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| Biotechnology |
Biotechnology originated as Kichen technology. Application biotechnology is used in preparation of Idlies, Bread curd, ghee etc. Modern biotechnology uses microorganisms to bring about desired changes in genetic make up. Scientific try to find out genetic and molecular basis of each process and make necessary changes. It is called as genetic engineering.
Various tools are used as applications in different fields of life. e.g. tissue culture, gene transfer, transgenesis, DNA finder printing etc.
Biotechnological Applications On Human Health:
A) Insulin :
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| Insulin |
1. Insulin is a hormone that regulates the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood and is required for the body to function normally.
2. Insulin is produced by cells in the pancreas, called the islets of Langerhans. Raised blood glucose triggers the cells in the islets of Langerhans to release the necessary amount of insulin.
3. Insulin binds to receptors on the cell's membrane which activates a set of transpot molecules so that glucose and proteins can enter the cell.
4. The cells can then use the glucose as energy to carry out its functions. Without insulin, the glucose builds up in the blood and the cells are starved of their energy source.
5. People who do not produce the necessary amount of insulin suffer from a disease called diabetes mellitus.
In 1921, two Canadian scientists Frederick G. Banting and Charles H. Best successfully purified insulin from a dog's pancreas. For decades insulin was extracted and purified from the pancreas of cattle and pigs. The chemical structure of insulin in these animals is only slightly different from human insulin. Therefore, it functions so well in the human body.
In the 1980s genetic engineering was used to insert human insulin producing gene in E. Coli . Instead of depending on animals, now it is possible to produce genetically engineered insulin in unlimited quantity. It also eliminates any probability of transmission of animal disease through insulin.
B) Vaccine:
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| Vaccine |
A vaccine is an antigenic preparation used to stimulate the production of antibodies and induce immunity against several diseases. Production of vaccines involves growing the organism in a growth medium to produce large amounts of toxins, and then altered to give the toxoids which are no longer toxic. These toxoids become antigens which the immune system recognises and hence produces antibodies to act against genuine toxins.
The live organisms in the culture must be deactivated, and the resulting mixture is diluted and mixed with an adjuvant, a substance which improves the immune response to the toxoids. The development of vaccines to protect against disease is one of the hallmarks of modern medicine. The first vaccine was produced by Edward Jenner in 1796 in an attempt to provide protection against smallpox. Jenner noticed that milkmaids who had contracted cowpox, seemed to be resistant to an injection of cowpox virus would somehow teach the human body to respond to both viruses, without causing major illness or death.
In simple terms, vaccine production requires growth, inactivation and processing of the organism, mixing the processed material with an adjuvant and then filling and packing of the blended vaccine. Then add a diluent substance to dilute the material.
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| Vaccine manufacturing process |
Under ordinary circumstances, the human body responds to invasion in several different ways. Generalized immunity to a virus can be developed by the cells in the body that are targets of viral invasion. In this situation, viruses are prevented from host cells.
C) Gene Therapy:
It is possible to treat genetic diseases? These diseases result from the phenotypes caused by the mutant gene in somatic cells. Theoretically, two types of gene therapy are possible:
1. Somatic cell therapy in which somatic cells are modified genetically to correct a genetic defect.
2. Germ-line cell therapy in which the germ line cells are modified to correct a genetic defect.
The gene therapy focuses on the modification of the original genetic makeup. The genes which are defective in an organism can be deleted or replaced. It is also possible to introduce a desired gene which is not normally found in the organism. The gene therapy holds a promise for finding cure for many disease which were either by birth or noncurable. The gene therapy will possibly be able to help in cases like diabetes and cancer by replacing the genes which make individual susceptible to such disease.
some examples of the genes which can be used in gene therapy are:
1. Tissue plasminigen activatior (TPA) used to prevent or reverse blood clots.
2. Human Growth Hormone producer gene to prevent pituitary dwarfism.
3. Tissue Growth Factor - Beta promotes new blood vessels and epidermal growth. Useful in would healing and burns.
4. Human Blood Clotting Factor VIII to treat hemophiliacs.
5. Human Insulin to treat insulin dependent diabetes.
6. Dnase to treat cystic fibrosis.
7. Brovine Growth Hormone to increase cattle and dairy yields.
8. Recombinant Vaccines for prophylaxis of human and animal viral diseases.
9. Genetically Engineered Bacteria and other microorganisms for improved production of industrial enzymes, citric acid and ethanol.
