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Biotechnology is a broad term that applies to all practical uses of living organisms—anything from microorganisms used in the fermentation of beer to the most sophisticated application of gene therapy. The term covers applications that are old and new, familiar and strange, sophisticated and simple.
Defined in this way, the term is almost too broad to be useful. One way of thinking about biotechnology is to consider two categories of activities: those that are traditional and familiar and those that are relatively new. Within each category can be found technologies that are genetic—that involve modifications of traits passed down from one generation to the next—and technologies that are not.
Although there are interesting issues connected with a number of biotechnologies—both old and new—most of UCS's work focuses on genetic engineering, a new genetic biotechnology.
Traditional BiotechnologiesA prime example of traditional genetic biotechnologies is selective breeding of plants and animals. The rudiments of selecting plants and animals with desirable traits and breeding them under controlled conditions probably go back to the dawn of civilization, but the expansion of knowledge about genetics and biology in this century has developed selective breeding into a powerful and sophisticated technology. New molecular approaches like marker-assisted breeding (which enhances traditional breeding through knowledge of which cultivars or breeds carry which trait) promise to enhance these approaches even further.
Traditional breeding technologies have been immensely successful, and indeed are largely responsible for the high yields associated with contemporary agriculture. These technologies should not be considered passé or out of date. For multigene traits like intrinsic yield and drought resistance, they surpass genetic engineering. This is because selective breeding operates on whole organisms—complete sets of coordinated genes—while genetic engineering is restricted to three or four gene transfers with little control over where the new genes are inserted. For the most important agronomic traits, traditional breeding remains the technology of choice.
Other traditional nongenetic biotechnologies include the fermentation of microorganisms to produce wine, beer, and cheese. Industry also uses microorganisms to produce various products such as enzymes for use in laundry detergents. In an effort to find microorganisms that produce large amounts of enzymes, scientists sometimes treat a batch of organisms with radiation or chemicals to randomly produce genetic alternations. The process, called mutagenesis, produces numerous genetic changes in the bacteria, among which might be a few that produce more of the desired product.
New Biotechnologies.
Defined in this way, the term is almost too broad to be useful. One way of thinking about biotechnology is to consider two categories of activities: those that are traditional and familiar and those that are relatively new. Within each category can be found technologies that are genetic—that involve modifications of traits passed down from one generation to the next—and technologies that are not.
Although there are interesting issues connected with a number of biotechnologies—both old and new—most of UCS's work focuses on genetic engineering, a new genetic biotechnology.
Traditional BiotechnologiesA prime example of traditional genetic biotechnologies is selective breeding of plants and animals. The rudiments of selecting plants and animals with desirable traits and breeding them under controlled conditions probably go back to the dawn of civilization, but the expansion of knowledge about genetics and biology in this century has developed selective breeding into a powerful and sophisticated technology. New molecular approaches like marker-assisted breeding (which enhances traditional breeding through knowledge of which cultivars or breeds carry which trait) promise to enhance these approaches even further.
Traditional breeding technologies have been immensely successful, and indeed are largely responsible for the high yields associated with contemporary agriculture. These technologies should not be considered passé or out of date. For multigene traits like intrinsic yield and drought resistance, they surpass genetic engineering. This is because selective breeding operates on whole organisms—complete sets of coordinated genes—while genetic engineering is restricted to three or four gene transfers with little control over where the new genes are inserted. For the most important agronomic traits, traditional breeding remains the technology of choice.
Other traditional nongenetic biotechnologies include the fermentation of microorganisms to produce wine, beer, and cheese. Industry also uses microorganisms to produce various products such as enzymes for use in laundry detergents. In an effort to find microorganisms that produce large amounts of enzymes, scientists sometimes treat a batch of organisms with radiation or chemicals to randomly produce genetic alternations. The process, called mutagenesis, produces numerous genetic changes in the bacteria, among which might be a few that produce more of the desired product.
New Biotechnologies.
Many new biotechnologies do not involve modifications of traits passed on to the next generation. A good example is monoclonal antibodies (highly specific preparations of antibodies that bind to a single site on a protein), which have many diagnostic applications, including home pregnancy testing kits. Many biotechnology companies are engaged in these sophisticated, but noncontroversial, technologies.
