BIOTECHNOLO

GY
 DEFINITIONS OF BIOTECHNOLOGY
HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES OF BIOTECHNOLOGY

CLASSIFICATIONS OF BIOTECHNOLIGY BASED ON

ITS APPLICATION

PIONEERS IN BIOTECHNOLOGY
Tools, Equipment, Materials and Processes of
Biotechnology
Social Impact of Biotechnology
 What is
Biotechnology?
 Biotechnology is defined as:
• In general, biotechnology is a field that
uses biological systems or living
organisms to manufacture products or
develop processes that ultimately benefit
humans. Some of the most commonly
used definitions of biotechnology are as
follows:
Biotechnology is defined as:(contd.)
 The use of living microorganisms
(especially microorganisms) in industrial,
agricultural, medical and other technological
applications.
 The application of the principles and
practices of engineering and technology to
life sciences.
 The use of biological processes to make
products.
Biotechnology is defined as:(contd.)

 The production of genetically modified

organisms or the manufacturer of products
of genetically modified organisms.
 The use of living organisms or their
products to make or modify a substance.
Biotechnology includes recombinant DNA
techniques (genetic engineering) and
hybridoma technology.
 Biotechnology is defined as:(contd.)
 A set of biological techniques developed through
basic research and applied to research and
product development.
 The use of cellular and bio molecular processes
to solve problems or make useful of products.
 An industrial process that uses biological
systems to make monoclonal antibodies and
genetically engineered recombinant proteins.
 History of Biotechnology
• Traditional Biotechnology (Old)
• New Biotechnology (Modern)

• Traditional Biotechnology: The Traditional

biotechnology refers to the conventional
technology which have been used for many
centuries. Beer, Wine, Cheese and many foods
have been produced using traditional
biotechnology.
HISTORY OF BIOTECHNOLOGY (contd.)
• The Traditional biotechnology is an art
rather than a science.

