An Introduction to Biotechnology

What is Biotechnology?
By definition, biotechnology utilizes cellular and biomolecular processes to produce
useful products. In simpler terms this means that using scientific techniques an
organism is used to create a new product or alter another organism. An example that
has been in the news recently would be the production of glow in the dark animals using
genes taken from jellyfish.

What is Biotechnology used for?
Many products that you use every day have been produced using some sort of
biotechnology. Although biotechnology did not become a large field until the discovery
of DNA, it was still used widely in one specific field. DNA was discovered in the 1950’s and
with it came many advances in biotechnology. Since the discovery of DNA and DNA based
biotechnology techniques, the field of biotechnology has rapidly expanded, we will
discuss why shortly. Today, we can see biotechnology in many household products.
Within each field advances in biotechnology have allowed for the development of many
new and unique creations.
Area of Production
Example

History of Biotechnology
Surprisingly, biotechnology has been used by humans for a very long time. Because
biotechnology is the process of using organisms to produce goods for human use, a lot
of products that you would not consider biotechnology actually are. Foods produced by
organisms like yeast or bacteria are all products of biotechnology. This means that
yogurt, cheese, and all fermented beverages are actually produced using
biotechnological processes. In fact, these foods and many others would not be possible
to make or would taste drastically different without the inclusion of bacteria. Cheese
needs a stare bacteria to grow in it and turn lactose into lactic acid, the chemical that
gives cheese its taste, aroma and moisture. The taste and texture of yogurt depends
entirely on the type of bacteria used to produce it. Bacteria is even essential to the taste
of fermented meats like salami and pepperoni. Even some medicines are the products
of biotechnology, and have been produced for many decades. Below are a list of
random milestones in the history of biotechnology. As a class we are going to make a
timeline with these products, and see how far back human ingenuity allowed the use of
biotechnology.
Vinegar manufacturing
Discovery of penicillin
Human genome is mapped
Production of ethanol (wine)
Proving bread with leaven
Description on lactic acid fermentation
Manufacture of beer in Egypt
Polymerase chain reaction technique is developed
Discovery of many other antibiotics
Discovery of DNA
Fermentation of juices to alcoholic beverages
DNA extraction and insertion
Discovery of fermentation processes
Since the 1950’s, biotechnology has rapidly expanded. The discovery of DNA, and the
techniques that allow for its isolation have allowed biotechnology to develop into a
science, rather than an art form. Recent advances in biotechnology has allowed
scientists the ability to insert a section of DNA into another organism, to produce
whatever results they want. A notable use of this technology would be the production
of insulin. Before gene manipulation, the only way to get insulin was from the liver of a
calf. This was understandably bad for calves. We can now insert the gene for insulin
production into bacteria and harvest from them. We are also now able to produce
manmade proteins that can perform actions that natural proteins are not able to fulfill.

DNA
As mentioned before, the discovery of DNA was arguably the most important
breakthrough in the field of biotechnology. DNA is the hereditary material in all living
organisms. This fact is what makes it so useful in biotechnology. Because all organisms
have the same structured DNA, we are able to take the helpful pieces from other
organisms and insert them into the organisms that we wish to alter.
A quick overview of DNA:
- DNA has a double helix structure
- It has a backbone of sugar-phosphate molecules
- Attached to the backbone are 4 different amino acids: adenine, thymine, guanine
and cytosine
- The order that these amino acids are in determine the protein that that section of
the DNA codes for
- There are large sections of DNA that do not code for anything, these areas are called
junk DNA
- DNA can replicate itself
Now that we know why DNA can be manipulated, we need to know how it is done.
Inserting genes into new organisms is done using plasmids. Plasmids are similar to
viruses, but lack a protective coat and cannot move from cell to cell in the same way as
a virus. Plasmid are small circular molecules of double stranded DNA made from natural
plasmids that occur in bacterial cells. A piece of DNA can be inserted into a plasmid if
both the circular plasmid and the source of DNA have recognition sites that match. The
plasmid and the foreign DNA are cut by a specific type of enzyme, producing pieces of
DNA with “sticky” ends. Those two ends join using their base-pairing and are linked by
another enzyme. A new plasmid containing the new DNA piece is created. A few
mismatches may occur, producing an undesirable result. The new plasmid can be
introduced into bacterial cells that can produce many copies of the inserted DNA. This
technique is called DNA cloning.

DNA-Extraction
DNA is the molecule that makes biotechnology possible. This is due to the fact that DNA
is found in every living organism. One of the main techniques used in biotechnology is
the isolation and extraction of DNA. This means that the DNA in a cell is removed from
its protective nucleus in the cell and separated from the rest of the organelles in the
cell. When the DNA is isolated, it can be manipulated to do many different things. This
experiment will allow you to isolate and see your own DNA. As you do the lab, try to
understand what each step is doing and why it is necessary to be able to isolate the
DNA.
1. Add a tiny amount of your saliva to the Ziploc bag. Only a little saliva is
necessary. For best results, work your tongue against your cheeks and teeth.
2. Add 1-2 drops of dish soap to the Ziploc bag. Be careful not to add too much.
3. Add a few drops of contact solution to the solution.
4. Add a pinch of salt to the solution. After the salt is added, mix the solution by
gently flicking the bag for a minute.
5. After the solution has been thoroughly mixed add several drops of Isopropyl
Alcohol to the solution. Again mix the solution by flicking the bag.
6. Carefully open the bag and spool the DNA onto the wooden stick. When the stick
is put into the solution gently swirl and rotate the stick at the same time.
7. When you’re done examining your DNA, suspend it in a new Ziploc bag filled
with water.

Bioethics
Bioethics is the study of typically controversial ethics brought about by advances
in biology and medicine. Bioethicists are concerned with the ethical questions that arise
in the relationships among life sciences, biotechnology, medicine, politics, law,
and philosophy. It also includes the study of the more commonplace questions of values
("the ethics of the ordinary") which arise in primary care and other branches of
biotechnology. There are several issues of bioethics that are commonly in the news.
Human testing
Genetically Modified Organisms
Stem cells
Cloning
Animal rights
Gene therapy
Chimeras
Great Ape Project

Careers in biotechnology
Biotechnology is a very large field, with many jobs that can fit under its umbrella. The
only really way to find a way into a biotechnology related career is to major in a biology
associated major. Of course, this all begins in high school. Any aspiring biotechnician will
have to work their way through high school science classes, and then the science college
courses. If you are interested in biotechnology, here are some careers that you may find
yourself in.
Bioinformatics Specialist
Forensic DNA Analyst
Biomedical Engineer
Animal Technician
Research Associate
Food Quality Control Technician
Agricultural Analyst