Introduction to biotechnology for undergraduate students

1. SKKB4823
Biotechnology
2016/2017 Semester 2
Facilitator: Dr Zanariah Hashim
Faculty of Chemical & Energy Engineering, UTM
N01-237-01
zanariahhashim@utm.my , zanariah.hashim@gmail.com
019-2007328
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2. Course Objectives
• The aim of the course is to provide the students an
opportunity to gain knowledge in the technologies involves in
biotechnology. The lectures will emphasize on consolidating
the fundamental understanding in recombinant DNA
technology and bioprocessing involved in the development
and production of biological products. The technologies
covered in the course are methods to enhance the production
of product or services in the area of food industries, health
care, agro industries, environment and energy. Element of
businesses driven through biotechnology discoveries are
exposed to students in relevant areas. Students will involve in
active learning activities to gain knowledge, technical
competency as well as the generic skills.
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3. Course Learning Outcomes
CO1
Able to describe how biotechnology evolves and identify the
technologies involve in various applications of biotechnology.
CO2
Able to design suitable mechanisms for the development of
biotechnological products through recombinant DNA
technology and bioprocessing using different biological host
systems such as bacteria, fungus, yeast, plants, human and
animals.
CO3
Able to propose the tools of biotechnology in different areas
mainly in medicine, agriculture, food and beverages,
environment and renewable energy.
CO4
Able to evaluate the outcome of biotechnology in the future
using bioethical case studies.
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4. Assessment method
Test (Week 7) 20%
Individual assignment 10%
Group assignment (3 x) 30%
Final exam 40%
Teaching method
Lecture, active learning, PBL
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5. Introduction to biotechnology
1. Definition
2. Historical Background
3. Foundation of Modern Biotechnology
4. Global scenario of biotechnology industry
5. The Regulation, Patents and Society
6. Biotechnology in Malaysia
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6. UN Convention on Biological Diversity is one of the
broadest:
"Biotechnology means any technological application
that uses biological systems, living organisms, or
derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or
processes for specific use." (Article 2. Use of Terms)
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7. Living
organisms
1. DNA
2. Tissue
3. Organs
4. Metabolites
5. Bloods etc
Derivatives of ..
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8. Products and processes
1. Fermented Food
2. Biomaterials
3. Biological Drugs
4. Vaccine
5. Ex vivo tissue/organs
6. Antibiotics
7. Construction materials
8. Biomass
9. Biofuel
1. Biotransformation
2. Biodiagnostics
3. Fermentation
4. Bioseparation
5. Biodegradation
6. Bioremediation
etc.
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9. What is biotechnology
(Modern biology, diversification of all natural sciences, Involves cellular and
molecular level, improve/influence processing/yield)
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• Involves the use of living organisms
• Some definitions
• The interdisciplinary nature of biotechnology (Fig
1.1)
• 3 component central core of biotechnology:
– Obtaining the best biological catalyst for a specific process
– Creates the best possible environment for catalyst to
perform (engineering designs)
– Down stream processing; separation and purification

10. Some Definitions…
 The application of biological organisms, systems or processes to
manufacturing and service industries.
 The integrated use of biochemistry, microbiology and eng. sciences in order
to achieve technological (industrial) application capabilities of
microorganisms, cultured tissue cells and parts thereof.
 A technology using biological phenomena for copying and manufacturing
various kinds of useful substance.
 The application of scientific and engineering principles to the processing of
materials by biological agents to provide goods and services.
 The science of production processes based on the action of microorganisms
and their active components and of productions processes involving the use
of cells and tissues from higher organisms. Medical technology, agriculture,
and traditional crop breeding are not generally regarded as biotechnology.
 Biotechnology is really no more than a name given to a set of techniques and
processes.
 Biotechnology is the use of living organisms and their components in
agriculture, food and other industrial processes
 Biotechnology – the deciphering and use of biological knowledge
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11. Microbiology
Electronics
Biochemical
Eng.
Chemical
Eng.
Mechanical
Eng.
Food
Technology
Eng.
Food
Science
Biochemistry
/ Chemistry
Genetics
Bio
technology
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Figure 1.1 The
interdisciplinary
nature of
biotechnology

12. 12
GENETIC ENGINEERING
PROTEIN ENGINEERING
IMMUNOCHEMISTRY
INVITRO CELL CULTIVATION
BIOPROCESS TECHNOLOGY
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPAL BUSINESS APPLICATION
Human, plant, animal
physiology
Immunology
Molecular and cell
biology
Microbiology
Genetics
Biochemistry
Chemical
engineering
Plant, agriculture/crop
improvement
Fermentation technology
Food innovations/ food
processing
Energy and environment
management
Diagnostics
Animal agriculture
Healthcare/
Pharmaceutical
Fig 1.3: 3 components central core of biotechnology
The input of many disciplines into the biotechnological processes
together with the differing in enabling technologies

