APPLICATION OF BIOTECHNOLOGY IN MEDICAL FIELD

(3) Molecular Diagnosis

 Using conventional methods of diagnosis (serum
and urine analysis, etc.) early detection is not
possible.
 Some of the techniques that serve the purpose
of early diagnosis are :-
(a) Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
(b) Recombinant DNA technology (using Probe)
(c) Enzyme Linked Immuno-sorbent Assay (ELISA)
 APPLICATION OF BIOTECHNOLOGY IN MEDICAL FIELD
(a) Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
 Very low concentration of a bacteria or
virus (at a time when the symptoms of the
disease are not yet visible) can be
detected by amplification of their nucleic
acid by PCR.
 PCR is now routinely used to detect HIV in
suspected AIDS patients.
 It is being used to detect mutations in
genes in suspected cancer patients too.
 It is a powerful technique to identify many
other genetic disorders.
 APPLICATION OF BIOTECHNOLOGY IN MEDICAL FIELD
(b) Recombinant DNA technology (using Probe)
 Probe :- A single stranded DNA or RNA,
tagged with a radioactive molecule.
 Probe is complementary to normal gene.
 It binds to normal gene and detected by
autoradiography.
 The probe will not have complimentarity
with the mutated gene hence it will not
appear on the photographic film.
 APPLICATION OF BIOTECHNOLOGY IN MEDICAL FIELD
(c) Enzyme Linked Immuno-sorbent Assay
(ELISA)
 ELISA is based on the principle of antigen-
antibody interaction.
 Infection by pathogen can be detected by
the presence of antigens(proteins,
glycoproteins)
 TRANSGENIC ANIMALS
Transgenic Animals :-
 Animals that have had their DNA
manipulated to possess and express an extra
(foreign) gene are known as transgenic Normal Animals.
animals.
 Transgenic rats, rabbits, pigs, sheep, cows
and fish have been produced. Retrovirus

 Over 95 per cent of all existing transgenic

animals are mice.

Transgenic Animals.
 TRANSGENIC ANIMALS
 Benefit from transgenic animals are :-
(1) Normal physiology and development :-
 Transgenic animals can be used for study of how
genes are regulated, and affect the normal
functions of the body and its development.
 e.g. study of complex factors involved in growth
such as insulin-like growth factor.
(2) Study of disease :-
 Today transgenic models (animals) exist for many
human diseases such as cancer, cystic fibrosis,
rheumatoid arthritis and Alzheimer’s.
 TRANSGENIC ANIMALS
(3) Biological Products:-
 Transgenic animals that produce useful
biological products like :-
(a) α-1-antitrypsin :-
 Produce in transgenic Sheep.
 It is used to treat emphysema .
 Similar attempts are being made for treatment
of phenylketonuria (PKU) and cystic fibrosis. Transgenic Sheep
 TRANSGENIC ANIMALS
Biological products:-
(b) Human Alpha-Lactalbumin :-
 It was produced in the first transgenic cow,
Rosie,(In 1997).
 Rosie produced human protein-enriched milk,
contained the human alpha-lactalbumin (2.4
grams per litre).
Transgenic Cow, Rosie
 This milk nutritionally a more balanced
product for human babies than natural cow-
milk.
 TRANSGENIC ANIMALS
(4) Vaccine safety :-
 Transgenic mice are being used to test the
safety of the vaccine e.g. polio vaccine.
(5) Chemical safety testing :-
 This is known as toxicity/safety testing.
 Transgenic animals are made that carry
genes which make them more sensitive to
toxic substances than non-transgenic
animals.
 ETHICAL ISSUES
Ethical Issues :-
 The manipulation of living organisms by the
human race can not go on any further, without
regulation.
 Some ethical standards are required to evaluate Transgenic Animals.
the morality of all human activities.
 Therefore, the Indian Government has set up
organisations such as GEAC (Genetic Engineering
Approval Committee).
 GEAC will make decisions regarding the validity of
GM research and the safety of introducing GM-
organisms for public services. Transgenic plant
 BIO-PATENT
Bio- Patent :-
 A patent is a right granted by a government to
an inventor to prevent others from commercial
use of his invention.
 Its law and rules prevent unauthorised
exploitation of bio-resources.
 A patent is granted for :-
(A) An invention
(B) An improvement in an earlier invention
(C) The process of generating products and
(D) A concept or design.
 BIO-PIRACY
Bio- Piracy :-
 Bio-piracy is the term used to refer to the use of
bio-resources by multinational companies and
other organisations without proper
authorisation from the countries and people
concerned without compensatory payment.

Developed
country
 BIO-PIRACY
Bio- Piracy of Basmati Rice :-
 The diversity of rice in India is one of the richest
in the world(200,000 varieties).
 27 documented varieties of Basmati are grown in
India.
 In 1997, an American company got patent rights
on new Basmati rice through the US Patent and
Trademark Office.
 This ‘new’ variety of Basmati had actually been
derived from, Indian Basmati was crossed with
semi-dwarf varieties.
 Similarly, Several attempts have also been made
to patent of Turmeric and Neem.
 BIO-PIRACY
How To Control Bio- Piracy :-
 The Indian Parliament has recently cleared
the second amendment of the Indian
Patents Bill, that takes such issues into
consideration, including patent terms
emergency provisions and research and
development initiative.
 SPECIAL POINTS
Bioremediation
Bioremediation is a branch of biotechnology that
employs the use of living organisms, like microbes
and bacteria, in the removal of pollutants, and
toxins from soil, water, and other environments.
e.g. :- Pseudomonas putida/ Superbug /Oil eating bug .
This bacterium would clean the oil spills (Oil eating
bug).
This bacteria have been engineered by Dr.Ananda
Mohan Chakraborthi.
He transferred four types of genes/plasmids in this
bacteria. These are OCT,XYL, CAM & NAH.