Biotechnology

Biotechnology
Bio = Biology
Technology = Application
“The application of Biology”
Molecular Biotechnology
Dolly and
surrogate Mom
Embryonic stem cells and gene
therapy
Genetically modified rice.
The biology…….
A gene is a DNA segment that encodes a
specific protein that contributes to
expression of a trait.
mRNA
protein
trait
translation
expression
transcription
Route to the
Production by
Bacteria of
Human
Insulin
The technology…….
Route to the Production by Bacteria of Human Insulin
One cell with the
recombinant plasmid
This is the step when gene cloning takes place.
A fermentor used to grow
recombinant bacteria.
The single recombinant plasmid replicates within a cell.
Then the single cell with many recombinant plasmids produces trillions of like
cells with recombinant plasmid – and the human insulin gene.
The insulin protein expressed from the recombinant human insulin
gene in bacteria.
Biotechnology and Health
Product
Use
Insulin
Diabetes
Interferon
Cancer
Interleukin
Cancer
Human growth hormone
Dwarfism
Neuroactive proteins
Pain
History of Biotechnology

1953 - double helical structure of DNA published in
Nature by Watson and Crick*

1980 - the U.S. patent for cloning genes is awarded to
Cohen and Boyer**

First biotech companies formed:
1976 - Genentech
1978 - Biogen
1980 - Amgen
1981 - Immunex
1981 - Chiron
1981 - Genzyme
The industry is
only 35 years old…
it takes time!
*Nature 171, 737(April 2, 1953)
**Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1973 Nov;70(11):3240-4 and
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1974 May;71(5):1743-7
Biology
Cell
Nucleus (eukaryotes)
Chromosome
Protein
Gene (mRNA),
single strand
Gene (DNA)
Biotechnologie
• Rode biotechnologie
– Stamcellen
– Moleculaire therapie
– Genoom op datastick
• Groene biotechnologie
– Transgene gewassen
• Witte biotechnologie
– Bio-brandstoffen
– Industriële enzymen
Biotechnologie
• Rode biotechnologie
– Stamcellen
– Moleculaire therapie
– Genoom op datastick
• Groene biotechnologie
– Transgene gewassen
• Witte biotechnologie
– Bio-brandstoffen
– Industriële enzymen
induced pluripotent cells (iPSC)
A combination of several genes can re-program skin
fibroblasts into pluripotent cells
“Reprogramming”
Why iPSC can not replace ESC research:
1) Studying ESCs is critical for understanding iPSCs
2) iPSCs are induced by cancer genes therefore hinder their
use for therapies
(Takahashi and Yamanaka Cell 2007, Yu Science 07, Cowan Science 07, Wernig Nature 07, Okita Nature 07)
Technological advances
Next generation sequencing technology
• Sequencing human genome: 13 jaar/ 3 miljard dollar
• Genome Watson: 20 mensen/2 maanden. Totaalprijs
1.000.000 dollar
• Te verwachten: 1000 dollar human genome
A Daunting Challenge
HER-2/NEU
receptor
Growth
factor
Her2 gene
Growth receptor present
High risk of relapse
Not good candidate for
conventional therapy
Mutated susceptibility genes
Vascular markers present
Biotechnologie
• Rode biotechnologie
– Stamcellen
– Moleculaire therapie
– Genoom op datastick
• Groene biotechnologie
– Transgene gewassen
• Witte biotechnologie
– Bio-brandstoffen
– Industriële enzymen
Plant biotechnology definition:
A precise process in
which scientific
techniques are used
to develop useful
and beneficial plants.
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What is plant biotechnology?
Traditional plant breeding
DNA is a strand of genes,
much like a strand of
pearls. Traditional plant
breeding combines many
genes at once.
Traditional donor
Commercial variety
New variety
(many genes are transferred)
=
X
(crosses)
Desired Gene
Desired gene
Plant biotechnology
Using plant biotechnology,
a single gene may be
added to the strand.
Desired gene
Commercial variety
New variety
(only desired gene is transferred)
=
(transfers)
Desired gene
What crops were developed from these plants?
What crops were developed from these plants?
corn
carrot
lettuce
Agricultural yield increases are declining
Percentage per year
3
1967–1982
1982–1994
1995–2020
2
1
0
Developing countries
World
Source: C.S. Prakash, Center for Plant Biotechnology Research, Tuskegee University, Alabama
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Developed countries
Agriculture Products On the Market
Insect resistant cotton
 Bt toxin kills the cotton boll worm
 toxin gene from a bacteria
Source: USDA
Insect resistant corn
 Bt toxin kills the European corn borer
 toxin gene from a bacteria
 Rootworm GM approved
Normal
Transgenic
Genetically Modified Crops
Genetically Modified Cotton
(contains a bacterial gene for pest
resistance)
Standard Cotton
Biotechnologie
• Rode biotechnologie
– Stamcellen
– Moleculaire therapie
– Genoom op datastick
• Groene biotechnologie
– Transgene gewassen
• Witte biotechnologie
– Bio-brandstoffen
– Industriële enzymen
Biotechnology Beakthroughs
New food enzyme used during cheese making process
Chymosin (1990)
First biotechnology food product approved in the
United States
9.
Bacterial and Animal Biotechnology Products
Biotech chymosin
Source: Chr. Hansen
 enzyme used to curdle milk products
 gene from yeast
 harvested from GE bacteria
 replaces the calf enzyme
bST (bovine somatotropin)
Source: Rent Mother Nature
 increases milk production
 gene from cow
 protein harvested from GE bacteria
 replaces cow protein originally
harvested from pituitary glands
of slaughtered cows
What is Synthetic Biology?
Synthetic Biology
It is an emerging field of biology that aims at
designing and building novel biological systems.
The final goal is to be able to design biological systems
in the same way engineers design electronic or
mechanical systems.
The Question for the Future:
Should We Live A Biotech Free Lifestyle??
Answers depends upon your perspective
on the value of the technology
What will support your opinion?
• Economics
• Safety of products
• Needs of human