Introduction To Biotechnology
Biotechnology is a multidisciplinary field that plays a significant role in our lives. It involves working with cells or molecules derived from cells for various purposes, and it has been around for many years. Often called the "technology of hope," biotechnology has a wide range of applications that benefit human health, other living organisms, and the environment. It has brought significant advancements in diagnostics and treatments. However, one of the major challenges we face is the threat posed by dangerous viral infections like avian flu, Chikungunya, Ebola, Influenza A, SARS, West Nile, and the recent Zika virus.
The term "biotechnology" was first introduced by Hungarian engineer Karl Ereky in 1919. He used it to describe the science and methods that allow products to be made from raw materials with the help of living organisms. Biotechnology is a broad field that involves working with living cells or using molecules from them for purposes that benefit people. It includes several main areas: medical biotechnology (red), agricultural biotechnology (green), industrial biotechnology (white), marine biotechnology (blue), food biotechnology, and environmental biotechnology.
History of Biotechnology
The term "biotechnology" was first used by a Hungarian engineer named Karl Ereky in 1919. He used it to describe the science of making products from raw materials using living organisms. Biotechnology is a broad field that involves using living cells or their parts for human benefit. It covers several main areas: medical biotechnology (red), which deals with health; agricultural biotechnology (green), which focuses on farming; industrial biotechnology (white), which involves manufacturing; marine biotechnology (blue), related to the ocean; food biotechnology; and environmental biotechnology.
The foundation of biotechnology was laid when the structure of DNA was discovered in the early 1950s. DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the molecule that carries all the information needed for every step of an individual’s life. DNA is made up of three components: a sugar called deoxyribose, a phosphate group, and four types of nitrogenous bases—adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and thymine (T). When a base pairs with sugar, they form a nucleoside, and when they pair with both sugar and phosphate, they form a nucleotide.
DNA has a double-helix structure, meaning it looks like a twisted ladder. The two strands of DNA are complementary and run in opposite directions. In this structure, adenine (A) always pairs with thymine (T) through two bonds, and guanine (G) pairs with cytosine (C) through three bonds. Although DNA is a long molecule, it is compactly packaged inside the nucleus of our cells. One of its key abilities is to replicate itself, meaning it can make exact copies. This is important because when a cell divides into two new cells, the DNA is also copied and equally divided, ensuring that each new cell has the same genetic information.
Molecular Biology
DNA contains all the instructions needed for a cell to function. A specific part of DNA, called a “gene,” holds the information to create a polypeptide, which is a building block of proteins. The sequence of nucleotides (the building blocks of DNA) determines what kind of proteins our body produces. Each gene is responsible for coding a functional polypeptide. To make a protein, the information in a gene is first copied into a molecule called mRNA. This mRNA then guides the cell to assemble amino acids (the building blocks of proteins) in a specific order to form a protein. The order of these amino acids is determined by sets of three letters (called codons) on the mRNA, and each codon corresponds to a specific amino acid.
So, the sequence of the four bases in DNA (adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine) provides the instructions for adding any of the 20 amino acids in the correct order to build the proteins necessary for all living organisms.
The DNA in our cells contains instructions to make mRNA, which then helps produce proteins in a two-step process. First, in the nucleus of the cell, DNA is used to make mRNA in a process called "transcription." Then, the mRNA moves to the cytoplasm, where it guides the production of proteins in a process called "translation."
Although every cell in the body has the same DNA, different cells perform unique tasks. This is because each cell activates and uses different parts of its DNA depending on its function and location in the body. Additionally, cells can change which genes they activate over time, depending on what the body needs. This means cells are regulated both by their location (spatial regulation) and by timing (temporal regulation), allowing them to produce the right proteins in the right place and at the right time.
Proteins are made based on the instructions in our DNA and play many important roles in our cells. Some proteins help give cells their shape and size, while others have specific jobs, like acting as enzymes to speed up chemical reactions, helping with cell communication, regulating processes, or defending the body against threats. If there's a mistake in the DNA, it can lead to a faulty protein or cause the protein to fold incorrectly, which can affect how the body works and lead to various diseases.
Recombinant DNA Technology
Biotechnological tools allow scientists to modify genes, either by adding, removing, or changing them, to alter how proteins work in an organism. This process is known as genetic engineering or recombinant DNA technology. By using these techniques, researchers have been able to sequence the entire human genome, which has paved the way for new areas of study, like bioinformatics, nanomedicine, and personalized treatments. Genetic engineering has also transformed medicine, making it possible to produce safe and effective versions of natural human biochemicals in large quantities.
Biotechnology has made a big impact in several important areas:
- It has led to the creation of many medicines and vaccines that help fight diseases.
- It has developed new, more accurate ways to diagnose illnesses.
- It has improved agricultural crops by increasing their yield and adding desirable traits.
- It has provided methods to deal with pollution, helping to protect the environment.
- It has assisted forensic experts with DNA testing to solve crimes.
- It has advanced fermentation technology to produce valuable industrial products.
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