Biotechnology Applications in Medicine and Agriculture
Biotechnology in Medicine
Growth hormone was previously obtained from the pituitary glands of cattle carcasses. In contrast, 2000 liters of bacterial culture can now produce the same amount of insulin that previously required 3000 kg of pig pancreas.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Genetic Diseases
Diagnosis
Techniques involve separating the strands of DNA to be studied and placing them in contact with the abnormal gene using fluorescent staining.
Gene Therapy
Gene therapy involves modifying abnormal genes to prevent the manifestation of diseases. This is achieved by inserting a correct copy of the defective gene into cells via a viral infection. However, gene therapy faces serious challenges:
- Vectors can cause infection.
- Risk of tumor development.
- Potential for patient death.
Agricultural Biotechnology
Crop plants can be engineered by inserting genes that code for proteins of interest, such as tomatoes with delayed ripening after harvest. The primary objectives include:
- Developing herbicide-resistant plants.
- Increasing crop performance.
- Reducing the nutritional needs of plants.
- Manufacturing products of commercial interest.
Biotechnology in Livestock
By genetically altering animals, we can improve efficiency, increase weight, and boost production (milk, eggs, etc.), while providing resistance to certain infections. Scientists are currently using transgenic mammals to produce human proteins in their milk.
Cloning and Transgenic Organisms
Cloning
Cloning involves taking a cell nucleus and inserting it into an oocyte. If stimulated, the cell can begin to divide like an embryo.
Genetic Manipulations
Genetic manipulation allows scientists to cut and paste DNA using enzymes, creating transgenic organisms. This process has both advantages and disadvantages:
- Challenges: Inserting genes is difficult and the location is not always controlled, which can damage the genome.
- Success Rates: In transgenic animals, four out of five may not survive.
- Benefits: Plants often show improved sales, and the process works very well in bacteria.
- Ethical Concerns: The concept of "eugenics" raises concerns about creating "perfect" beings. Maintaining population diversity is vital, as differences provide varying resistance to illnesses.
Transgenic Plants
The process involves:
- Using bacteria capable of exchanging genetic material with a vegetable.
- Utilizing Bacillus thuringiensis, a bacterium that produces natural insecticides.
- Combining these methods by introducing the gene into a vector, which is then inserted into the plant to create a pest-resistant crop.
Transgenic Bacteria
By inserting a human gene into a bacterium, the organism can produce insulin, eliminating the need for 3000 kg of pig pancreas and replacing it with 2000 liters of bacterial culture.