Introduction to Plant biotechnology

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Mekdela Amba University
College of Agriculture and Natural Resource
Department of Plant Science
Introduction to Plant Biotechnology
By: Kasahun Amare (MSc.)
E-mail: kasaamare5@gmail.com
Tullu’awalia, Ethiopia
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Chapter One
1. Introduction to biotechnology
 The word biotechnology has come from two
words:
 Bio (meaning biology) and
 Technology (means technological application).
 Thus, biotechnology is the industrial application
of living organisms and their biological processes
such as:
 Biochemistry, microbiology,
 Genetic engineering, etc.
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 To make best use of the microorganisms for the
benefit of mankind.
 Biotechnology is applied in many areas to
produce:
• Foods, medicines,
• Development of new diagnostic tools,
• Gene therapy,
• DNA finger-printing for forensic purposes
etc.
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 The process of fermentation for the
preparation and manufacturing of products
such as:
 Alcohol, beer,
Wine, dairy products,
 Various types of organic acids such as vinegar,
citric acid, amino acids, and vitamins can be
called classical biotechnology or traditional
biotechnology.
 Modern biotechnology is similar to classical
biotechnology in utilizing living organisms.
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What Makes Modern Biotechnology Modern?
 The modern techniques, applied mainly to cells
and molecules, make it possible to take
advantage of the biological process.
 For example, genetic engineering has allowed
us to transfer a single gene from one organism
to another.
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1.1. Definition of Biotechnology
 The “controlled use of biological agents like cells
or cellular components for beneficial use”(US
national science academy).
 Biotechnology is the integrate use of:
Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Engineering
science to achieve technological application of :
Microorganisms, Cultured tissue cells and Parts
thereof( European Federation of biotechnology).
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 Biotechnology is a technology using biological
phenomena, for copying and manufacturing
various kinds of useful substances (Japanese
biotechnologists).
 More generally, biotechnology is “the use of
living organisms, cells or cellular components for
the production of compounds or precise genetic
improvement of living things for the benefit of
man”.
 Biotechnology is the application of scientific
techniques to modify and improve Plants,
Animals, and Microorganisms.
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1.2. Historical Development Of Biotechnology
 Biotechnology as a science is very new (about
200 years old) but as a technology it is very old.
 The roots of biotechnology can be traced back to
pre-historical civilizations, such as:
 Egyptian and
 Indus valley civilizations,
 When man learned to practice agriculture and
animal domestication.
 Even before knowing about the existence of
microorganisms, they had learned to practice
biotechnology.
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 The first known use of the word “Biotechnology”
was in 1917 by a Hungarian agricultural
engineer, Karl Ereky.
 He defined biotechnology as:
 “All line of work by which products are produced
from raw materials with the aid of living things”.
 The scope of biotechnology has been altered
beyond this original version by a serious of
developments in the life science.
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 In 1920's Clostridium acetobutylicum was used by
weizmann for converting starch into butanol and
acetone;
 This is considered as the first rediscovery of biotech
in the present century.
 In 1940's, the production of penicillin on a large
scale production from cultures of Pencillium notatum,
marked the second rediscovery of biotechnology.
 This was the beginning of antibiotic research.
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 Third rediscovery of biotech is recombinant - DNA
technology,
Which led to the development of gene technologies.
 It has assumed special significance only in 1970's
and 1980's.
.
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The stages of Biotech development
The stages of Biotech development can be
divided in three eras:
1. Ancient biotechnology: 8000-4000 B.C
 Early history as related to food and shelter;
 Includes domestication of animal and plants
for human benefit
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2. Classical biotechnology: 2000 B.C.; 1800-1900 AD
 Built on ancient biotechnology; when Fermentation
promoted
 Food production, andMedicine.
 1900-1953: Genetics
 1953-976: DNA research, science explodes
3. Modern biotechnology: 1977
 It involves manipulation of genetic information in
organism that is discovery of
 Genetic engineering and
 Molecular biology techniques.