• Modern Biotechnology: Capability of

science to change the genetic material for
genetic new products for specific
requirement through recombinant DNA
technology.
Branches of Biotechnology
A) Processes of Blue Biotechnology:
 This branch of biotechnology helps to control the
marine organisms and water borne organisms. It
is a process which has to do with marine or
underwater environment. The use of this
biotechnology is very rare. Blue biotechnology is
used to protect the marine organisms from
harmful diseases underwater.
B) Processes of Green Biotechnology:
 Green Biotechnology is the term used for the
agricultural sector. With the help of the process called
the Micro propagation (a practice of producing larger
number of plants through the existing stock of plants)
which helps in selecting the right quality of plants and
crops. Also with the help of Transgenic plants (plants
whose DNA is modified); this design of transgenic
plants helps to grow in a specified environment with the
help of certain chemicals.
C) Processes of Red Biotechnology:
Red biotechnology is referred to as Medical
Biotechnology. It is used for the production of drugs
and antibiotic medicines. It also helps to create or
design organisms. Through the process of genetic
manipulation it helps to cure genetic issues in
organisms. It also helps in analysing diseases in
organisms. It also helps in developing new ways of
diagnosis by performing tests. With the help of stem
cell therapy it helps the organs to grow and it also cures
the damaged issues in organisms.
D) Processes of White Biotechnology:
White Biotechnology is also called and known by
the name Industry Biotechnology. This kind of
biotechnology is used and applied in industries
and its processes. The various uses of this
Biotechnology includes; biopolymers (Plastics)
Substitutes, new invention of vehicle parts and
fuels for the vehicles, invention of fibres for the
clothing industry, it is also involved in developing
new chemicals and the production process.
 Pioneers in Biotechnology
Antony van Leeuwenhoek
(1675)
•Discovers bacteria using a
simple microscope
Gregor Mendel (1863)
•Austrian monk who
conducted the first
genetics experiments
using pea plants in the
mid 1800s.
•Often considered the
founder of genetics.
Louis Pasteur (1870’s)
•Disproved the notion of
spontaneous generation,
describing the role of
bacteria in spoilage and
the scientific basis for
fermentation
•Created the rabies
vaccine
Robert Hooke (1665)
•Invented the compound
light microscope
•First to observe cells in
cork
James Watson &
Francis Crick
•1953
•Englishmen responsible
for the discovery of the
double helix structure of
DNA using X-ray
photographs
Paul Berg (1972)
• Stanford University
scientist who first
developed recombinant
DNA technology, a
method for insertion of
genetic material from one
organism into another.
Equipment's used in
Biotechnology
Autoclave
 chamber that uses high
levels of heat and pressure
to sterilize instruments and
materials.
 destroys harmful
organisms and pathogens.
Inoculating Tube-
Loop
 is a simple tool used
mainly by microbiologists to
retrieve an inoculum from a
culture of microorganisms.
The loop is used in the
cultivation of microbes on
plates by transferring
inoculum for streaking.
Pipette Tips
 disposable tips used to
protect the micropipetter
from contamination
 these tips are used and
disposed of after each
use in order to prevent
contamination and reduce
clean up and sterilization.
Centrifuge Tubes
 a tapered and specially-
engineered test tube
specifically for centrifuge
work, design to resist the
high G-forces induced by the
centrifugal forces.
 they are mainly used in
medical work to centrifuge
human blood for test
purposes.
White Light Box
 a UV light box that
is used under a DNA
gel in order to better
determine and detect
DNA fragments.
Gel Electrophoresis
Power source
 the actual power
source that sends an
electric charge through
the chamber, causing the
DNA to run and break into
smaller visible fragments.
Gel Electrophoresis Chamber
 during DNA electrophoresis
DNA and restriction enzymes are
inserted into the wells of a agarose
gel.
 the agarose gel is then placed
into electrophoresis chamber
along with a buffer (the buffer
keeps the DNSA fragments soluble
in water). The electrophoresis
chamber has a electrical charge
running through it that carries the
DNA fragments through the gel.
Shaker
 used to mix or
agitate small
volumes of solution,
often prior to
placement in a
centrifuge.
Graduated Cylinder
 a measuring instrument
for measuring fluid
volume; a glass container
(cup or cylinder or flask)
whose sides are marked
with or divided into
amounts.
Agarose Gel-Agar
 a substance that is used
in science for gel
electrophoresis.
 the medium is composed
of a purified agarose
powder that has been
boiled in a buffer solution
and then cooled into gel.
Petri dish
 type or glass or plastic shallow
round dish with a close fitting lid
 most well known for holding a
culture medium upon which
cells, bacteria, and viruses can
be grown and studied.
Hot Plate
 instrument that
applies direct heat to
glassware containing
laboratory solutions.
Water Bath
 vessel that uses water
to heat or maintain a
constant temperature of
laboratory materials or
equipment
 often used to heat or
thaw fragile biological
substances including
semen.
Incubator
 sealed chamber
with controls to
manage
temperature( and
sometimes humidity)-
used for the culture
of microorganisms.
Compound Light
Microscope
 the most common and
versatile microscope in
agricultural research labs.
Uses a light source in
combination with a variety of
lenses to magnify images
usually up to no more than
200x.
Micropipette
 instrument used to measure
and extract very small amounts
of liquid from a solution.
 different versions measure to
different levels of accuracy, but
usually the nearest micro liter.
Often used to hand small
amounts of solution needed in
DNA labs.
Centrifuge
 instrument used to isolate solids
(in the form of small pellet) from a
solution.
 this is done by spinning closed
containers of the mixture very quickly
around a fixed, central point. The
centrifugal forces the denser material
in the suspension against the walls of
the container.
utilizes very small tubes to hold
solution.
Biotechnology's Major Tools
• Fermentation uses
microbes  to convert a
substance such as starch
or sugar into other
compounds such as lactic
acid or ethanol. It is used
in Classical Biotechnology,
Pharmaceuticals, Fiber
(Bio pulping), Fuel, and
Feedstock (Bio plastics).
• Selection and
Breeding can include
manipulating microbes,
plants or animals, and
choosing desirable
individuals or populations
as breeding stock for new
generations. This tool is
used in Classical
Biotechnology, Food
Production and
Feedstocks (Bioplastics).
• Genetic Analysis is looking at
chromosomes, DNA patterns,
and DNA sequences. Genetic
Analysis includes studying how
traits-- and genes for traits--are
passed from generation to
generation and how genes and
the environment interact to
result in traits. It is used in Fuel,
Diagnostics, Genetic
Counseling and Gene Therapy.
 
