HIRAYA
BIOTECH Q4
Lecturers: Chanel Belicario, Kezia Acub, Jeanine Briones & Marnel Dincol
Applications of Biotechnology in Health (M1)
BIOTECHNOLOGY
Is the use of artificial methods to modify the genetic
materials of living organisms or cells to produce more
applications of biotechnology in medicine. (Vaccines,
antibiotics)
- 1928 accidental discovery of Penicillin/Wonder drug by
Alexander Fleming during the world war.
In the year 2020, a new Biogen Alzheimer’s Disease drug
named “Aducanumab” was efficiently safe and effectively
impairment due to mild to severe Alzheimer’s disease. (only
delays effect)
Red Biotechnology is a process that utilizes organisms to
improve health care and help the body fight diseases. A branch
of modern biotechnology that is utilized in the field of
medicine. It facilitates the enhancement of the quality of life
on one hand and the alleviation of human suffering on the other.
Medicine is the field of health and healing that includes
nurses, doctors, and various specialists. It covers diagnosis,
treatment, and prevention of disease, medical research, and
many other aspects of health. Medicine aims to promote and
maintain health and well-being.
THE DIFFERENT APPLICATIONS OF BIOTECHNOLOGY IN HEALTH
1. Molecular Diagnostics
Draw upon recent advances in biology to diagnose
infectious disease by detecting the presence or absence of
pathogen-associated molecules (nucleic acids or proteins) in a
patient’s blood or tissues. ✬Gumagamit ng dugo, saliva,
urine etc para macheck if may foreign stuff sa body mo
Examples of Molecular Diagnostics:
A. Electron Microscopy (EM) - A technique for
obtaining high-resolution images of biological specimens. It is
used in biomedical research to investigate the detailed
structure of tissues, cells, organelles, and macromolecular
complexes.
✬Basically microscope but better
B. Antigen Diagnostic Tests - Detect structural
features of the outside of the virus called antigens—small
proteins that make up the virus—that may be present in a
patient’s sample. ✬Yung ginagamit para malaman if may
covid q
C. Direct immunofluorescence (DIF) - A
technique used in the laboratory to diagnose diseases of
the skin, kidneys, and other organ systems. It is also called
the direct immunofluorescent test or primary
immunofluorescence. ✬Gumagamit ng light to detect
pathogens etc.
D. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) - is a
laboratory technique for rapidly producing (amplifying)
millions to billions of copies of a specific segment of DNA,
which can then be studied in greater detail.
~~~~~~~~~~
2. Recombinant vaccines
Are possibly the most important medical advance of the
last hundred years. Going back in history, on May 14, 1796,
Edward Jenner took fluid from a cowpox blister and scratched it
into the skin of James Phipps, an eight-year-old boy.
• Hepatitis A • Rabies
• Flu vaccines • Measles
• Polio • Covid-19
3. Bioremediation
Influences the natural biochemical processes of plants or
microorganisms to clean up the environment.
- has direct significance to any development activity related to
the environment, including water, soil, and air.
Examples of Bioremediation:
A. Jatropha - Rehabilitates pollutants in metal-filled
land as in an abandoned mine site in Mogpog, Marinduque.
Is also one of the best plants for developing biofuels, is
resistant to droughts and pests, and produces seeds
containing 27-40% oil. Considered as a superhero plant
4. Bioinformatics
- the use of computer hardware and software to store, retrieve,
and analyze large quantities of biological data.
- The use of high throughput technologies (DNA sequencing
machines, DNA and RNA microarrays, combinatorial chemistry,
2D gel electrophoresis, and mass spectrometry) produces large
quantities of biological data, which can also play an
important role in the development of medicinal drugs.
5. Sequencing Pathogen Genomes
Sequencing pathogen genomes, together with
bio-informatics can rapidly accelerate the process of
medicinal drug discovery and are important tools in the fight
against infectious diseases.