By contrast, mammalian cloning is a new biotechnology that does not involve gene modification, but is nevertheless highly controversial. Cloning reproduces adult mammals by transplanting a nucleus from adult cells into an egg from which the nucleus has been removed and allowing the egg to develop in a surrogate manner. The resulting individuals are as similar to the adults from which the nuclei were taken as identical twins are to one another. Although this procedure has profound implications for human reproduction, it does not modify specific traits of an individual, but rather transfers a whole nucleus containing a complete set of genetic information.
The new technology that can affect future generations is genetic engineering, a technology based on the artificial manipulation and transfer of genetic material. This technology can move genes and the traits they dictate across natural boundaries—from one type of plant to another, from one type of animal to another, and even from a plant to an animal or an animal to a plant. Cells modified by these techniques pass the new genes and traits on to their offspring. Genetic engineering can apply to any kind of living organism from microorganisms to humans.
Genetic engineering can be applied to humans to replace or supplement defective genes. Where engineering is intended to cure disease, it is called gene therapy. Potential applications that are not related to disease, such as the modification of traits like height, are sometimes called genetic enhancement. Currently, most genetic engineering of humans is done on nonreproductive or somatic cells, like those from bone marrow. The effects of this somatic cell gene therapy are confined to the treated individual. By contrast, germ line gene therapy would modify reproductive cells, so that the modification could be passed on to future generations.
By contrast, mammalian cloning is a new biotechnology that does not involve gene modification, but is nevertheless highly controversial. Cloning reproduces adult mammals by transplanting a nucleus from adult cells into an egg from which the nucleus has been removed and allowing the egg to develop in a surrogate manner. The resulting individuals are as similar to the adults from which the nuclei were taken as identical twins are to one another. Although this procedure has profound implications for human reproduction, it does not modify specific traits of an individual, but rather transfers a whole nucleus containing a complete set of genetic information.
The new technology that can affect future generations is genetic engineering, a technology based on the artificial manipulation and transfer of genetic material. This technology can move genes and the traits they dictate across natural boundaries—from one type of plant to another, from one type of animal to another, and even from a plant to an animal or an animal to a plant. Cells modified by these techniques pass the new genes and traits on to their offspring. Genetic engineering can apply to any kind of living organism from microorganisms to humans.
Genetic engineering can be applied to humans to replace or supplement defective genes. Where engineering is intended to cure disease, it is called gene therapy. Potential applications that are not related to disease, such as the modification of traits like height, are sometimes called genetic enhancement. Currently, most genetic engineering of humans is done on nonreproductive or somatic cells, like those from bone marrow. The effects of this somatic cell gene therapy are confined to the treated individual. By contrast, germ line gene therapy would modify reproductive cells, so that the modification could be passed on to future generations.
From the day you were a newborn baby, a biomedical scientist will have carried out tests on your health. Anytime you have visited hospital when ill or had a sample taken from you by a doctor or nurse, these would have been analysed by a biomedical scientist without whom it would not be possible to diagnose illness and evaluate the effectiveness of the necessary treatment. Doctors treat their patients based on results of the vital tests and investigations that diagnose often serious and life threatening illnesses such as cancer, AIDS or diabetes. Without biomedical scientists, departments such as accident and emergency and operating theatres could not properly function. The many roles include tests for emergency blood transfusions and blood grouping as well as tests on samples from patients who have overdosed on unknown substances, or may have leukaemia or are suspected of having a heart attack.
The successful performance of this key role in modern healthcare relies on the accuracy and efficiency of work by biomedical scientists because patients' lives and the treatment of illness depend on their skill and knowledge.
Cancer, diabetes, toxicological study, blood transfusion, anaemia, meningitis, hepatitis and AIDS are just some of the medical conditions they investigate. They also perform a key role in screening cervical smears, identify viruses and diseases and monitor the effects of medication and other treatments.
Scientists learn to work with computers, sophisticated automated equipment, microscopes and other hi-tech laboratory equipment. They employ a wide range of complex modern techniques.
What career opportunities are there?
Biomedical science is a continually changing, dynamic profession with long-term career prospects including management, research, education and specialised laboratory work. Biomedical science represents an opportunity to put scientific knowledge into practical use and perform a key role within medical healthcare that offers career satisfaction for many in the profession. Biomedical scientists learn skills and gain qualifications that can be recognised worldwide.
