ISABELA STATE UNIVERSITY

Provincial Technical Institute of Agriculture

Basic Biotechnology

Introduction to Biotechnology
Biotechnology, as the word suggests, is combination of biology and technology. Biotechnology is the
use of technology to use, modify or upgrade the part or whole of biological system for industrial and human
welfare.
Biotechnology is defined as:
1) “Biotechnology is the application of biological organisms, system or process to manufacturing and
service industries." (British or processes to manufacturing and Biotechnologist)
2) “Biotechnology is the integrated use of biochemistry, microbiology, and engineering sciences in order to
achieve technological (industrial) application of the capabilities of micro-organisms, cultured tissue
cells.” (European Federation of Biotechnology).
3) “Biotechnology is the controlled use of biological agents, such as microorganisms or cellular
components.”(US National Science Foundation)
Bio-Technology is the use of living things especially cells and bacteria for production of various products
for benefiting human beings. It is a combination of various technologies, applied together to living cells,
including not only biology, but also subjects like mathematics, physics, chemistry and engineering. Its
application ranges from agriculture (Animal Husbandry, Cropping system, Soil science and Soil Conservation,
Plant Physiology, Seed Technology etc and Crop Management) to industry (food, pharmaceutical, chemical,
byproducts, textiles etc.), medicine, nutrition, environmental conservation, Cell Biology, making it one of the
fastest growing fields. Biotechnology is to modify genetic structure in animals and plants to improve them in
desired way for getting beneficial products.
History
People were using biotechnology techniques thousands years before but they did not named their
working field as biotechnology. The name biotechnology was given by Hungarian engineer Karoly Ereky in
1919 to describe a technology based on converting raw materials into a more useful product.

 The ancient Egyptians made wine using fermentation techniques based on an understanding of the
microbiological processes that occur in the absence of oxygen.
 Egyptians also applied fermentation technologies to make dough rise during bread-making. Due in part
to this application, there were more than 50 varieties of bread in Egypt more than 4,000 years ago.
  In wetter parts of the Nile Valley, Egyptians also bred geese and cattle to meet their society's nutritional
and dietary needs.
 Yogurt was made at homes but the reason of the conversion of milk into yogurt was unknown to old
people. Later researches showed that yogurt is made due to the action of yeast added to milk; which is
also biotechnology as it uses a micro-organism for benefiting human.
 People have used selective breeding to improve production of crops and livestock to use them for food.
In selective breeding, organisms with desirable characteristics are mated to produce offspring with the
same characteristics. For example, this technique was used with corn to produce the largest and sweetest
crops.
Modern biotechnology
The Second World War became a major impediment in scientific discoveries. After the end of the
second world war some, very crucial discoveries were reported, which paved the path for modern biotechnology
and to its current status.
 In 1953, JD Watson and FHC Crick for the first time cleared the mysteries around the DNA as a genetic
material, by giving a structural model of DNA, popularly known as, ‘Double Helix Model of DNA’.
This model was able to explain various phenomena related to DNA replication, and its role in
inheritance.

Structure of DNA by Watson and Crick (1953)