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1.3. Biotechnology In Ethiopia
 Now, in Ethiopia the development of biotechnology is
gaining momentum.
 Biotechnology Forum (2006) reveals seven
institutions with a total of 24 branches engaged in
biotechnology research, mainly፡
 Tissue culture, including bio-fertilizers,
 Molecular marker,
 Embryo transfer,
 Immunology,
 Vaccine and diagnostic kit development and
 Epidemiology
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 Ten centers have modest to well equipped laboratories
and a few laboratories are under expansion.
 Abraham (2009) reported some institutions are engaged
in biotechnology:
 Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research,
 Addis Ababa University,
 National Veterinary Institute,
 National Animal health research Laboratory,
 Institute of Biodiversity and Conservation,
 International Livestock Research Institute and
 The Regional Agricultural Research Institutes
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 Tissue culture activities first started in Ethiopia
in1980’s at Addis Ababa University.
 With micropropagation of indigenous forest
species like:
Podocarpus sp., Cordia africana,
Hagenia abyssinica and Annengeria sp.
 Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research
(EIAR) is exploring the micro-propagation of:
Potato, coffee, Teff and
Other economically important plants.
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 Addis Ababa University is concerned about the
application of:
Molecular marker,
Tissue culture of trees and
Other crops for improving agricultural
practices.
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18. Status of tissue culture protocols in Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural
Research
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GMOS In Ethiopia
 Ethiopia become one of a few African
countries to commercialize and produce GE
crops.
 In June 2015, Ethiopia’s Parliament adopted
an amendment to the Biosafety Proclamation,
 With the regulatory framework to allow
farmers to plant biotech cotton.
 The earlier Proclamation imposed a de-facto
ban on planting GE crops and biotech
research.
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GMOS In Ethiopia
Commercial Production
 At present, the country does not cultivate GE
crops.
 However, the Government is in the process
of revising its legal and regulatory
framework to exclusively permit the
production of GE cotton.
Exports
 At this time, Ethiopia does not produce nor
do they export GE crops or products.
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GMOS In Ethiopia
Imports
 Recently owing to the shortage of domestic
cotton, Ethiopia has imported cotton lint
from:
United States and India.
 Ethiopia imports processed food commodities
like:
soybean oil and breakfast cereals
made from GE ingredients
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1.4 Branches And Components Of Biotechnology
Medical biotechnology
 Known as red biotech.
 Medical processes such as getting organisms
to produce new drugs, using stem cells and
 Perhaps re-grow entire organs.
 Diagnostics
 Therapeutics
 Vaccines
 Medical research tools
 Human genome research
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Industrial Biotechnology
 Known as white Biotech and sometimes as gray
biotechnology.
 Involves industrial processes such as:
The production of new chemicals or
The development of new fuels for vehicles.
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Agriculture /plant Biotechnology
 This is green branch of biotechnology.
 The plants are manipulated for two major objectives
A. Crop improvement
B. Nutritional value of crops
A. Crop improvement
 Involves the processes for the development of
 Pest-resistant plants (in use)
Disease resistance plants
 Plants withstand to harsh environmental
conditions
Herbicide tolerance (in use)
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B. Nutritional value of crops
 Improving food quality and safety
 Healthier cooking oils by decreasing the conc.
of saturated fatty acids in vegetable oils
 Functional foods: foods containing significant
levels of biologically active components that
impart health benefits
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Environmental Biotechnology
 Provides techniques to Protect environment
against various ill effects of industrialization
and urbanization
A. Environmental monitoring
Diagnosis of environmental problems via
biotechnology
B. Waste management
• Bioremediation: the use of microbes to break down
organic molecules or environmental pollutants
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 Phyto remediation: the use of plants to remove
pollutants (e.g. heavy metals) from the
environment.
