BIOTECHNOLOGY

Speaker:
Ananda Kumar Saha
Department of Zoology, R.U.
 BIOTECHNOLOGY
Biotechnology: The development and
utilization of biological processes for
obtaining maximum benefits to man
and other forms of life.

Biotechnology: The use of living

organisms for the manufacture of
useful products: It may involve algae,
bacteria, fungi, yeast cells of higher
animal and plants.
 GENETIC ENGINEERING
 Genetic Engineering: The formation of new
combinations of heritable material by the
insertion of nucleic acid molecules into any
virus, bacterial plasmids or other vector
system so as to allow their incorporation into a
host organism in which they do not naturally
occur but in which they are capable of
continued propagation (Smith, 1996).

 Genetic Engineering is the production of new

genes and alteration of genomes by
substituting or adding new genetic material.
 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.
Application of Biotechnology
 SCOPE OF BIOTECHNOLOGY

1. Health care:
(a) In 1982, human insulin (humulin) has been
produced by microorganisms in fermenters.

(b) Hepatitis B vaccines (Recombivax HB),

genetically engineered vaccines produced
biotechnologically.
 SCOPE OF BIOTECHNOLOGY (contd.)

2. Gene Therapy: This is in a way, genetic

engineering of humans, which would allow a
person suffering from a disabling genetic
disorder to lead a normal life.

3. Immunotechnologies: Monoclonal antibodies

(MABs) for diagnosis and therapy. Antibodies,
special sets of proteins present in humans that
enable them to fight incursion of their bodies
by harmful chemicals or microorganisms.
Gene therapy
Gene Therapy
Gene Therapy
 SCOPE OF BIOTECHNOLOGY (contd.)

4. Tissue culture: Tissue culture of both plant

and animal cells. These are used for
Micropropagation of elite or exotic materials
(such as orchids), production of useful
compounds such as taxol (the widely used
anti-cancer drug) and vanillin, and preparation
in the laboratory of “natural” tissues such as
arteries for arterial graft or skin for burn
victims.
 SCOPE OF BIOTECHNOLOGY (contd.)

5. Stem cell techniques: Which would involve

purification and isolation of stem cells from
various tissues and develop into the desired
tissue which could then be used, for example,
for transplantation.
6. New DNA technologies: These include DNA
fingerprinting, sequencing of genomes,
development and use of new molecular
markers for plant identification and
characterization.
Stem Cell
Stem Cell Therapy
 SCOPE OF BIOTECHNOLOGY (contd.)

7. Organotransplantation:
Xenotransplantation that is transplantation into
humans of organs from other animals. It appears
that pig may be the most suitable for this
biochemically, anatomically and
immunologically.

8. Bioremediation: Bioremediation is the use of

microorganisms to detoxify pollutants, present
in the environment usually as soil or water
sediments.
Bioremediation
 SCOPE OF BIOTECHNOLOGY (contd.)

9. Human Genome Project (HGP): Human

genome has been sequenced and chromosome
map has been developed in various laboratories
world-wide through coordinated efforts.

10. Bioinformatics: Application of information

sciences to increase the understanding of
biology, biochemistry and biological data.
Thank you