Learning BiotechnologyChase High School

It All Started With…

Bread, Cheese and Biotechnology?•Yeast is used to make bread rise•Bacteria is used to produce various kinds

of cheeses and other dairy products.

Genetics and Biotechnology?

•Genetics: the biology of heredity.▫Gregor Johann Mendel discovered the

effect of genetics on plant characteristics w/ his experiments with garden peas.

Heredity

•The transmission of characteristics from an organism to its offspring through genes in reproductive cells.

Genes

•Components of cells that determine the individual characteristics of living things.▫Genes are comprised of DNA▫DNA determines what the cell and its

successive cells will become.

Mapping

•The matching of genes to certain traits.▫Used by geneticists to determine which

genes are responsible for certain traits.▫Examples: Tendency of baldness, height of

plants at maturity, and tendency of females to have twin offspring.

Applying Biotechnology to Agriscience

Applications

•DNA matching to identify parents of offspring.

Genetic Engineering

•Discovered by scientists in the early 1980s and was a breakthrough in modifying genetic makeup.

•Genetic Engineering is the movement of genetic information in the form of genes from one cell to another.

Products of Genetic Engineering•One of the first commercial products of

genetic engineering was insulin, the chemical used by people with diabetes. E. coli was genetically engineered to produce insulin.

Products of Genetic Engineering•Herbicide resistant crops are a product of

genetic engineering. •BST (bovine somatropin) increases milk

production in dairy cattle and became available commercially as a result of genetic engineering.

Products of Genetic Engineering •Lee-minus is a bacteria that was

genetically altered to retard frost formation on plant leaves.

•Other bacteria strains are under development to convert solid waste from humans and livestock into sugar and fuel.

The Use of DNA in BiotechnologyCharacteristics of DNA

Gene Splicing

•Gene splicing is the process of removing and inserting genes into DNA.▫Gene splicing is also known as recombinant

DNA technology.▫Gene splicing is used to alter a given

characteristic in a microorganism, plant, or animal.

Gene Splicing

•Some examples of the use of gene splicing are: ▫Alter a plant’s susceptibility to disease.▫Make a plant resistant to insects.▫Alter bacteria to increase meat production

in swine.

Gene Mapping

•Gene mapping is the process of finding and recording the location of genes.

Importance of Recombinant DNA Technology•Improve plants’ and animals’ performance

through the manipulation of genes.•Alter characteristics or performance of

microorganisms

Importance of Recombinant DNA Technology•The greatest potential for controlling

disease, insects, weeds, and other pests is through genetic engineering

•Less use of chemical pesticides and more genetic use of biological controls result in a better environment.

Concerns with the use of Biotechnology•State and federal government monitor the

use of biotechnology.

Concerns with the use of Biotechnology•Extensive testing is done to make certain

biotechnology products safe.▫Testing proceeds from laboratory to the

greenhouse▫Final testing occurs outdoors on a small

scale prior to produce approval.

Concerns with the use of Biotechnology•Final approval by the federal government

occurs only after all phases of testing have been completed.