10. Genetically engineered bacteria can accelerate the degradation of oil Pollutants or certain chemicals in toxic wastes.
Livestock animals are a major source of food, milk, wool, leather and many other byproducts. Naturally there has always been an interest in improving the efficiency of livestock production.
New gene transfer techniques and introduction of cloned gene into fertilized eggs, successful implantation of modified eggs into receptive female and getting progeny carrying cloned gene has resulted into development of new area of transgenic animals.
Transgenic animals is a fertile animal that carries an introduced gene in the germ line. Transgenic rats, rabbits, Pigs, Sheep, Cowes and fish have produced but more than 95% transgenic animals are mice. Mice are the appropriate choice because they short generation time, a super ovulated mouse can yield upto 40 eggs, reimplantation is relatively easy and mouse can carry upto 20 off-springs.
Transgenic animals are beneficial for man. These have scientific and commercial value.
Many transgenic animals are designed to study how genes contribute to the development of disease. With the help of these animals investigation of new treatments for human diseases such as Cancer, cystic fibrosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Alzheimer's is possible.
Transgenic mice are being used to test the safety of poliovaccine.
Transgenic animals would also be useful as bioreactors to produce pharmacologically important proteins such as alpha-1-antitrypsin. This is used to treat emphysema. Similar attempts are being made for treatment of phenylketonuria (PKU). In 1997, the first enriched milk (2-4 gms/ litre) which was nutritionally more balanced milk product than natural cow milk.
Transgenic animals carry genes which make them more sensitive to toxic substances than non transgenic animals. Toxicity testing in such animals allow us to get results in less time.
4. Human Blood Clotting Factor VIII to treat hemophiliacs.
5. Human Insulin to treat insulin dependent diabetes.
6. Dnase to treat cystic fibrosis.
7. Brovine Growth Hormone to increase cattle and dairy yields.
8. Recombinant Vaccines for prophylaxis of human and animal viral diseases.
9. Genetically Engineered Bacteria and other microorganisms for improved production of industrial enzymes, citric acid and ethanol.
10. Genetically engineered bacteria can accelerate the degradation of oil Pollutants or certain chemicals in toxic wastes.
C) Transgenic animals:
Livestock animals are a major source of food, milk, wool, leather and many other byproducts. Naturally there has always been an interest in improving the efficiency of livestock production.
New gene transfer techniques and introduction of cloned gene into fertilized eggs, successful implantation of modified eggs into receptive female and getting progeny carrying cloned gene has resulted into development of new area of transgenic animals.
Transgenic animals is a fertile animal that carries an introduced gene in the germ line. Transgenic rats, rabbits, Pigs, Sheep, Cowes and fish have produced but more than 95% transgenic animals are mice. Mice are the appropriate choice because they short generation time, a super ovulated mouse can yield upto 40 eggs, reimplantation is relatively easy and mouse can carry upto 20 off-springs.
Transgenic animals are beneficial for man. These have scientific and commercial value.
1) Study of diseases:
Many transgenic animals are designed to study how genes contribute to the development of disease. With the help of these animals investigation of new treatments for human diseases such as Cancer, cystic fibrosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Alzheimer's is possible.
2) Vaccine safety:
Transgenic mice are being used to test the safety of poliovaccine.
3) Bioreacters:
Transgenic animals would also be useful as bioreactors to produce pharmacologically important proteins such as alpha-1-antitrypsin. This is used to treat emphysema. Similar attempts are being made for treatment of phenylketonuria (PKU). In 1997, the first enriched milk (2-4 gms/ litre) which was nutritionally more balanced milk product than natural cow milk.
4) Chemical safety testing:
Transgenic animals carry genes which make them more sensitive to toxic substances than non transgenic animals. Toxicity testing in such animals allow us to get results in less time.
