BIOTECHNOLOGY QUARTER 3 Week 1

C.N: _________
NAME: ___________________________________________ GR. & SEC: _____________________

INTRODUCTION TO BIOTECHNOLOGY

Learning Competencies:
The learner:
1. Differentiate traditional and modern biotechnology;
2. Discuss techniques or practices used in traditional biotechnology;
3. Identify commonly used microbes in biotechnology.

How to Use this Module

Read the simple instructions below to successfully meet the objectives of this kit.
1. Follow and read carefully all the contents and instructions indicated in every page of this self-
learning material.
2. Write on your notebook the concepts about the lesson. Writing enhances learning.
3. Perform all the provided activities in the module.
4. Let your facilitator/ guardian assess your answers using the answer key card.
5. Analyze conceptually and answer the “Post-Test” part.
6. Enjoy studying!

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 Looking Back
Directions: Read the questions carefully. Write the letter of the correct answer on the blank
provided before the number.

_____1. What is the technology that utilizes biological systems, living organisms or parts of this

to develop or create different products?

A. mechanical technology C. biotechnology

B. medical technology D. energy and power technology

_____2. Who is the Father of Biotechnology?

A. Kiran Mazumdar Shaw C. Louis Pasteur

B. Károly Ereky D. Daniel Nathans

_____3. What uses bacteria or fungi such as yeast to change food?

A. artificial insemination C. cooking

B. mutagenesis D. fermentation

_____4. What is the process in which copies of a cell or organism are produced from a single
ancestor?

A. cloning C. plant-tissue culture

B. embryo transfer D. cellular selection

_____5. What are microscopic, single-celled organisms that thrive in diverse environments?

A. fungi C. protozoan

B. bacteria D. virus

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 Introduction to Biotechnology
Biotechnology deals with techniques of using live micro-organisms, plant or animal cells or
their components or enzymes from organisms to produce products and processes (ser-vices) useful
to human beings.
The term biotechnology was coined in 1919 by a Hungarian Engineer, Károly Ereky to
describe a process for large scale production of pigs. Since then, a number of historical discoveries
have propelled biotechnology to become one of the most dynamic industries and scientific
disciplines of the late twentieth century, similar to the advances in technology that have allowed
humans to penetrate Earth’s atmosphere and land on the moon 30 years ago.
A definition of biotechnology which covers both traditional views and modern molecular
biotechnology has been given by European Federation of Biotechnology (EFB). According to EFB:
Biotechnology is the integrated use of biochemistry, microbiology and engineering sciences in order
to achieve technological (industrial) application of the capabilities of microorganisms, cultured
tissues/cells and parts thereof.

• Traditional Biotechnology
- refers to a number of ancient ways of using living organisms to make new products or modify
existing ones. In its broadest definition, traditional biotechnology can be traced back to
human's transition from hunter-gatherer to farmer. As farmers, humans collected wild plants
and cultivated them and the best yielding strains were selected for growing the following
seasons.
- microorganisms were first used to produce some organic compounds like citric acid. They
were also used to produce antibodies. The levels of production of penicillin yield has been
improved, but the types of products are not changed. They remain the same as those
obtained from the natural strains/cell lines. In all these processes, only the natural
capabilities of the organisms and cells are exploited. These activities are called old
biotechnology.

• Modern Biotechnology
- Human insulin is also produced from a transgenic Escherichia coli stain that contains and
expresses the insulin gene. Proteins produced by transgenes are called recombinant proteins.
The production technologies based on genetic engineering are termed as modern
biotechnology. It developed during 1973.

Activity 1
Objective: Identify the components of biotechnology. Use the provided information above as your
answers for the following questions.

Definition: The one that gave its definition in a modern and traditional view:

Types: The person that coined the term:

BIOTECHNOLOGY

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 Traditional vs Modern Biotechnology
Biotechnology encompasses both traditional biotechnology and modern biotechnology. But
without the traditional biotechnology, there won’t be modern biotechnology. Traditional Biotechnology
refers to the traditional techniques of using living organisms to yield new products or modify foods or
other useful products for human use. It includes recombinant DNA techniques, tissue culture, and
mutagenesis. However, modern biotechnology is the diversity of microorganisms and development of
genetics expanded the potential of traditional biotechnology, and ultimately led to the development of
modern biotechnology. It includes DNA profiling, genome analysis, transgenesis, DNA cloning, tissue
engineering, etc. Traditional biotechnology involves the use of natural organisms to create or modify
food or other useful products for human use. It includes breeding animals and crops to make cheese,
yoghurt, bread, beer and wine and microorganisms are used to produce various products such as
enzymes for use in laundry detergents as its techniques. Meanwhile, modern biotechnology involves
manipulation of genes and living tissues in a controlled environment. It includes techniques that are
used in many areas such as food, agriculture, forestry, healthcare, environment, minerals, and
industrial purposes.

Activity 2
Objective: Put the following words on the word bank into the correct area in the Venn diagram.

Word Bank
DNA cloning mutagenesis
tissue culture biotechnology
uses microorganisms to produce various products
manipulation of genes and living tissues
diversity of microorganisms

Traditional Modern
Biotechnology Biotechnology

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 Techniques in Traditional Biotechnology
• Fermentation
- Fermentation uses bacteria or fungi such as yeast to change food. Human beings have been
using fermentation since time immemorial to make a range of goods. In Genesis, we read about
Noah getting drunk on wine for example. This clearly shows that people have been using
fermentation over a long time. In Swaziland, traditional uses of fermentation include:
o Use of yeast to make sorghum beer (umcombotsi).
o Other products of fermentation include sour porridge (incwancwa, emahewu), marula
beer (buganu) among others.