How do I become a biomedical scientist?
Modern pathology and biomedical laboratory work involves complex and diverse investigations that require an in-depth scientific knowledge of anatomy, physiology and pathology. Like many other professions a biomedical scientist will need to complete a university degree course.BSc biomedical science degrees are designed for students to receive basic scientific knowledge and training.
What happens next?
After graduating biomedical scientists then go on to specialise in one of the following laboratory disciplines:
Medical Microbiology - disease-causing microorganisms are isolated for identification and for susceptible to antibiotic therapy. Diseases diagnosed in this way include meningitis, food poisoning, and legionnaire's disease.
Clinical Chemistry - scientists analyse blood and other biological materials to assist the diagnose of, for example, diabetes. They carry out toxicological studies, test kidney and liver functions and to help monitor therapies.
Transfusion science - biomedical scientists support hospital blood banks and the blood transfusion service. They prepare blood transfusions and plasma fractions to administer to patients and are responsible for ensuring that the blood groups of both donors and patients are compatible.
Haematology - involves the study of the morphology and physiology of blood to identify abnormalities within the different types of blood cells. Such tests are necessary to diagnosis different types of anaemia and leukaemia.
Histopathology - tissue samples from surgical operations and autopsies are processed for microscopy using specialist techniques.
Cytology - this discipline is best known for its work in screening cervical smears but it also provides a non-gynaecological service. Like histopathology specialised techniques are used to prepare and study samples of cellular materials.
Virology - specialists test for infections such as rubella, herpes simplex, hepatitis and HIV and also screen selected populations at risk from virus disease. Rapid diagnosis is particularly important in this discipline in order to prevent the inappropriate use of antibiotics.
Immunology - deals with the conditions of the body's immune system and its role in infectious diseases, parasitic infestations, allergies, tumour growth, tissue grafts and organ transplants. This discipline is particularly important in the monitoring and treatment of AIDS.
The education and training of biomedical scientists is a process, which continues throughout their career in order to ensure that skills and knowledge are kept up to date with the ever changing and expanding role of the profession.
Scientists learn to work with computers, sophisticated automated equipment, microscopes and other hi-tech laboratory equipment. They employ a wide range of complex modern techniques
Adapted from the Internet..
Yesterday I was completing my final 3 hours of internship and I was helping Kam Lin to pack certain things as they are going to shift to KPD soon.. So I encountered this box containing prospectus by various universities.. Ranging from Oxford Brookes, Nottingham, Leeds and Bath to name few of them.. So, I picked up the Nottingham and Oxford Brookes' prospectus and was very curious of what they have to say about two courses that I am still confused whether which one to choose. I have passion in Biotechnology but I don't think it will not provide me with sufficient foundation to work in a Biology field.. Biomedicine on the other hand combines both Biotechnology and Biochemisty..but they don't emphasise much on recombinant DNA technology and transgenic organisms technology.. and sadly these are the two things that I am very interested of.. Sighs.. Choices and choices.. I am still puzzled whether which course should I take when I am in Uni.. I have to choose between passion and my future.. Hopefully when I am done with my A levels exams, I will be able to choose one of these courses.. :-)
Scientists learn to work with computers, sophisticated automated equipment, microscopes and other hi-tech laboratory equipment. They employ a wide range of complex modern techniques
Adapted from the Internet..
Yesterday I was completing my final 3 hours of internship and I was helping Kam Lin to pack certain things as they are going to shift to KPD soon.. So I encountered this box containing prospectus by various universities.. Ranging from Oxford Brookes, Nottingham, Leeds and Bath to name few of them.. So, I picked up the Nottingham and Oxford Brookes' prospectus and was very curious of what they have to say about two courses that I am still confused whether which one to choose. I have passion in Biotechnology but I don't think it will not provide me with sufficient foundation to work in a Biology field.. Biomedicine on the other hand combines both Biotechnology and Biochemisty..but they don't emphasise much on recombinant DNA technology and transgenic organisms technology.. and sadly these are the two things that I am very interested of.. Sighs.. Choices and choices.. I am still puzzled whether which course should I take when I am in Uni.. I have to choose between passion and my future.. Hopefully when I am done with my A levels exams, I will be able to choose one of these courses.. :-)
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VicK
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