6. Enriched Genetically Modified Crops
With genetic modification, it became possible to
introduce new genes and new traits into crops that developed
more rapidly and more precisely than traditional breeding
and also enable the introduction of new genes from
different species, producing crops fortified with nutritional
values vital for good health.
7. Recombinant Therapeutic Proteins
are used to treat many non-communicable diseases,
and the recombinant technology makes it possible to insert
a gene or genes for the therapeutic protein into a suitable
organism.
Transgenic mammals are currently the most attractive source
of recombinant therapeutic proteins. These animals secrete
recombinant proteins in easily-harvested body fluids,
such as milk or urine.
Example: Humulin (Human Insulin)
8. Tissue Nanotransfection
Works by injecting genetic code into skin cells,
which turns those skin cells into the other types of cells
required for treating diseases.
HIRAYA
BIOTECH Q4
Lecturers: Chanel Belicario, Kezia Acub, Jeanine Briones & Marnel Dincol

In some lab tests, it completely repaired the injured legs of
mice over a period of a few weeks by turning skin cells into
vascular cells.
9. CRISPR Technology or CRISPR-Cas9
utilizes a protein called Cas9, which acts like a
pair of molecular scissors and can cut DNA.
They specialize in stretches of DNA and are used in medical
biotechnology as a tool to edit genomes. It allows scientists
to alter DNA and modify gene functions. In addition, there are
many applications of CRISPR, such as correcting genetic
defects, treating diseases, preventing the spread of diseases,
and improving crops. Cut and paste
● Cas9: a CRISPR-associated (Cas) endonuclease,
or enzyme, that acts as “molecular scissors” to
cut DNA at a location specified by a guide RNA.
● Guide RNA (gRNA): a piece of RNA that
functions as a guide for RNA- or DNA-targeting
enzymes, with which it forms complexes.
Short for: Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short
Palindromic Repeats
Biotechnology has now made it possible for
doctors to view an entire 3D image of the inside of a patient’s
body through the use of MRI and CT scans. This allows each
organ to be precisely projected so that the surgeon can
make small, targeted incisions to minimize bodily trauma to the
patient.
Example: Fractured bones, surgery
15. 3D Printed Organs
Artificial limbs have been in use for centuries,
and there has been a steady improvement in the mobility
and versatility of bionic limbs. Now, new advances in
bionic technology and 3D printing have taken it even
further. It has made it possible to artificially construct
internal organs like the heart, kidney, and liver. Doctors
have been able to implant these into individuals that need
them successfully.
Example: Artificial heart

10. Stem Cell Research

Stem cells can keep dividing infinitely and have
the capacity to differentiate into different types of body
cells during the early development of an organism.
With the help of stem cell research, it might be
possible to grow these stem cells in vitro, in a lab setting, and
then implant them back into the affected individual’s
body. This would help restore their cognitive acuity, vision,
hearing, and other physical features.
Example: Vicki Belo (Para sa skin)

11. Gene Therapy

Designed to introduce genetic material into cells to
compensate for abnormal genes or to make a beneficial protein.
If a mutated gene causes a necessary protein to
be faulty or missing, gene therapy may be able to introduce a
normal copy of the gene to restore the function of the protein.

12. Human Genome Project

Human Genome Project was an international
scientific research project coordinated by the National
Institutes of Health and the U.S. Department of Energy and is
considered one of the greatest accomplishments of
exploration in human history. It was officially launched in
1990 with the goal of determining the sequence of nucleotide
base pairs that make up human DNA. In April 2003, the
researchers announced that they had completed a
preliminary sequencing of the entire human genome. This
work of the HGP has allowed researchers to begin to understand
the blueprint for building a person. It has aided researchers in
identifying genes that cause diseases.

13. Targeted Cancer Therapies

drugs that work either by interfering with the function of specific
molecules or by only targeting known cancerous cells, in order
to minimize damage to healthy cells.

