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Subject: English for Biology

13th and 14th meetings


Lecturer: Irsyad Nugraha M.Pd

BIOTECHNOLOGY

In 1995, a major scientific milestone was announced: For the first time, researchers
had sequenced the entire genome of a free-living organism, the bacterium Haemophilus
influenzac. This news electrified the scientific community. Few among them would have
dared to dream that a mere 12 years later, genome sequencing would be under way for
more than 2,000 species. By 2007, researchers had completely sequenced hundreds of
prokaryotic genomes and dozens of eukaryotic ones, including all 3 billion base pairs ofthe
human genome.
Ultimately, these achievements can be attributed to advances in DNA technology-
methods of working with and manipulating DNA-that had their roots in the 1970s. A
key accomplishment was the invention of techniques for making recombinant DNA,
DNA molecules formed when segments of DNA from two different sources-often
different speciesare combined in vitro (in a test tube). This advance set the stage for
further development of powerful techniques for analyzing genes and gene expression.
How scientists prepare recombinant DNA and use DNA technology to answer
fundamental biological questions are one focus of biotechnology. Another focus of the
chapter is how our lives are affected by biotechnology, the manipulation of organisms or
their compo· nents to make useful products. Biotechnology has a long history that
includes such early practices as selective breeding of farm animals and using
microorganisms to make wine and cheese. Today, biotechnology also encompasses genetic
engineering, the direct manipulation ofgenes for practical purposes. Genetic engineering
has launched a revolution in biotechnology, greatly expanding the scope of its potential
applications. Tools from the DNA toolbox are now applied in ways that were unthinkable
only a decade ago, affecting everything from agriculrure to criminal law to medical
research. For instance, on the DNA micro array in figure above, the colored spots
represent the relative level of expression of 2,400 human genes. Using microarray
analysis, researchers can quickly compare gene expression in different samples, such as
those obtained from normal and cancerous tissues. The knowledge gained from such gene
expression
studies is making a significant contribution to the study of cancer and other diseases.
EXERCISE A Asking questioning
Based to the text, raise a question about the biotechnology, next find what the answer is?
Question :
......................................................................................................................................
Answer :
......................................................................................................................................
EXERCISE B making a conclusion

Based on the text given I’d like you to make a conclusion, write down a paragraph as your conclusion.

All the answer of exercise A and B handed in to https://forms.gle/xKST4rGNJjrEiNqj6. The deadline is 1st
July 2021 at 9 A.M.

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