The Role of Biotechnology in Agriscience

The Role of Biotechnology in Agriscience Objective 8.01: Define terminology related to biotechnology

Defining Biotechnology (review) • Biotechnology is the manipulation of living organisms and organic material to serve human needs • Yeast to make bread rise and in alcohol production • Beneficial bacteria (penicillium) to kill harmful organisms • Cloning plants and animals • Artificial insemination

Biotechnology Terms • Base • A key component of DNA and RNA molecules • four different nitrogenous bases are in DNA • Adenine • Cytosine • Guanine • Thymine

Biotechnology Terms • Base Pair • Two nucleotide bases on different strands of the nucleic acid molecule that bond together • The bases can pair in only on way • Adenine – Thymine (Uracil with RNA) • Guanine – Cytosine

Biotechnology Terms • Bioassay • Determination of the effectiveness of a compound by measuring its effect on animals, tissues or organisms in comparison with a standard preparation

Biotechnology Terms • Bioremediation • The use of microorganisms to remedy environmental problems • Makes some hazardous wastes non-hazardous

Biotechnology Terms • Cloning • The production of a genetically identical organism(s) from cells removed from a single parent

Biotechnology Terms • Clonal Offspring • Organisms produced through the process of cloning – always genetically identical to each other and the parent

Biotechnology Terms • Codon • A sequence of three nucleotide bases that specifies and amino acid or represents a signals to stop or start a function

Biotechnology Terms • DNA Fingerprinting • The use of restriction enzymes to measure the genetic variation of individuals • this technology is often used as a forensic tool to detect differences or similarities in blood and tissue samples from crime scenes

Biotechnology Terms • Embryonic Stem Cells • Cells that can give rise to any type of differentiated cell • Are typically derived from an older developing embryo

Biotechnology Terms • Fermentation • The process of growing microorganisms for the production of various chemical or pharmaceutical compounds • Microbes are normally incubated under specific conditions in the presence o nutrients in large tanks called fermentors

Biotechnology Terms • Gel Electrophoresis • A process for separating molecules by forcing them to migrate through a gen under the influence of an electric field

Biotechnology Terms • Genetics • The study of the inheritance in plants and animals

Biotechnology Terms • Genetic Engineering • The process of removing and/or inserting genetic material in order to change an organism’s traits

Biotechnology Terms • Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) • Name given to transgenic organisms • Organisms that are developed through genetic manipulation

Biotechnology Terms • In vitro • “In Glass” • Meaning something that is developed in a test tube or other laboratory apparatus • In vitro fertilization is done outside of the female reproductive tract

Biotechnology Terms • In vivo • “In the living” • Something that is performed inside a living organism

Biotechnology Terms • Monoclonal Antibody • Highly specific, purified antibody that is derived from only one clone of cells and recognizes only one antigen • Typically used in diagnostic testing where the test recognizes one specific hormone, cell, etc to test • Example – pregnancy testing

Biotechnology Terms • Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) • A technique to amplify a target DNA sequence of nucleotides by several hundred thousand

Biotechnology Terms • Restriction Enzymes • An enzyme that breaks DNA in highly specific locations • Creates gaps into which new genes can be inserted

Biotechnology Terms • Ribonucleic Acid RNA • A nucleic acid smaller than DNA (no double helix) responsible for the production of proteins in a cell • Has only one ribose

Biotechnology Terms • Transgenic Organism • A genetically altered organism with DNA altered by the removal of genes or the insertion of genes from another organism

The Role of Biotechnology in Agriscience Objective 8.02: Discuss potential applications for biotechnology in production agriculture

Applications of Biotechnology in Agriculture 1. Use of biotechnology techniques in environmental science for cleaning contaminants and protecting endangered species • Bioremediation – use of natural organisms to clean or improve the environment

Applications of Biotechnology in Agriculture 2. The production of improved plants and animals resistant to insects, diseases, or even harsh environmental conditions • Bt corn • Drought tolerant plants • Selectively bred livestock

Applications of Biotechnology in Agriculture 3. Increased use of methods of in vitro fertilization and artificial insemination - improved selective breeding programs in plants and animals

Applications of Biotechnology in Agriculture 4. The production of beneficial medical and nutritional substances in transgenic plants and animals -example – Golden Rice

Applications of Biotechnology in Agriculture 5. DNA analysis-paternity testing in order to determine a more accurate ancestry of living organisms

Problems with Biotechnology in Production Agriculture • Transfer of genes found in transgenic organisms to natural population • For roundup ready crops some genes have merged into weeds to make them resistant to roundup as well • Terminator gens are being developed to alleviate this risk

Problems with Biotechnology in Production Agriculture 2. Unexpected impacts of genetically modified organisms and biotechnology processes on other organisms and the environment • Some testing is still being done

Problems with Biotechnology in Production Agriculture 3. Expense of the utilization of many biotechnology techniques • Example: the cost of producing transgenic animals is very high, even for fish, so it would be very costly to produce livestock this way

Problems with Biotechnology in Production Agriculture 4. Concerns over the safety and ethics of incorporating GMO’s into food for human consumption • Example: the use of a genetically modified corn (Starling) has not been approved for human consumption in taco shells

Problems with Biotechnology in Production Agriculture 5. Lack of education among both consumers and producers concerning biotechnology processes and products

The Role of Biotechnology in Agriscience Objective 8.03: Summarize the relationship between the various divisions of biotechnology and agriscience

General Relationship between Biotechnology and Agriscience • Increased activity and research between different agricultural areas with common research techniques and goals • Helps increase the yields of crops • Reduces the use of resources like water and fertilizer • Controls pests in environmentally compatible ways

Relationship of Biotechnology to Specific Fields of Agriscience • Biotechnology in Agricultural Production • Wide scale production of transgenic plants impacting agronomy and horticulture • Natural protection for plants • Resistance to environmental stresses • Increases crop yields

Relationship of Biotechnology to Specific Fields of Agriscience 2. Biotechnology in Environmental Science • Immunoassays are used for testing contaminants in soil and water • Installation of biological barriers to prevent the transfer of harmful microorganisms between production facilities • Bioremediation of soils that have been contaminated with wood preservatives, coal and tar

Relationship of Biotechnology to Specific Fields of Agriscience 3. Biotechnology in Heath – Agri-medicine • The use of biological barriers to prevent the spread of harmful microorganisms that could contaminate food sources • Pharming – the creation of plants and animals capable of producing medical substances • Example: creating cows and goats that produce milk containing therapeutic proteins that can nourish premature infants

The Role of Biotechnology in Agriscience