Chapter#04

Biotechnology
What is Biotechnology: Field that involves the use of living
organisms(Plants, animals & microorganisms),cells, and biological
systems to develop products and technologies that improve
human life and the health of the planet.

APPLICATIONS OF BIOTECHNOLOGY
 INDUSTRY
 AGRICULTURE
 HEALTH CARE
 ENVIROMENT
Stages of Biotechnology:
Ancient:
 Began some 4,000 years ago by Nomadic tribes in Asia.
 Developments in agriculture and food production.
 In Cheese making, Strains of bacteria were added to milk, caused
acid to form, Resulting in sour milk.
 Yeast were long in use for food preparation and preservation.
 Bread baking where Yeast produces a gas in the dough causing the
dough to rise.
 Fermented products and Vinegar.
 Ancient product used to preserve food , Juices and extracts from fruits
and grains after fermentation.
Stages of Biotechnology:
Classical:
 In classical era, advancements in this field occurred in the 1800’s and
early 1900’s.
 Makes wide spread use of methods from ancient, especially
fermentation.
 New products such as glycerol, acetone, and citric acid resulted.
 Methods adapted to industrial production.
 Many methods developed through classical biotech are widely used
today.

Modern
 Manipulation of genetic material within organisms
 Based on genetics and the use of microscopy, biochemical methods,
related sciences and technologies.
Stages of Biotechnology:
Modern:
 Manipulation of genetic material within organisms.
 Based on genetics and the use of microscopy, biochemical methods,
related sciences and technologies.
 Deals with manipulating genetic information
 Most work has focused on animal and plant genetics.
 Today many things are produced:
– Pharmaceutical compounds such as antibiotics
– Amino Acids
– Many chemicals, hormones, and pigments
– Enzymes with a large variety of uses
– Biomass for commercial and animal consumption (such as single-cell
protein)
Use of Bacteria:
What is Bacteria: Single celled microbe. Have simplest cell
structure among other living organisms. Genetic information is in
single loop DNA and a plasmid.
Use of Bacteria:
Advantages to use bacteria:
1. Easy to alter the genes
2. Easy to manage and have high reproduction rate
3. Grow in large quantities.
GENETIC ENGINEERING:
Artificial modification by changing the genes within the organisms to
control the production of particular proteins. Changing genes in this a
way can produce results that could not naturally occur.
Examples:
 Bt cotton(Bt cotton is genetically modified to produce a toxin from
the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), which protects the plant
from bollworm pests.)
 AquAdvantage Salmon(This salmon is engineered to grow faster by
incorporating a growth hormone gene from the Chinook salmon and a
promoter from the ocean pout.)
 Insulin-Producing Bacteria(E. coli or yeast cells are genetically
modified to produce human insulin for diabetes treatment.)
 Holstein dairy cows with no horns(to introduce a genetic
variation from Angus cattle into Holstein dairy cows. This variation
prevents the cows from growing horns.)
Process of Genetic Engineering:
 Identify the valuable code of genes.

 Removed from animals and plants that normally

shows.

 Transferred those genes to an organisms which

grows rapidly and in large quantities.

 The organisms reads the genes and shows them.

BIOTECHNOLOGY IN PAKISTAN
 First facility in Pakistan was establish in 1985
 From 2005 to 2010 first action plan was
prepared.
 Now more than 200 PhD’s are doing research
in Pakistan.
 Biotechnology research in Pakistan focuses
on:
1. Agricultural biotechnology (e.g., genetically modified crops, pest
resistance)
2. Medical biotechnology (e.g., vaccine development, diagnostics)
3. Industrial biotechnology (e.g., biofuels, enzymes)
4. Environmental biotechnology (e.g., bioremediation, waste
management)
BIOTECHNOLOGY AND
AGRICULTURE:
In agriculture biotechnology we aim to produce high
yield crops, which grows in harsh conditions and less
prone to diseases.

