Chapter 2: The Historical Development of Biotechnology

1. Chapter 2: The Historical Development of Biotechnology Biotechnology: An agricultural revolution By: Ray V. Herren Most of This content is taken from DELMAR Cengage learning

2. Biotechnology • According to Biotechnology in the Realm of History Biotechnology • Derived from biology and technology • Technology which makes our life convenient and comfortable with the employment of biological resources

3. Present • Biotechnology = a buzz word nowadays • As time goes by and the way our way of life is heading it seems as if biotechnology has become an essential component of our life • Became important in the last 2 decades • Touched our lives in many if not all aspects • food, health and animal life

4. Various stages of development • Developed on observations • Divided into 3 stages • Ancient Biotechnology (Pre 1800) • Classical Biotechnology • Modern Biotechnology

5. Ancient Biotechnology Pre 1800

6. Pre 1800 • Most developments can be describes as discoveries or developments prior to 1800 • Many were common observations about nature • Initial period of • evolution of farming • development of food preservation and storage • clay jars etc. • Then moved to observations of • cheese, vinegar, and yeast • Finally crossbreeding • mule = male donkey and a female horse • used for transportation, carrying loads and farming

7. Beginnings of Biotechnology • Transitioned to permanent settlements and learned to: • Contain/maintain plants and animals • Create more reliable food sources • Biotechnology began with this transition approximately 7,000 to 12,000 years ago

8. First Biotechnology Processes • Crop production genesis • Selection and storage of best plants and seeds • Identified animals most adaptable to domestication • With animal taming came multiple uses for not only its meat but also its parts • E.g., sinews as strings for tying tools, hooves boiled to make glue

9. Start of Society • Produced enough food to be stationary • Had more time to create labor-saving tools • Needing fewer people to produce food • Allowed some people to specialize • Developed new technologies • Gathered and recorded knowledge • Produced specialty goods • Developed into villages and cities

10. Start of Financial Systems • Society’s development paved the way to plant and animal profitability by: • Producing food to eat • Gaining something of value others wanted • Excess food traded to accumulate items • Barter systems gave way to financial ones • Money was more portable than traded items

11. History of Food Preservation • Travel necessitated food preservation • Cured animal stomachs used for storage • Legend of milk stored in calf’s stomach • Heat and sloshing caused coagulation • Milk turned to cheese by journey’s end • Settlements prompted year-round preservation and storage methods • Early method: • Fruit-juice storage

12. Basics of Bread Making • Began early in civilization • Found grass seeds good to eat • Ground wheat seed produced flour • Yeast gave volume and taste • New types of breads developed • Each new development involved biotechnology • This weeks lab!!! Bread making

13. Start of the Science of Genetics • Planted seeds from crops that produced foods that: • They desired most • Yielded largest quantity and highest quality • Identified plants and animals with superior offspring • Bred those with superior traits to create hybrids • Much progress with new varieties in 1700s

14. Discovery of Cells • Microscope invented in 1600s • Earliest biotechnology milestone • Hooke examined thin slice of cork • Coined term “cells” because tiny spaces looked like prison cells • Research began • Many cell theories followed • Opened door to cell manipulation

15. Classical Biotechnology 1800 to the middle of the 20th century

16. Theory of Heredity • Mendel developed theory in mid-1800s • Explained how traits passed to offspring • Theory arose from his observations of garden peas • Differences in appearances and texture from generation to generation • Led to breeding research and other laws

17. Advancements of Disease Prevention and Treatment • 19th century • Discovered germs cause diseases • Louis Pasteur • Learned to prevent disease in sheep by using survivor’s blood for injections into healthy sheep • Led to many new vaccines for animals and humans

18. Discovery of Penicillin • Fleming studied bacteria in 1920s • Saw Penicillium inhibited bacteria growth • Extracts became first antibiotic penicillin • Many “miracle drugs” followed • Saved millions of human lives • Eradicated many animal diseases

19. Artificial Insemination • Great boost to animal agriculture • In Middle Ages, Arabs first used to breed stallions • Used large scale in United States (U.S.) in 1930s • Freezing technique perfected in 1950s • Allowed global semen shipping and storage • Made superior sires more available

20. Embryo Transfer • From one female to another • Became widespread in 1970s • Superior females could produce multiple offspring • Combined with artificial insemination, allowed rapid production of superior animals

21. In Vitro Process • Capability of cells’ genes long known • New organism made from one cell in 1950 • Used in vitro process to grow plant from single cell • In vitro means “in glass” • Started plant not from seed but in petri dish with single cell

22. Gene Transfer • Parents transfer genetic information to offspring • Methods were mystery until 1950s • Watson and Crick published model of DNA • Key to gene transfer contained in double-helix shape

23. Basics of DNA • Genetic material in cell’s nucleus • Alternating units of phosphoric acid and deoxyribose • Form of double helix that contains number, order, and type of nucleotides • Helix structure determines code transmitted from one generation to the next

24. Basics of Genetic Engineering • Genetics’ knowledge applied in 1980s • Genetic engineering • Transfer genes to express traits • Microbes are natural “genetic engineers” • Gene splicing • Transplant gene from one organism into another organism