 Dr. Hargobind Khorana was able to synthesize the DNA in test tube, while Karl Mullis added value to
Khorana's discovery by amplifying DNA in a test tube, thousand times more than the original amount of
DNA.
 Using this technological advancement, other scientists were able to insert a foreign DNA into another
host and were even able to monitor the transfer of a foreign DNA into the next generation.
 In 1997, Ian Wilmut an Irish scientist, was successful to clone a sheep and named the cloned sheep as
‘Dolly’.
 In 2003, the Human Genome Project completes sequencing of the human genome.
 In 1978, Boyer was able to isolate a gene for insulin (a hormone to regulate blood sugar levels) from
human genome using biotechnology. He then inserted it into bacteria, which allowed the gene to
reproduce a larger quantity of insulin for diabetics.
 Modern biotechnology provides breakthrough products and technologies to combat rare diseases, reduce our
environmental footprint, feed the hungry, use less and cleaner energy, and have safer, cleaner and more efficient
industrial manufacturing processes. Currently, there are :
 More than 250 biotechnology health care products and vaccines available to patients, many for
previously untreatable diseases.
 More than 13.3 million farmers around the world use agricultural biotechnology to increase yields,
prevent damage from pests and reduce farming's impact on the environment.
 More than 50 biorefineries are being built across North America to test and refine technologies to
produce biofuels and chemicals from renewable biomass, which can help reduce greenhouse gas
emissions.
Impact of Biotechnology
Biotech is helping to heal the world by harnessing nature's own toolbox and using our own genetic
makeup. Biotech improves crop insect resistance, enhances crop herbicide tolerance and facilitates the use of
more environmentally sustainable farming practices. Biotechnology is:
 Reducing rates of infectious disease;
 Tailoring treatments to individuals to minimize health risks and side effects;
 Creating more precise tools for disease detection Combating serious illnesses and everyday threats
confronting the developing world
 Improving manufacturing process efficiency
 Reducing use of and reliance on petrochemicals;
 Using biofuels to cut greenhouse gas emissions
 Decreasing water usage and waste generation
 Generating higher crop yields with fewer inputs;
 Lowering volumes of agricultural chemicals required by crops-limiting the run-off of these products into
the environment;
 Using biotech crops that need fewer applications of pesticide
 Developing crops with enhanced nutrition profiles that solve vitamin and nutrient deficiencies;
 Producing foods free of allergens and toxins
 Improving food and crop oil content to help improve cardiovascular health.
Importance of Biotechnology
So, we can say that Biotechnologists have a broad scope. They can:-
 Help in increasing productivity and in improving energy production and conservation by conducting
research and development work.
 Work with chemical processes, genetic engineering, textile development cosmetic development etc...
 Exploit and control the potential of micro-organisms and living systems for the benefit of mankind as
by using micro-organisms in the production of drinks, bread, cheese and yogurt.
 Find new ways to design and use antibiotics and pesticides
 Use genetic modification and genome mapping to improve crop production or crop resistance to pests
and diseases.
 Combating environmental pollution by developing the use of biosensors for early detection of
pollutants.
 Find new ways to treat industrial waste for recycling of sewage sludge.
 Carry out their work in the laboratories, as it is a scientific research oriented field.
  Help medical professionals in improving in the methods of diagnosis, medicines and vaccinations for
diseases.
Plant Breeding and Biotechnology
Crop cultivation has a long history in human civilization, with records showing the cultivation of cereal
plants beginning at around 8000 BC. This early plant breeding was developed primarily to provide a steady
supply of food.
As humans' understanding of genetics advanced, improved crop varieties could be achieved more
quickly. Artificial selection could be more directed, and crop varieties enhanced for favorable traits more
quickly to produce better, more robust, or more palatable plants.
However, traditional techniques for breeding plants are slow and do not always produce the desired crop
varieties. Later, biotechnological tools made it easier to engineer desired traits into plants that are otherwise
difficult to breed using traditional methods. For example, improving nutritional deficiency in plants is difficult
via artificial selection, and particularly challenging for vitamin A and iron. Rice, for example, does not contain
genes for beta carotene, which is a vitamin A precursor. However, it does contain genes for the compound
geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate, which can be sequentially converted to beta carotene using four enzymes. Rice
was engineered using genes for two enzymes derived from daffodils, and the remaining two enzymes from the
bacteria Erwinia uredovora. The resulting crop is known as golden rice. Because rice is the staple food of more
than half of the world, bioengineered crops such as these could potentially play a role in preventing blindness
among children caused by vitamin A deficiency, or improving the health of rice-reliant countries.
Many commonly grown crop plants now have some degree of genetic modification introduced using
biotechnology. For example, maize, papaya, and many potato varieties have been modified for herbicide,
disease, or pest resistance. Genetic modification can even be carried out to reduce allergen production, which is
the case in soybeans.