MODIFICATIONS IN TOMATOES:
o Many tomatoes were attacked by parasitic fungi. Scientists
have added genes to produce enzymes which can damage the
cell wall of parasitic fungi and inhibit the growth of it.
o Another example is that we prolong the shelf life of tomaote
by suppressing the genes which are responsible of producing
ethylene and over expressing the genes which are
responsible for the production of components in cell wall.
o Overexpressing genes involved in cuticle formation, such as
those responsible for wax and cutin production. Which gives
the shines, smoothness and color.
BIOTECHNOLOGY AND
AGRICULTURE:
CONTROL OF WEEDS:
 Weeds are unwanted or troublesome and compete
plants by robbing the light, water and nutrients from
the crops and destroy them.
 Crops are genetically modified to tolerate specific
herbicides, allowing farmers to spray herbicides that
kill weeds without harming the crop. Engineered to
resist glyphosate (Roundup), a broad-spectrum
herbicide. Crops: Soybeans, corn, cotton, canola.
BIOTECHNOLOGY AND
AGRICULTURE:
RICE GENOME PROJECT
 Rice feeds over 3.5 billion people, particularly in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
 Sequence the entire genome of rice to understand its genetic blueprint.
 Identify genes responsible for important traits like yield, disease resistance, and
stress tolerance.
 Provide a foundation for improving rice varieties through biotechnology and
breeding.
 Enhance global food security by developing high-yielding, climate-resilient, and
nutrient-rich rice varieties.
 The International Rice Genome Sequencing Project (IRGSP) involved scientists from
10 countries involving China, Japan, USA, Brazil, UK and others.

AFTER THIS WE ARE HOPING TO GROW

BETTER AND GURAD AGAINST PESTS AND
DISEASES.
BIOTECHNOLOGY AND
AGRICULTURE:
HEALTHIER ANIMALS
SELECTIVE BREEDING: This technique
involve the selective animals from the stock and
breed with them the idea is that the offspring
will also have the “GOOD” characteristic.
VACCINES: NO OF VACCINES AND MEDICINE
ARE PRODUCED BY BIOTECHNOLOGISTS TO
PROTECT ANIMALS FROM DISEASES.
ENVIROMENTAL
BIOTECHNOLOGY:
 Environmental biotechnology is the solving of
environmental problems through the application of
living organisms or their derivatives.
 A biofuel is biologically derived fuel that is deemed
more environmentally friendly than current fuel
sources as they all release less carbon dioxide into
the atmosphere.
 Ethanol from corn is placed in many gasoline
varieties in North America.
 Biodiesel is obtained through algal cell culturing at
large scale. Therefore algae are seen critical to
biofuel
ENVIROMENTAL
BIOTECHNOLOGY:
 Biogas is made from gases released by compost or a landfill.
Biogas is a type of renewable energy made from organic
waste like animal manure, food scraps, or plant materials. It is
produced when tiny microorganisms break down these
materials in the absence of oxygen (a process
called anaerobic digestion). Biogas is mostly made up
of methane (the gas we use for cooking and heating)
and carbon dioxide.
MEDICAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
 Medical biotechnology is a field that uses living cells and biological
systems to develop products and technologies that improve human
health. It has revolutionized medicine by providing new ways to diagnose,
treat, and prevent diseases. Below are some key examples of medical
biotechnology.

WORK IN THE FIELD OF HEALTHCARE

 Vaccines for covid-19 & hepatitis b vaccine
 Insulin production
 Cancer treatment: drugs like Herceptin (for breast cancer)
and rituxan (for lymphoma).
 Cartilage repair: stem cells are used to repair damaged joints.
 PCR (polymerase chain reaction): used to detect genetic material from
viruses (e.g., Covid-19 testing).
 Biomarkers: proteins or genes used to diagnose diseases like cancer
or Alzheimer's.
INDUSTRIAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
In industrial biotechnology we use to make different chemicals
having biological components
ENZYMES IN LAUNDRY DETERGENTS:
 We use protease which can easily break down protein strains
(blood, sweat pus cells)
 Lipases enzymes which can remove fat and grease stain.
 Amylases help to break down starch based stains( Sugar cane
juice, rice water etc)
IN CLEANING PRODUCTS:
Like in Citric Acid produced by Aspergillus niger in soft drinks and
cosmetics
IN SKIN CARE:
Lactic Acid which is produced by Lactobacillus bacteria found in
yogurt, skin care and biodegradable Plastics
 GMO’s
GMO’s Stands for Genetically Modified
Organisms.
 HOME WORK
 Define the following terms
 Fermentation

 Genetic Engineering.
 Write a note on importance of Biotechnology
in Agriculture.
 Give Reasons of the following.
 Explain why the washing Powders can easly
remove blood from clothes.
 Why we use microbes in genetic
engineering?
 “
Our world is built on biology
and once we begin to ”
understand it, it then
becomes technology.
Ryan Bethencourt
(American Scientist and
Entrepreneur)
“

Biotechnology is the key to ”

solving many of the world’s
most pressing problems,
from food security to
climate change to disease.
Bill Gates (Microsoft Founder)