The ethanol
produced in this reaction is increasingly
being used as a biofuel (a fuel made from
living organisms rather than a fossil fuel like
oil, coal or gas).
Examples of biotech using yeast
Enzymes
Examples of biotech using enzymes
Antibiotics
Penicillin was the first antibiotic
discovered in 1928 by Alexander
Fleming in the fungus Penicillium. The
penicillium mould produces a
chemical to prevent it being
infected by certain types of
bacteria. The chemical was isolated
and named penicillin. Since the
discovery of penicillin, methods have
been developed to produce it on a
large scale, using an industrial
fermenter
Examples of biotech using
antibiotics
Genetic Engineering
Genetic engineering is changing the genetic material of an organism
by removing, changing or inserting individual genes from another
organism. The organism that undergoes genetic engineering is called
GMO (genetically modified organism). The DNA of the organism that
now contains DNA from another organism as well is known as
‘recombinant DNA’.
Examples of biotech using genetic
engineering
Why is biotech important?

Modern biotechnology provides breakthrough products and technologies to
combat debilitating and rare diseases, reduce our environmental footprint,
feed the hungry, use less and cleaner energy, and have safer, cleaner and
more efficient industrial manufacturing processes
What effect does biotech have in
daily life?

Biotechnology plays a huge role in our everyday lives — from the clothes
we wear to how we wash them, the food we eat to how we source
them, the medicine we take to treat our bodies, and even the fuel we
use to move our vehicles.
How biotech is good for the
environment

Products developed with agricultural biotechnology may contribute to
the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, such as cover crops that
provide sustainable biofuels , fruits and vegetables that stay fresh longer
and reduce food waste.
how does most religion view
biotech? Bad or good?
Pop quiz
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Thank you for listening