Plant Products of Biotechnology

Plant products of biotechnology have been available in the market for 23 years in 2018. These modified
crops look like their traditional counterparts, but they possess special characteristics that make them better.
These crops offer several benefits both farmers and consumers. Farmers gain higher crop yields and have
increased flexibility in management practices while consumers have “healthier crops” (i.e., crops grown with
fewer pesticides and/or with healthier nutritional characteristics).

Plant products of biotechnology approved for food use have been modified to contain traits such as:
• Insect resistance
• Disease resistance
• Herbicide tolerance
• Altered nutritional profile
• Enhanced storage life
Examples of plant products of biotechnology
Product Trait
Alfalfa Herbicide tolerance, altered lignin production
Apple Non-browning
Bean Virus disease resistance
Canola  Herbicide tolerance, modified oil/fatty acid, pollination control system, phytase production
Cotton Herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, low gossypol
Eggplant Insect resistance
Flax,
Herbicide tolerance
Linseed
Abiotic stress tolerance, altered growth/yield, herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, modified
Maize product quality (modified alpha amylase, lysine boost, phytase production), pollination control
system
Melon Delayed ripening
Papaya Disease resistance
Pineapple Delayed ripening, modified fruit color
Plum Disease resistance
Disease resistance, herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, modified product quality (modified
Potato
starch, reduced acrylamide potential, non-bruising), fungal disease resistance
Herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, anti-allergy, modified product quality (biofortified with
Rice
Provitamin A, anti-allergy)
Rose Modified flower color
Safflower Modified product quality
Herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, modified product quality, altered growth/yield, abiotic
Soybean
stress tolerance, modified oil/fatty acid
Squash Disease resistance
Sugar beet Herbicide tolerance
Sugar cane Insect resistance, drought tolerance
Sweet
Disease resistance
pepper
Tomato Disease resistance, insect resistance, delayed ripening, delayed fruit softening
Wheat Herbicide tolerance

BIOTECH SOYBEAN

Soybean is the oil crop of greatest economic relevance in the world. Its beans contain
proportionally more essential amino acids than meat, thus making it one of the most
important food crops today. Processed soybeans are important ingredients in many food
products.
Herbicide tolerant soybean

Herbicide tolerant soybean varieties contain a gene that provides resistance to one of two broad
spectrum herbicides.This modified soybean provides better weed control and reduces crop injury. It also
improves farm efficiency by optimizing yield, using arable land more efficiently, saving time for the farmer,
and increasing the flexibility of crop rotation. It also encourages adoption of no-till farming - an important part
of soil conservation practice. These varieties are the same as other soybeans in nutrition, composition, and in the
way they are processed into food and feed. *Approved (for import or cultivation) in the following countries:
Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, European Union, India,
Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Nigeria, Paraguay, Philippines, Russia, Singapore,
South Africa, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United States of America (USA), Uruguay,
and Vietnam.

Insect resistant soybean

This biotech soybean exhibits resistance to lepidopteran pests through the production of Cry1Ac protein.
Insect resistant soybean was developed to reduce or replace high insecticide applications and at the same time
maintain soybean yield potential.*Approved (for import or cultivation) in the following countries: Argentina,
Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, EU, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New
Zealand, Nigeria, Paraguay, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand,
Turkey  USA, Uruguay, Uruguay.

Oleic acid soybean

This modified soybean contains high levels of oleic acid, a monounsaturated fat. According to health
nutritionists, monounsaturated fats are considered “good” fats compared with saturated fats found in beef, pork,
cheese, and other dairy products. Oil processed from these varieties is similar to that of peanut and olive oils.
Conventional soybeans have an oleic acid content of 24%. These new varieties have an oleic acid content that
exceeds 80%.*Approved (for import or cultivation) in the following countries: Argentina, Australia, Brazil,
Canada,China, Columbia, EU, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Nigeria, Philippines,
Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, Turkey, US, and Vietnam.

BIOTECH MAIZE

Maize is one of the three most important grains of the world. It is used as
livestock feeds, processed as cooking oil and food additives, and currently as
feedstocks for biofuels.