• Tissue Culture is the ability
to grow plant or animal
tissues or cells in test tubes
or other laboratory glassware
(such as the Petri plate
shown above), without other
contaminating organisms, for
propagation, chemical
production and medical
research. It is often used in
Fiber (Biopulping).
• Genetic Engineering/
Recombinant DNA (rDNA) has
been used since the early
1970's. DNA is like a ribbon and
scientists can cut a DNA
segment from one organism and
insert it into the DNA of another
organism. The two organisms
can be totally unrelated. This is
used in Food Production,
Pharmaceuticals, Genetic
Counseling and Gene Therapy.
• DNA Analysis occurs through two
basic methods. The first method is
when Polymerase chain reaction
(PCR) makes copies of a DNA
segment. RFLP mapping
(restriction fragment length
polymporphism), the second
method, detects patterns in DNA
that can indicate the presence of a
gene for a trait. Both PCR and
RFLP analysis can be used in
DNA fingerprinting for
genealogical studies
 SOCIAL
• Reducing rates of infectious disease
• Tailoring treatments to individuals to minimize
health risks and side effects;
• Help in increasing productivity and in improving
energy production and conservation by
conducting research and development work.
• Help medical professionals in improving in the
methods of diagnosis, medicines and
vaccinations for diseases.
 TECHNOLOGICAL
• Improving manufacturing process
efficiency
• Work with chemical processes, genetic
engineering, textile development cosmetic
development etc...
 ECONOMICAL
• Creating more precise tools for disease detection
Combating serious illnesses and everyday threats
confronting the developing world
• Developing crops with enhanced nutrition profiles that
solve vitamin and nutrient deficiencies;
• Producing foods free of allergens and toxins
• Improving food and crop oil content to help improve
cardiovascular health.
 ENVIRONMENTAL
• Using biofuels to cut greenhouse gas emissions
• Decreasing water usage and waste generation
• Generating higher crop yields with fewer inputs;
• Lowering volumes of agricultural chemicals required by
crops-limiting the run-off of these products into the
environment;
• Using biotech crops that need fewer applications of
pesticides
• Combating environmental pollution by developing the
use of biosensors for early detection of pollutants.
 POLITICAL
(1)endorse or implement programs that will convince the
public and government officials that genetic manipulation
is not inherently hazardous and that the health and
economic benefits of recombinant DNA technology
greatly exceed any risk posed to society;
(2) where necessary, urge Congress and federal
regulatory agencies to develop appropriate guidelines
which will not impede the progress of agricultural
biotechnology, yet will ensure that adequate safety
precautions are enforced;
• (3) encourage and assist state medical societies to
coordinate programs which will educate physicians in
recombinant DNA technology as it applies to public health,
such that the physician may respond to patient query and
concern;
• (4) encourage physicians, through their state medical
societies, to be public spokespersons for those agricultural
biotechnologies that will benefit public health; and
• (5) actively participate in the development of national
programs to educate the public about the benefits of
agricultural biotechnology.
• Khan A. F., Biotechnology Fundamentals, Second Edition. Boca
Raton, London New York.
• (PDF) Introduction to Biotechnology. Available from:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/284169166_Introductio
n_to_Biotechnology [accessed Aug 19 2018].
• https://www.strongnet.org/cms/lib/.../Centricity/.../iintroduction_to
_biotechnology.ppt
• http://www.biotechonweb.com/branches-of-biotech.html
• https://www.slideserve.com/osias/biotechnology-lab-equipment
• https://www.biotech.wisc.edu/outreach/resources/biotechnology-
story/tools-of-biotechnology
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYFGBKi26Fk