What is the Result of Biotechnology?

An organism showing a novel trait not normally found in the species

Extended shelf-life tomato (FlavrSavr Tomato) Herbicide resistant soybean (Roundup Ready Soybean)

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Biotechnology Terms You Probably Heard

Transgene the foreign gene added to a species Ex. modified EPSP synthase gene (encodes a protein that functions even when plant treated with Roundup) Transgenic an organism containing a transgene introduced by technological (not breeding) methods

Ex. Roundup Ready Crops

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Biotechnology Develops
GMOs - Genetically modified organisms

GMO - an organism that expresses traits that result from the introduction of foreign DNA
Also called transgenic organism

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Important Terms
Breeding
Beneficial gene added from the same species Gene delivered by mating within the species
Source: USDA

Transformation Beneficial gene added from another species Gene delivered by plant genetic engineering
Source: USDA

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Lets Be Up Front
Breeding Biotechnology Breeding only exchanges genes found in the species Breeding can transfer the transgene to other breeding materials BUT it is not the same as biotechnology

Biotechnology adds traits not available in the species Soybean does not have a gene to breakdown Roundup The gene comes from bacteria

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Interspecific Cross
Wheat Rye

Triticale
New species, but NOT biotechnology products

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Mutagenesis: New Trait, No Foreign Gene

Mutagenesis changes the sequence of a gene New, useful traits can be obtained
Mutagenesis Treatment

Susceptible Normal Gene

ATTCGA

Resistant Mutant Gene

ATTGGA
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BASF Clearfield Products

Mutagenesis Crops

Herbicide resistance imidazolinones Mutant AHAS enzyme developed by mutagenesis Crops Canola, Corn, Rice, Sunflower, Wheat In US Not considered GMOs by USDA regulators A Major marketing advantage When some stacked with GMOs, the advantage lost
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Agriculture Products On the Market

Insect resistant cotton Bt toxin kills the cotton boll worm toxin gene from a bacteria
Source: USDA

Insect resistant corn Bt toxin kills the European corn borer toxin gene from a bacteria Rootworm GM approved (2/26/03)
Normal Transgenic

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Herbicide resistant crops current: soybean, corn, canola coming: sugarbeet, lettuce, strawberry, alfalfa, potato, wheat (on hold) resistance gene from bacteria
Source: Monsanto

Virus resistance papaya, squash, potato resistance gene from a virus

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Bacterial and Animal Biotechnology Products

Biotech chymosin enzyme used to curdle milk products gene from yeast harvested from GE bacteria replaces the calf enzyme

Source: Chr. Hansen

bST (bovine somatotropin) increases milk production gene from cow protein harvested from GE bacteria replaces cow protein originally harvested from pituitary glands of slaughtered cows

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Source: Rent Mother Nature

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Next Generation of Ag Biotech Products

Golden Rice Increased Vitamin A content Transgenes from bacteria and daffidol Controversory: large amount needed to solve problem

Sunflower White mold resistance Resistance gene from wheat

Source: Minnesota Microscopy Society

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Turfgrass Herbicide resistance Slower growing reduced mowing = reduced pollution

Bio Steel Spider silk strongest known protein Protein expressed in goat milk Protein used to make soft-body, bullet proof vests (Nexia)
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Corn is the Current Main Focus

Crop Corn Cotton Rice Wheat Soybean Alfalfa Turfgrass # 2002-03 Trials (%) 1424 (56%) 193 (8%) 146 (6%) 141 (6%) 124 (5%) 121 (5%) 89 (4%)
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2001-03 data; collated from: Information Systems for Biotechnology (http://www.isb.vt.edu/)

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The Traditional Traits Predominant

Trait
Insect resistance Herbicide resistance Plant quality Pathogen resistance

# 2002-03 Trials (%)

791 (31%) 736 (29%) 400 (16%) 171 (7%)

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2001-03 data; collated from: Information Systems for Biotechnology (http://www.isb.vt.edu/)

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But Some Novel Traits Are Being Tested

Trait Yield Amino acid content Sugar content Oil content

# 2002-03 Trials (%) 105 (4%) 94 (4%) 44 (2%) 42 (2%)

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2001-03 data; collated from: Information Systems for Biotechnology (http://www.isb.vt.edu/)

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Environmental Applications
Indicator bacteria contamination is detected in the environment microbes sensitive to certain pollutants

Bioremediation cleanup contaminated sites uses microbes designed to degrade the pollutant
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Land Mine Detection

Without this effort, that is dangerous to our military, children are maimed.
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Land Mine Detection

How biotechnology helps Patented transgene added to plants When metal from mine is detected Plant turns from green to red Technology developed by Aresa Biodetection

Mine detected

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Biotechnology and Health

Product Insulin Interferon Interleukin Human growth hormone Neuroactive proteins Use Diabetes Cancer Cancer Dwarfism Pain

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What is Biopharming?
Biopharming Definition Growing transgenic crops that express pharmaceutical products
Examples: Drugs Antibodies Proteins
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Why use this technology?

Familiar Production Systems
Genes introduced into field crops (mostly corn) New productions systems not needed Producer can use traditional growing strategies Reduced End-Product Cost Animal system: $1000 - $5000 per gram protein Plant System: $1 - $10 per gram protein
Source: The Roanoke Times, 2000

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Edible Vaccines A Biopharming Dream

Biotech Plants Serving Human Health Needs
A pathogen protein gene is cloned Gene is inserted into the DNA of plant (potato, banana, tomato) Humans eat the plant The body produces antibodies against pathogen protein Human are immunized against the pathogen Examples: Diarrhea Hepatitis B Measles
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Future Health-related Biotech Products

Vaccines Herpes hepatitis C AIDS malaria Tooth decay Streptococcus mutans, the mouth bacteria releases lactic acid that destroys enamel engineered Streptococcus mutans does not release lactic acid destroys the tooth decay strain
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Nutritional Genomics (Nutrigenomics)

Concepts of Nutrigenomics
Certain diets can cause severe health risks in individuals Refined sugars, dairy products, fatty foods Certain diets enhance disease susceptibility in individuals with a specific genetic makeup Diabetes, lactose intolerance, high cholesterol Diets based on an individuals genetic makeup are preferred No refined sugars, minimal dairy products or fatty foods
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Nutritional Genomics (Nutrigenomics)

Goal of Nurtigenomics
Identify specific genetic makeups What combination of genes places a person at risk? Develop dietary recommendations What diets are best suited for certain at-risk individuals?

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Top Biotechnologies In The Future

Molecular Diagnostics Treatments exist, but diagnositic tools are lacking Expensive, hard to implement Cost effective diagnostic procedures needed Recombinant Vaccines Vaccines have effectively eradicated small pox, polio, etc Other diseases need to be addressed More effective and low-cost vaccines are needed Genetic engineering can solve these problems
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Top Biotechnologies In The Future

Vaccine and drug delivery Vaccine injections can cause serious infection New delivery forms, such as slow release drugs, are needed Bioremediation Water, air, and soil pollution is a problem Plants can breakdown much of these pollutants Plants that are safe to the environment and reduce pollutants are needed
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Top Biotechnologies In The Future

Nutritionally Enriched Crops Malnutrition is widespread Malnutrition is associated with many diseases Modification of staple crops necessary to solve the problem
Female Controlled Protection Against STDs Incidence of sexually-transmitted disease is high Women are most affected Vaginal microbicides needed Topical application best solution

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