• Mushroom production
- Human beings have been collecting mushrooms from the wild as a source of food for thousands
of years. Nowadays people are growing various species of mushrooms for use as food and for
medicinal purposes. Mushroom production is an example of a bioconversion application.
Bioconversion refers to the use of microorganisms to convert organic material such as plant or
animal waste, into usable products or energy sources. In this case, a spawn of a fungus is
grown on organic waste to produce the mushrooms. Mushrooms are a high source of protein
and can also be a source of income. The resulting residue can either be used as animal feed
stock or used as a soil conditioner.

• Traditional selection
- This is another application that has been used by mankind over millennia. The farmer
examines a population of individuals that show variation for a specific trait. From these,
those that meet particular criteria are selected and kept aside to grow a new population
which is then maintained. Traditional varieties of crops and animal species have been
developed based on this method. In plants, characteristics such as size, colour, taste etc.
have been selected for giving us the range of varieties of crops such as Bambara groundnuts
(tindlubu), cowpea (tinhlumaya), pumpkin etc. that we know.

• Traditional breeding and selection

- A slightly more advanced application is whereby the breeder selects one or a few individuals
as above but then crosses these with other individuals in order to incorporate a new trait. In
the traditional setting, farmers prefer to mate their cows with large strong bulls in an effort to
combine desirable traits into their own herd. Plant and animal breeders often combine traits
from other varieties, wild relatives in the same or closely related species using this method. In
addition to the gene(s) for the desired trait, other undesirable genes are also dragged along. It
then becomes necessary to invest time in weeding these out through repeated backcrossing.

Activity 3
Objective: Identify the techniques used in traditional biotechnology.
______________________________1. Based on this method, traditional varieties of crops and animal
species have been developed.
______________________________2. This is the use of yeast to make sorghum beer.
______________________________3. This is where the breeder selects one or a few individuals as above
but then crosses these with other individuals in order to incorporate a new trait.
______________________________4. This is an example of a bioconversion application.
______________________________5. These are the ones that farmers prefer to mate with large strong
bulls in an effort to combine desirable traits into their own herd.

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 • Plant tissue culture/in-vitro culture
- In this application, bits of plant tissue referred to as the explant are grown in laboratory
conditions on an artificial medium containing hormones and vitamins. The starting material
can be obtained from the leaf, stem, root, buds etc.

• Mutation breeding/ mutagenesis

- In this application, plants are exposed to irradiation sources with the intent of inducing
mutations. A mutation is a change in the genetic material of an organism. Some of these
mutations may be deleterious i.e. harmful to the plant resulting in physical or metabolic
deformities. Sometimes the mutations result in useful genetic variability. It is thought that
thousands of varieties of crops that are on the market today are a result of mutation breeding.

• Cloning
- The term is used by scientists to refer to a range of applications in which copies of a cell or
organism are produced from a single ancestor. Clones are therefore genetically identical to
each other.

• Molecular Marker assisted selection (MMAS)

- This is based on the understanding of the link between DNA and the appearance or
characteristics of an individual. Breeders use DNA-based markers to identify genes associated
with desired traits. This allows progeny to be screened for the genes of interest even before they
express it and can thus reduce breeding times significantly.

• Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ARTs)

- A range of technologies broadly referred to as Assisted Reproductive Technologies have been
developed and applied in animals. These include:
o Estrous synchronization: This refers to the use of hormones to ensure that female
animals are in heat at the same time.
o Artificial insemination: Semen obtained from a choice bull is introduced into the female.
This is sometimes referred to as “bull in a bottle”.
o Embryo transfer: In this case, a superior cow is induced to super-ovulate. Semen is then
introduced to effect fertilization.

Activity 4
Objective: Identify the other techniques used in biotechnology.

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 Post-Test
Directions: Identify the components of biotechnology.

A. Match the following descriptions to the terms on the left. Write the letter of your answer.
_____1. This is the technique in which the farmer examines a A. Mutation breeding
population of individuals that show variation for a specific trait.
B. Molecular Marker
_____2. This is the production technologies based on genetic assisted selection (MMAS)
engineering.
C. Biotechnology
_____3. This technique uses bacteria or fungi such as yeast to
change food. D. Mushroom production

_____4. This allows progeny to be screened for the genes of interest E. Traditional
even before they express it. biotechnology
_____5. This is used to express the term of a range of applications F. Traditional selection
in which copies of a cell or organism are produced from a single
ancestor. G. Cloning

_____6. This process deals with techniques of using live micro- H. Assisted Reproductive
organisms, plant or animal cells or their components or enzymes
Technologies (ARTs)
from organisms.
I. Fermentation
_____7. These organisms are a high source of protein and can also
be a source of income. J. Mushrooms

_____8. In this process, only the natural capabilities of the K. Cowpea

organisms and cells are exploited. L. Plant and animal
_____9. The result of this process are the thousands of varieties of breeders
crops that are on the market today.
M. Traditional breeding
and selection
N. Plant tissue culture
O. Modern Biotechnology
P. Genetic Engineering

B. Identify the following terms that are described. Acquire the answer from the information provided
in this module and write it on the space provided.
1. What is the definition of biotechnology according to EFB?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
2-4. What are the products of fermentation?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________

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