Biotechnology: A science of

many Disciplines

Dr. Imran Riaz Malik

Introduction to
Biotechnology and Related Disciplines

- Although Major focus of biotechnology involves

molecular biology techniques, biotechnology is not a
single, narrow discipline of study.
- expensive , interdisciplinary field that absolutely relies
on biology, chemistry, mathematics, computer science,
and engineering in addition to other disciplines such as
philosophy and economics.
-

Dr. Imran Riaz Malik

Introduction to
Dr. Imran Riaz Malik
Introduction to
Products of Modern Biotechnology

- Many products reflect the current needs of humans-for

example, pharmaceutical production, creating drugs for
the treatment of human health conditions.
- In fact, more than 65% of biotechnology companies in
the US are involved in pharmaceutical production.
- In 1982, the California biotechnology company
Genetech world’s biotechnology company, received
approval for recombinant insulin, used for the treatment
of diabetes, as the first biotechnology product for
human benefit.
-

Dr. Imran Riaz Malik

Introduction to
Dr. Imran Riaz Malik
Introduction to
Products of Modern Biotechnology

- There are now several hundred drugs, vaccines and

diagnostics on the market with more than 300
biotechnology medicines in developing targeting over
200 diseases.
-
- Man of the most widely used products of
biotechnology are proteins created by gene cloning.
- These proteins are called recombinant proteins.

Dr. Imran Riaz Malik

Introduction to
Products of Modern Biotechnology

- In near future, gene may be routinely introduced into

human cells as gene therapy approaches are employed
to treat and cure human disease conditions.
- Genetics and tissue engineering may lead to the ability
to grow organs for transplantation that would only
rarely be rejected by their recipients.

- New biotechnology products from marine organisms

are being used to treat cancer, strokes and arthritis.
- Specialized proteins needed in quantity, will continue
to come from additional gene transfer to animals ( like
Atryn from transgenic goats).

Dr. Imran Riaz Malik

Introduction to
Ethics and Biotechnology

- A wide range of ethical, legal and social implications of

biotechnology are a cause of great debate and
discussion among scientists, general public, clergy,
politicians, lawyers and many other around the world.

- For instance, now that organism cloning has been

accomplished in mammals such as sheep, cows and
monkeys, some have suggested that human cloning be
permitted.
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Dr. Imran Riaz Malik

Introduction to