Herbicide-tolerant maize
These maize varieties work in a similar manner as herbicide-tolerant soybean.
They allow growers better flexibility in using certain herbicides to control
weeds that can damage crops.*Approved (for import or cultivation) in the
following countries: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China Colombia,
Costa Rica, Cuba, EU, Honduras, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico,
New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, South
Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, USA, Uruguay, Vietnam, and Zambia.

Insect resistant maize

This modified maize contains a built-in insecticidal protein from a naturally occurring soil
microorganism (Bacillus thuringiensis) that gives maize plants season-long protection from corn borers. This
means most farmers do not have to spray insecticide to protect maize from harmful pests, which can cause
significant damage and yield loss in many areas. Bt maize also reduces toxin contamination arising from fungal
attack on the damaged grain. The Bt protein has been used safely as an organic insect control agent for over 50
years. *Approved (for import or cultivation) in the following countries: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada,
Chile, China, Colombia, Egypt, European Union, Honduras, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New
Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea,
Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, USA, Uruguay, Vietnam, and Zambia.

BIOTECH RICE

Rice is life for more than half of humanity. It is the staple food for over 3 billion
people, more than 90% of whom are Asians.
Herbicide-tolerant rice
These rice varieties work in a similar manner to herbicide-tolerant soybean. They
contain a gene that provides resistance to one of two broad spectrums, and
environmentally benign herbicides. *Approved (for import or cultivation) in the
following countries: Australia, Canada, Colombia, Honduras, Mexico, New
Zealand, Philippines, Russia, South Africa, and the USA.

BIOTECH TOMATO
Delayed-ripening tomato

The delayed-ripening tomato became the first genetically modified food crop to be produced
in a developed country. These tomatoes spend more days on the vine than other tomatoes,
thus resulting in better flavor. Furthermore, the longer shelf life has commercial advantages
in harvesting and shipping that can reduce the costs of production. *Approved (for import or cultivation) in the
following countries: China, Canada, Mexico, and the USA.
 

BIOTECH COTTON
Herbicide-tolerant cotton

This cotton works in a manner similar to other biotech tolerant crops. For benefits, see
herbicide-tolerant soybean. *Approved (for import or cultivation) in the following
countries: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, EU,
Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Paraguay, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa,
South Korea, Taiwan and the USA.

Insect-resistant cotton
This modified cotton works in a manner similar to insect resistant corn. It contains a protein that provides the
plant with season-long protection from budworms and bollworms. The need for additional insecticide
applications for these pests is reduced or eliminated. *Approved (for import or cultivation) in the following
countries: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Canada, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, eSwatini,
Ethiopia, EU, India, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Myanmar, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Paraguay,
Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Sudan, Taiwan, and the USA.
 
BIOTECH POTATO
Insect resistant potato
This biotech potato works like insect resistant corn. It contains a protein that provides
the plant with built-in protection from the Colorado potato beetle. Thus, this potato
needs no additional protection for this pest, benefiting farmers, consumers, and the
environment. *Approved (for import or cultivation) in the following countries:
Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines, Russia, South Korea,
and the USA.

\Virus resistant potato

Several potato varieties have been modified to resist potato leafroll virus (PLRV) and potato virus Y
(PVY). In the same way that people get inoculations to prevent disease, these potato varieties are protected
through biotechnology from certain viruses. Furthermore, virus resistance often results in reduced insecticide
use, which is needed to control insect vectors that transmit viruses. *Approved (for import or cultivation) in the
following countries: Argentina, Australia, Canada, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines, South
Korea, and the USA.

Low acrylamide potato

Innate™ potato, developed by Simplot, was approved for commercialization in the U.S. in November
2014. This biotech potato has 50-75% lower levels of acrylamide, a potential carcinogen in humans, produced
when potatoes are exposed to high temperatures. It is also less susceptible to bruising. *Approved (for import or
cultivation) in the following countries: Australia, Canada, EU, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand and the
USA.
 
BIOTECH CANOLA
Canola is a genetic variation of rapeseed and was developed by Canadian plant breeders
specifically for its nutritional qualities, particularly its low level of saturated fat.

