Transcript Basic Biotechnology

Messana
Science 8
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Technology based on a biological system or
living organism
Uses organisms to solve real world human
problems
Medicine
Agriculture
Food processing
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Create products that meet some human need
Research & development
Quality control
Manufacturing & production
Agriculture
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Genetic testing = “picture” of the DNA
– Catch criminals
– Determine parents of a baby
– Screen for diseases/genetic abnormalities
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Gene therapy = utilizes viruses or bacteria to
enter cell and replace defective genes
Cloning = creation of genetically identical
organisms
– Dolly the Sheep, Scotland, 1997
– Cloning human would be very difficult, is it ethical??
– Human Cloning – Outlawed in US late 1990s- early
2000s
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Tissue culturing = grow human tissues and
organs in lab
Development of better/cheaper drugs
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Making bacteria that will eat harmful
pollutants
Help bacteria reproduce faster
Bacteria will clean up after an industrial
accident
Bacteria will increase rate of nutrient cycling
through ecosystem
Microbes used to produce food products
Control production of harmful bacteria in
foods
Control microbes in water
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Increase crop yields
– Transgenic crops = DNA altered by humans
– Insecticide use, plants that are insect resistant
– Transgenic animals = produce more, faster;
products contain fewer hormones, antibiotics,
cholesterol
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Reducing environmental stressors
– Make transgenic crops that can survive in harsh
conditions
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Improving food quality
– Alter size, taste, amount of nutrients, when it
ripens, how long it stays fresh
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Will cross-pollination between transgenic crops &
wild plants have unforeseen consequences?
How will transgenic crops affect humans long
term?
Will transgenic crops affect food allergies or
cause new unknown diseases?
Who gets to make decisions on Human Genome
Project info?
Is it OK to pick desired genetic characteristics for
a baby?
What are the effects of genetic manipulation on
complex human traits?