C. Pollution prevention
• Renewable resources
• Biodegradable products
• Alternative energy sources
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The Components of Biotechnology
1. Tissue Culture
2. Molecular Biology
3. Recombinant DNA technology (Genetic
engineering).
4. Molecular breeding – MAS
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1.5. Importance of Biotechnology
 Biotechnology has its newest roots in the science of
molecular biology and microbiology.
 Advances in this area has been exploited production
of industrially important:
 Biochemical (including enzymes),Medicines and
 For basic studies in molecular biology.
 Use of Biopesticide reduced dependence on chemical
pesticides.
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 Industrial applications led to develop less
energy and water consuming processes for
food, energy,
 textile and minerals
 Environmental Biotech provide solution to
deal with hazardous waste.
 DNA fingerprinting has dramatically
improved criminal investigation
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1.6. Application Of Biotechnology
1.6.1. In Agriculture
 Biotechnology revolutionized research activities in
agriculture including:
Plant cell, Tissue and
Organ Culture-for mass propagation of plants
 Genetic engineering leading to transformation and
regeneration of plants to give desirable traits like:
 Disease resistance,
Insect resistance and
Herbicide resistance;
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 It used for increasing
Photosynthetic efficiency,
 Nitrogen fixing ability,
Improved storage proteins,
Hybrid crops, Crops for food processing etc.
 Reduced vulnerability of crops to:
 Environmental stresses, Improved taste,
 Texture or appearance of food.
 Somatic hybrids between sexually
incompatible species
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1.6.2. Biotechnology And Environment
 Biotechnology provides methods and modified
process to save environment. Including:
 Oil spills management
 degradation of petroleum using Super bug,
 Detoxification of waste and industrial effluents,
 Pollution detection using biosensors,
 Bio-energy production, Biogas, Ethanol,
 odor removal,
 Production of Biopesticide for plant disease
control.
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1.6.3. Biotechnology And Industries
 Production of useful compounds:
 e.g. ethanol, Lactic acid, glycerine, Citric acid.
 Antibiotics Production:
 e.g. Penicillin, streptomycin, mitomycin etc.
 Production of enzymes:
 e.g. amylase, protease, Lipases; Immobilization of
enzyme for repeated applications.
 Single cell protein production from bacteria: yeast,
fungi or algae for human food and animal feed (as
supplements);
 Mineral extraction via leaching from low grade ores,
e.g., Copper, Uranium etc.
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1.6.4. Biotechnology And Forensics
 Since DNA sequence is unique in every individual, it
can be used as a powerful basis of identifying
individuals in a population.
 DNA-based evidence is used
 Paternity disputes and Family relationships.
 It is used in health care and judicial systems.
 Forensic to identify suspects in criminal cases,
especially when body fluids and other particles like
hair and skin samples can be retrieved.
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1.6.5. Biotechnology In Health And Medicine
 Has numerous important functions.
 To develop diagnostic tools for identifying diseases.
 To produce more effective and efficient vaccines,
 Therapeutic antibodies,
 Antibiotics, and other pharmaceuticals.
 Furthermore, there are more than 370 drug products
and vaccines obtained through biotechnology.
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 Currently in clinical trials, targeting more than 200
diseases including various
Cancers,
Alzheimer’s disease,
Heart disease,
Diabetes,
Multiple sclerosis,
AIDS and arthritis
 Immunization strategies are developed by staple
foods such as
Potatoes,
Bananas, and others
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Advantages of Biotech
• Reduce pollution and waste
• Decrease the use of energy, raw materials and
water
• Lead to better quality food products
• Create new materials and bio-fuels from
waste
• Provide an alternative to some chemical
processes
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Exercise of the Chapter
1. Define biotechnology.
2. List branches of biotechnology.
3. Explain the status of biotechnology in Ethiopia.
4. What are the applications of biotechnology?(in
agriculture, industry, health and medicine,
environment and forensic)
5. Why you learn biotechnology?
6. What are the first, the second and third
discoveries in the development of biotechnology?
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The end of chapterone
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