Biotechnology

Discover biotechnology! Learn what it is, its amazing uses, and important ethical questions. Perfect for 8th graders.

What is Biotechnology? Biotechnology is any technology based on biological systems or organisms. Biotechnology often uses organisms to solve real world human problems. It has been used to domesticate animals and plants, and to create safer food sources for thousands of years. More recently, biotechnology is used to alter the genes of organisms, clean up wastes, generate cheaper foods, and create fuel sources. In addition, biotechnology is used in medicine, agriculture, and food processing.Biotechnology products are produced by bioengineers. Bioengineers apply engineering principles to living systems. They work to create products that meet some human need.Bioengineering strategies are base don the science of many fields, including microbiology, computer technology, robotics, molecular biology, biochemistry, pharmacology, and immunology. So, to have a career in biotech, you should have a clear understanding of biological principles along with strong science skills. This provides the core knowledge and logical thinking skills that you need in order to be successful in biotechnology. There are many top paying careers available in biotechnology. Some main areas are research and development, quality control, manufacturing and production, agricultures, and bioinformatics (compiling and computing information for studies). Which of the following is not an example of biotechnology? domesticating plants and animals for human use altering the genes of an organism creating a new engine for a farm machine use microbes to clean up environmental wastes Which field of study would not be helpful in biotechnology? computer technology astrology biochemistry microbiology Biotechnology in Medicine In the medical industry, biotechnology has many uses. It can be used for genetic testing, gene therapy, cloning, tissue culturing, or the development of better drugs and vaccines.The Human Genome Project allowed doctors and scientists to easily review an individual's DNA sequence. Cheaper techniques of genetic testing allow it to be used in more locations around the world. Genetic testing takes a DNA sample from an individual and breaks it apart using special enzymes. This process creates a DNA fingerprint, like a picture of the DNA. This information can be used to catch criminals, determine the parents of a baby, or to screen for possible genetic abnormalities or diseases. Doctors have been able to identify links between specific mutations and some cancers. Scientists are using modified viruses or bacteria to attempt to enter mutated cells and replace defective genes.Cloning is the creation of genetically identical organisms. To date, many different types of organisms have been cloned. The most famous was Dolly the sheep. She was created from the body cell of an adult sheep. Her birth created debate about the possibility of cloning humans. The possible benefits of cloning include allowing a childless couples to have a child, creating tissues for transplant purposes, and using genetically altered cells to treat people with certain disease. Although creating a human clone is possible, it would be very difficult. Doll was the 277th attempt in cloning a mammal. Her death sparked an enormous amount of new research questions.Tissue culturing allows bioengineer to grow human tissues and organs in the laboratory. Human ears, livers, and heart cells have all been grown in the laboratory. It is hoped that these tissues can be used to help patients that are injured or in need of an organ transplant.Biotechnology is often use in drug development. On example in use today is the bioengineered bacteria that have been used to treat patients suffering from diabetes. The gene that produces human insulin is inserted into bacterial cells. Bacteria, which reproduce rapidly, can make vast quantities of insulin far cheaper than traditional animal sources of this hormone. This type of medical therapy has been used to help people suffering from blood disorders, hormone imbalances, arthritis, and growth deficiencies. It has also been used to produce cheaper antibiotics. Mapping the human genome has helped scientist understand which part of a cell? Ribosomes Cytoplasm Glucose DNA The creation of a genetically identical organism is which scientific process? DNA mapping cloning tissue culturing Dolly the Sheep - Cloned July 1996Lived 6.5 years (normal sheep life expectancy 11-13 years) Why was Dolly so controversial? Because she lived twice as long as a normal sheep. Because her DNA was genetically altered. Because she was the first successfully cloned mammal, and humans are mammals too. Dolly the sheep came from which type of cell? Female egg cell Male sperm cell Adult sheep body cell Which type of microbe has been used to help grow human insulin? Bacteria Fungi Amoeba Virus Ethical Issues in Biotechnology Many products of biotechnology have been genetically altered. The subject of genetic alteration is the root of a serious debate. Part of the debate is the criticism of genetically altered products themselves.A good example is transgenic crops. Many people fear that cross pollination between transgenic crops and wild plants will have unforeseen consequences. Also, people are unsure of how transgenic crops will affect human health. Some fear transgenic crops can cause allergies, and other questions how the body will react to certain foods. Will the newly inserted genes cause new unknown diseases in humans?Another part of the debate is ethical. Ethics are moral principles that govern a person's behavior or the conducting of an activity. This part of the debate focuses on whether genetic modification is a good practice at all. A good example is genetic mapping, like the Human Genome Project. The mapping of the genome brings up many ethical questions. Who owns the information? Who gets to say what is a good use of the information, and what is bad? And now that the genome is mapped, it can be altered. There are questions about how that technology should be used. Is it okay to design a baby? What is to be done about genetic characteristics that are viewed as "undesirable"? What is parents want to choose a specific gender? What will the manipulation of genetics do to human traits, like intelligence or lifespan?The ethical debate of cloning and stem cell research are also notable. Should cloning be allowed on humans, just their organs, or both? What are the limits on the exploration of human clones? Human embryonic stem cell (HESC) research offers much hope for alleviating the impacts of disease and injury. Stem cells are characterized by their capacity for regeneration, and their ability to specialize into all types of cells of the body. The main goal of stem cells research is to turn the cells into specific cell types that can be used for treating diseases and injuries. Despite the potential benefits of stem cell research, the research has met with heated opposition because the harvesting of human embryonic stem cells involves the destruction of the human embryo.Ultimately, ethical questions surround changes in the genetics of any living organism. What are the consequences, both scientifically and morally, of the genetic manipulation? Do those consequences outweigh those benefits? And who gets to decide? Which of the following is a concern regarding the use of transgenic crops? increased crop yield (amount harvested) potential cross pollination between an altered plant and a wild plant the taste of the food produced Why are stem cells useful? Because they can be specialized into any types of cells. Because they replicate so quickly. Because they are resistant to viruses. Why is stem cell research controversial? because of the source of the cells is human embryos because the cells are uncontrollable because the cells can become toxic to a person