13. Biotechnology timeline
Ancient
(BC)
Classical
(Industrial
revolution)
Modern
(>1970’s)
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14. The ancient history
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• Ancient biotechnology
• From the history of
mankind
• Fermentation (food and
beverages) and
breeding (plants and
animals)
• Sumarians, Eygptians
(6000 BC) and
Babylonians, Chinese
(4000 BC), Libyans
(9000 BC)
• For food preservations,
improve taste and
flavour, ease process
and increase yield.
• Simple process, non
sterile
Classical
biotechnology
 Development of
ancient biotechnology
methods
 Increase scientific and
engineering
knowledge
 Industrial scale, post
world war 1, industrial
revolution
 Food, beverages,
medicines and raw
materials for war
(glycerol, acetone,
acetic acid etc)
 Antibiotics, amino
acids, metabolites,
single cell protein
Modern and Advance
Biotechnology
Foundation of modern
biotechnology (emerged from
molecular biology (1950’s))
Microscope invention (1590)
Cell theory development
(1880’s)
Understand biochemistry and
genetics of cell
Understanding of protein
structure and function (1900’s)
understanding the relationship
between protein and gene and
DNA in cells
DNA as genetic material (1952)-
Hershey and Martha Chase
DNA structure constructed in
1953 by J Watson and F Crick,
confirmed by X-ray crystallography
by R Franklin and M Wilkins
1970’s new era in Recombinant
DNA Technology

15. Global Scenario of Biotechnology
Industry
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16. The areas that apply biotechnology
• Food and beverages industries
– (food, additives, drinks etc (nata de coco, lite beer etc)
• Healthcare(gene therapy, tissue engineering, vaccines, synthetic drugs etc)
• Agroindustry
– Plant (seedless fruits, insect resistance plants etc)
– Forestry (seed bank, bioinventory etc)
– Marine (coragraft, spirulina etc) and aquaculture
– Animal
• Environment and sustainability (treatment and
conservation)
• Renewable energy and construction
• Security (Forensic sciences), esthetics and new
biomaterials
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17. Biotechnology
branches
• Green Biotech
(agriculture)
• Red Biotech
(medical)
• Blue Biotech
(marine)
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• White Biotech
(industrial,
environment and
sustainability)

18. Branches of biotechnology and some terminology
• Blue biotechnology is a term that has been used to describe the marine and aquatic
applications of biotechnology, but its use is relatively rare.
• Green biotechnology is biotechnology applied to agricultural processes. An example would
be the selection and domestication of plants via micropropagation. Another example is the
designing of transgenic plants to grow under specific environmental conditions or in the
presence (or absence) of certain agricultural chemicals. One hope is that green
biotechnology might produce more environmentally friendly solutions than traditional
industrial agriculture. An example of this is the engineering of a plant to express a pesticide,
thereby eliminating the need for external application of pesticides. An example of this would
be Bt corn. Whether or not green biotechnology products such as this are ultimately more
environmentally friendly is a topic of considerable debate.
• Red biotechnology is applied to medical processes. Some examples are the designing of
organisms to produce antibiotics, and the engineering of genetic cures through genomic
manipulation.
• White biotechnology, also known as industrial biotechnology, is biotechnology applied to
industrial processes. An example is the designing of an organism to produce a useful
chemical. Another example is the using of enzymes as industrial catalysts to either produce
valuable chemicals or destroy hazardous/polluting chemicals. White biotechnology tends to
consume less in resources than traditional processes used to produce industrial goods.
• The investments and economic output of all of these types of applied biotechnologies form
what has been described as the bioeconomy. 18

19. Laws and Regulation in Biotechnology
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• Initiated in letter published in Nature (July, 74):Potential biohazards of
recombinant DNA molecules
• 2nd Asilomar Conference (Feb, 75):evaluate risk and potential danger of
recombinant DNA
• 1975, prior to Asilomar Conference, RAC (Recombinant DNA molecule
program Advisory Committee) of 3 tasks:
– evaluate potential hazards
– Develop procedures to minimise risk
– Device guidelines for researchers using recomb. DNA molecules and
organisms
• 1985, Biotechnology Science Coordinating Committee (BSCC) established-
develop policies on biotechnology
• Late 1990, Federal Coordinating Council on Science, Engineering and
Technology replaced BSCC
– Represented by BRS, DOE, AID, NASA, DOD, OMB and Dept of Interior.

20. Patents and IPs in Biotechnology
 Patents, Intelectual Property Rights, trademarks, trade dress, service marks and
copyrights and trade secrets.
 To give the patentee (owner) an exclusive rights to market the products or
invention and thereby potentially earn substantial profits, encourage
technological innovation, investment and the development of beneficial new
products. To last for 20 years
 Patents can be granted for:
 Products- living entities of natural and artificial origin and naturally
occurring substances derived from living systems.
 Processes-isolation, cultivation, multiplication purification and
bioconversion.
 Trade secrets-protection of products or processes from competitors. As long as
the secret is in safe keeping. Eg Coca-cola, only known by 5 persons.
 Plant breeders’ right. Plant breeders have limited right to the varieties created
but recombinant DNA technology may permits purchasers to modify the
purchased plants or seeds (new varieties).
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21. Biotechnology Activities in Malaysia
• Ministry of Science, Technology and
Innovation (MOSTI)
– Malaysia Biotechnology Corporation (MBC)
– Malaysia Biotechnology Directorate (MBD)
– BIONEXUS
– BioMalaysia
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22. Video: What is biotechnology
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvUsIiVXcsg

23. Activity 1
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Name the company that you attended for
Industrial Training (LI) and one main/most
important product of the company.
Describe how the product relates to
biotechnology (or how can it be improved by
biotechnology).