Herbicide tolerant canola

Herbicide tolerant canola contains transgenes conferring tolerance to herbicides. This is
similar to the trait exhibited by herbicide tolerant soybean. *Approved (for import or
cultivation) in the following countries: Australia, Canada, Chile, China, EU, Japan,
Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea,
Taiwan, and the USA.

High laureate canola

These canola varieties contain high levels of laurate. Oil processed from these novel varieties is similar to
coconut and palm oils. This new canola oil is being sold to the food industry for use in chocolate candy
coatings, coffee whiteners, icings, frostings, and whipped toppings. Benefits extend even to the cosmetics
industry. *Approved (for import or cultivation) in the following countries: Australia, Canada, New Zealand,
and the USA.

 
BIOTECH ALFALFA

Alfalfa is one of the most important legumes used in agriculture.

Herbicide-tolerant alfalfa
This alfalfa works in a manner similar to other HT crops.*Approved (for import or cultivation) in the following
countries: Argentina, Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea
and the USA.
 
BIOTECH PAPAYA

Virus-resistant papaya
This Hawaiian-developed papaya contains a viral gene that encodes for the coat
protein of papaya ringspot virus (PRSV). This protein provides the papaya plant
with built-in protection against PRSV. This biotech papaya works in a manner
similar to virus resistant potato.*Approved (for import or cultivation) in the
following countries:  Canada, China, Japan, and the USA.

BIOTECH SQUASH

Virus resistant squash

A biotech yellow crookneck squash is now able to resist watermelon mosaic virus
(WMV) and zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV). These new varieties contain
the coat protein genes of both viruses. This biotech approach bypasses aphid
control, which may reduce or eliminate the use of insecticides.*Approved (for
import or cultivation) in the following countries: Canada and the USA.

BIOTECH SUGAR BEET

Herbicide tolerant sugar beet
In 2008, an herbicide tolerant sugar beet variety was planted in Canada and USA for the first time. The
herbicide-tolerant sugar beet allows farmers to cut the number of required cultivations by half. *Approved (for
import or cultivation) in the following countries: Australia, Canada, China, Colombia, EU, Japan, Mexico,
New Zealand, Philippines, Russian Federation, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and the USA.

Drawbacks of biotechnology

 Ethics
Debates over the ethics of biotechnology have been ongoing for decades. The question mostly lies in
the morality of various practices employed in research and development. Ethics-related concerns
include cloning, xenotransplantation, stem cell research, fetal tissue use, and genetic modification of
organisms.
 Uncertainty
The biggest concern over biotechnology is the uncertainty in its long term effects. The immediate
advantages are clear in many circumstances, but they may directly or indirectly impact the future in
unforeseen ways.
  Cost
Balancing benefits of biotechnology with cost, especially in the field of medicine, can be one tricky
aspect. In terms of investment, the value of biotech products is often miscalculated with failure to
include the factors of risk and product development periods, which can ultimately lower the return on
profit. Thus far, biotech products are often more expensive and less practical than alternatives.
 Too much altering of crops is destroying tha soul of natural farming
 Genetically modified species can damage the natural ecosystem.

In short, Today’s biotechnology is continuing to help improve the way we live, and it helps us
do so more responsibly.

The result of biotechnology is a diverse and nearly endless set of practical biotechnology
products helping us live longer and healthier lives, have a more abundant and sustainable food supply.
Biotechnology has brought humanity to this level of comfort; the next question is, where will it take us?
Biotechnology has both beneficial and destructive potentials. It is, WE who should decide how to use
this technology to help humanity rather than to destroy it.

LEARNING ACTIVITY:
You have learned that Biotechnology contributes importance in humans, the society and the
environment. Now, aside from its importance, write down factors how biotechnology impacts humanity,
society and the environment. Write your answer in a clean sheet of bond paper (essay format). Make sure to
write it legibly, minimum of 200 word.
References: 18

ISAAA. 2018. Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops: 2018. ISAAA Brief No. 54. ISAAA:
Ithaca, NY.. http://www.isaaa.org. ISAAA GM Approval Database. http://www.isaaa.org/gmapprovaldatabase/.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/284169166_Introduction_to_Biotechnology