Introduction to Biotechnology Lecture-1

Definitions and scope

What is Biotechnology?

vThe term biotechnology was coined in 1917 by hungarian Engineer , Karl Ereky, to describe a process for large scale production of pigs.

=> for large scale rearing of pigs using sugar beets as food source

“Production of products from raw materials with the aid of living organisms”.

vAll type of work are biotechnology  by which products are produced  from raw material using living organism.

vBiotechnology discipline emerged at the end of 20th century which integrate biology with technology .

vTherefore, biotechnology is concerned with exploitation of biological components for production of useful products.

Defined by different organization in different ways:

vBroadly, defined as “the development and utilization of biological process, forms and systems for obtaining maximum benefits to man and other forms of life.
vBiotechnology is the application of scientific and engineering principles to the process of materials by biological agents to provide goods and services [The Organization for Economic Coorporation And Development(OECD),1981].
vThe integrated use of biochemistry, microbiology and engineering sciences  in order to achieve  technological applications of the capabilities of microorganisms, culture tissue, cells [ The Europian Federation Of Biotechnology (EFB), 1981; O’sullivan, 1981]

vThe application of  biochemistry , biology , microbiology and chemical engineering to industrial process and products and on environment [International Union Of Pure And Applied Chemistry (IUPAC), 1981]

vAccording to United States National Science Academy,  Biotechnology is “the controlled use of biological agents like cells or cellular components for beneficial use”. 

FBritish Biotechnologists defined Biotechnology as “the application of biological organisms, systems or processes to manufacturing and service industries”.

FUN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

 ‘’any technological application that uses biological systems, living organisms, or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or processes for specific use.’’

FMore generally, biotechnology can be defined as “the use of living organisms, cells or cellular components for the production of compounds or precise genetic improvement of living things for the benefit of man”. 

vIn whichever way the term biotechnology has been defined, it essentially represents:

“ the use of microbial, animal and plant cells or enzymes to synthesize , breakdown or transform materials”

History of Biotechnology

vThe biotechnology date back to the time (around 6000 BC) when the yeast was first used to produce beer and wine and the bacteria were first used to prepare yogurt. Louis pasteur identified the role of microrganisms in fermentation (between 1857-1876)- father of biotechnology.

vThe development of Biotechnology, in the first half of 20th century associated with the field of applied microbiology and industrial fermentations ( production of penicillin, Organic solvents etc).

vThe development of biotechnology also closely linked with the advancement made in molecular biology.

vThe biotechnology revolution began in 1970s and early 1980s when the scientist understood the genetic constitution of living organisms

vStrong foundation of genetic engineering and modern biotechnology was laid down by  Cohen and Boyer in 1973 when they could successfully introduce the desired gene of one organism into another and clone the new gene.

Biotechnology: A  multidisciplinary  growing  tree 

vBiotechnology is interdisciplinary pursuit with multidisciplinary applications , it may be represented as a growing biotechnology tree.

vThe growing biotechnology tree comprises:

(A). Scientific foundation of biotechnology –roots

(B).Biotechnological tools-Growing plants with stem and branches etc

(C). Application of Biotechnology -fruits

Diverse Fields Contribute to Molecular Biotechnology

 

vBiotechnology is old as human civilization.

vDevelopment of biotechnology occur in two phases:

(a). The traditional or classical-old biotechnology

(b). The Modern-New biotechnology

Classical and Modern Biotechnology

vThere are no differences in the principles but; the technological advancement of utilizing living cells for the benefit of man differentiates between classical and modern biotechnology.

Classical Biotechnology

vIt is also called kitchen technology  developed by our ancestor using fermenting bacteria.

v Summarians and Babylonian (6000BC) – were drinking the beer.

vEgyptians (4000 BC)- were baking leavened bread.

vBeer , wine ,cheese , and many foods have been produced using traditional biotechnology.

vClassical  biotechnology includes the process  that are based on the natural capabilities of  microorganism.

Is basically a microbial-based fermentation process in which the principles of biochemical engineering have been applied to change it into an industrial process. In short, it is a hybrid of fermentation and biochemical engineering.

qEmerged during the early 20th century industries linked to the fermentation technology had grown tremendously because of the high demand for various chemicals such as ethanol,  butanol,  glycerine, acetone, etc. 

BIOPROCESS TECHNOLOGY

qThe advancement in fermentation process by its interaction with chemical engineering => the bioprocess technology.

qIt refers to the large-scale production of proteins, antibiotics and enzymes in an economical manner.

qIncludes media and buffer preparation, upstream processing and downstream processing.

qThus, fermentation technology is now part of the classical biotechnology.

Modern Biotechnology

☞It is mainly based on genetic engineering/recombinant DNA technology (rDNA) and hybridoma technology in addition to bioprocess technology.

☞rDNA technology is the main tool to produce genetically-modified organisms (GMO), including plants , animals, & microbes, but also to address the fundamental questions in life sciences. e.g. Golden rice

☞In fact, modern biotechnology began when recombinant human insulin was produced and marketed in the United States in 1982.

qGenetic alteration of organisms through selective breeding, plant cloning by grafting, etc. do not fall under biotechnology.

qThe process of fermentation for the preparation and manufacturing of products such as alcohol, beer, wine, dairy products, various types of organic acids such as vinegar, citric acid, amino acids, and vitamins can be called classical biotechnology or traditional biotechnology.

qModern biotechnology is similar to classical biotechnology in utilizing living organisms.

qIt is not modern in the sense of using various living organisms, but in the techniques for doing so (genetic manipulation).

qThe introduction of a large number of new techniques has changed the face of classical biotechnology forever.

Applications of Biotechnology

Medical Applications

üProduction of pharmaceuticals for treatment of diseases. 

  e.g. human insulin, interferon, vaccines, etc

§Gene therapy: artificially replacing  a disease-causing gene with a normal allele. e.g. treatment of cystic fibrosis

§Clonal propagation: as a source of tissue or organ for transplantation in order to avoid all problems of immuno-incompatibility.

§Test tube baby in humans- to resolve problem of infertility.

§Identification of parents/criminals- using DNA fingerprints.

Industrial Applications

üProduction of useful chemicals.  e.g. ethanol, lactic acid, acetone, etc…

üProduction of enzymes, antibiotics, hormones, etc

üProduction of single cell proteins for human food from fungi, bacteria, algae, etc.

qAgricultural Applications

§Production of

ØTransgenic animals for:

üincreased milk production and growth rate,

üresistance to diseases, etc…

ØTransgenic plants for:

üInsect  and herbicide resistance

üVirus protection

üIncreased nutritional quality and yield

üProduction of useful products

§In vitro fertilization- for rapid multiplication of animals

§Rapid multiplication of plants through plant tissue culture

qEnvironmental Applications

§Sewage treatment

§Bioremediation: (e.g. degradation of petroleum and management of oil spill)

§Biopestcides: biological control of  plant diseases & insect pests

§Bio-fertilizers, Bioleaching, etc