14. 3D Visualization and Augmented Reality for Surgery

HIRAYA
BIOTECH Q4
Lecturers: Chanel Belicario, Kezia Acub, Jeanine Briones & Marnel Dincol
Applications of Biotechnology in Agriculture (M2)
BIOTECHNOLOGY IN AGRICULTURE
- Green biotechnology
- Agriculture is the livelihood of Filipinos.
- Development of transgenic crops, placement of
genes into plants to give the crop a beneficial
trait.
- Benefits: Improved yield from crops, reduced
vulnerability of crops from environmental
stresses, improved texture or appearance of
food, reduced dependence on fertilizers,
pesticides, and other agrochemicals, and
production of vaccines.
GENETICALLY MODIFIED CROPS
1. Bacillus Thuringiensis Corn (BT Corn)
-first genetically modified with the insertion of a toxin gene
from the Bacterium Bacillus Thuringiensis.
-When the Bt Corn was commercialized, an increase in
production was realized because of its
resistance to the attack of the corn borer.
● Bacillus Thuringiensis
- A bacterium that comes from the soil that
produces toxic proteins, which kills pests when ingested.
2. Bacillus Thuringiensis Cotton (BT Cotton)
-Resistant to bollworms.
-Reliable source of cotton for textile industry and cottonseed
oil.
-GMO cottonseed meals and hulls are also used in food for
animals.
3. GM Potatoes
-To resist bruising and browning that can occur when
potatoes are packaged, stored and transported, or even cut
in the kitchen.
4. Golden Rice
-Containing beta carotene, a precursor of Vitamin A
-Almost 20 times the beta carotene
-Created by modifying the rice genome to include a gene
from the daffodil Narcissus Pseudonarcissus that produces
the enzyme Phytoene synthase and a gene from the
bacterium Erwinia Uredovora that produces an enzyme
called phytoene desaturase.
-These enable beta-carotene, which is converted to
vitamin A in the human liver, to accumulate in the rice
endosperm—the edible part of the rice plant—thereby
increasing the amount of beta-carotene.
5. Sugar Beets - Engineered to grow faster and more
resistant to weeds.
-Alternative for sugar canes
6. GM Canola
-Used mostly to make cooking oil and margarine
-Canola seed meal is used in food for animals
-Used in many packaged foods to improve food
consistency
-Resistant to herbicides and helps farmers to easily control
weeds in fields.
7. GM Alfalfa
- Primarily used to feed cattle, mostly dairy cows. -Resistant
to herbicides.
8. Bacillus Thuringiensis Eggplant (BT Eggplant) - first
GM Eggplant was a pest-resistant eggplant.
9. GM Peas - inserting kidney beans genes into the peas’ DNA
resulting in the production of a protein with pesticidal ability.
10. Flavr Savr Tomatoes - first commercially grown GM
tomatoes granted with a license for human consumption.
-Withstands the rigors of shipping.
-Prevents softening during ripening
-Developed using antisense RNA to regulate the
expression of the enzyme polygalacturonase (PG) in ripening
tomato fruit.
HOW?
GM crops are made through a process known as genetic
engineering. Genes of commercial interest are transferred
from one organism to another.
Gene gun - introducing transgenes into plant genomes.
DNA is introduced into the plant cells into tiny particles of
Gold or Tungsten. These particles are then physically shot
onto plant cells and incorporated into the genomic DNA of
the recipient plant.
BENEFITS OF GM CROPS:
1. They are more tolerant to stresses such as drought, cold,
and heat.
2. They are pest-resistant and therefore less dependent on
chemical pesticides.
3. Genetically Modified crops help to reduce post-harvest
losses.
4. They help to increase the mineral usage by plants,
thereby preventing early exhaustion of soil fertility.
5. Genetically modified crops have enhanced nutritional
value.
POTENTIAL RISKS OF GM CROPS:
1. The danger of unintentionally introducing allergens and
other antinutritional factors in foods.
2. The likelihood of transgenes escaping from cultivated
crops into wild relatives.
3. The potential for pests to evolve resistance to the toxins
produced by GM crops.
4. The risk of these toxins affecting non-target organisms.