INTRODUCTION TO CURRENT ISSUES IN BIOLOGY

Imagine world without technology!

World without technology.

Technology
Refers to the making, modification, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems, and methods of organization, in order to solve a problem, improve a preexisting solution to a problem, achieve a goal, handle an applied input/output relation or perform a specific function.

Technology
It can also refer to the collection of such tools, including machinery, modifications, arrangements and procedures. Technologies significantly affect human as well as other animal species' ability to control and adapt to their natural environments. the totality of means employed to provide objects necessary for human sustenance and comfort

What are required to develop technology?

Technology development requires scientific drivers/knowledge. Involved various fields: Biology Chemistry Physics Mathematics Biochemistry Microbiology Engineering Computer Science, etc

The Biology Century

In the past two centuries, the primary scientific drivers of technology development were physics and chemistry. Technology innovation transformed the nature of our economies and the structure of our societies. Today, a transition to the Biology Century. Breakthrough in biology will be the predominant force transforming our lives, driving economies, and highlight the role of human species on the planet. The Biology Century will be fueled by biotechnology and all aspects of society will be affected.

What is biotechnology?
The use of living organisms or life processes to solve problems or make useful products. Confusion: living organism always have to meet our need for sustenance and comfort (i.e. food, shelter, clothing, fuel).?

Ancient biotechnology?
Biotechnology revolution started over 10,000 years ago. For example, Stone Age domesticated plants and animals. Ancient people (8,000 years ago): Exploiting microbial processes (unknown process during that time) to convert grapes into wine, milk into yogurt and cheese, grains into beer and raised bread. In our society, pulut/carbohydrate into tapai, soy bean into tempe or soy sauce
How did our ancestors select and breed the best wild seed candidates to turn into major cereal crops?

What distinguished todays biotechnology and ancient biotechnology?

Scientific understanding distinguishes new and old biotechnology Earlier biotechnology: when people used organisms and attempted to change them to better meet their needs, they did not understand the mechanism underlying the life process they wanted to control and improve. i.e People did not know the microorganism responsible for fermentation process. Without understanding their exploitation and manipulation living organisms and microorganism were trial and error occurred.

Todays biotechnology
Through the relationship between science and technology, the biological sciences provided insights into inner working of living organisms, using and improving them, controlling nature to meet people needs. Scientific progress in the last half of the 20th century ultimately led to an understanding of organisms at their most basic level, the cellular and molecular level. Deep understanding of the fundamental mechanism of the process of life and its bio-molecular components led to todays biotechnology.

Modern Biotechnology
Definition of Biotechnology: The use of cells and biological molecules or cellular and biomolecular processes to solve problems and make useful products. Biotechnology has provided researchers with an amazing research tools that responsible to speed of discoveries in Biology today.

Biotechnology involved several areas of technologies

Monoclonal Antibody Technology Bioprocessing Technology Cell Culture Technology Biosensor Technology Recombinant DNA Technology Microarray Technology Antisense Technnology Protein Engineering Technology

Monoclonal Antibody Technology

Uses immune system cells that make proteins called antibodies. Antibodies bind to substances with extraordinary specificity. Current applications: Diagnoses infectious diseases Treat autoimmune system Detect harmful m/o in food Locate and measure environmental pollutants Distinguish cancer cells from normal cells.

Monoclonal Antibody Technology

A monoclonal antibody can be directed to attach to certain parts of a cancer cell: help the immune system to find cancer cells. Certain cancer cells make extra copies of the growth factor receptor which responsible for faster cell growth. Monoclonal antibodies can block cell growth signal receptors on cancerous cell surface. Monoclonal antibodies can block the growth signals of blood vessels. This may help prevent a tumor from developing a blood supply, so that it remains small.

Bioprocessing Technology
Uses living cells such as bacteria, yeast and mammalian cells or their enzyme to manufacture useful products, breakdown molecules or generate energy. Current application: Clean up toxic waste sites. Produce energy from agricultural refuse. Manufacture therapeutic compounds and vaccines. Produce fermented food and natural additives. Manufacture industrial enzymes and feedstock chemicals.

Biobutanol production from lignocellulosic biomass (EB group, UPM)

C4H10O or butyl alcohol can be used as a solvent or fuel produced from biomass by a microbial fermentation. Great renewable energy characteristics: Low vapor pressure Can be blended with gasoline Less corrosive

OPEFB is converted into fermentable sugars through enzymatic hydrolysis OPEFB hydrolysate obtained is used as a substrate for biobutanol production using locally isolated strains (Clostridium sp.)

BIOBUTANOL PRODUCTION FROM LIGNOCELLULOSIC BIOMASS Microorganism Cellulase production

Enzyme recovery Biomass Pre-treatment Saccharification

SSF Biobutanol Anaerobic fermentation Clostridium sp.

Biosensor Technology
enzyme linked to a tiny transducer that produces a electrical or optical signal when the biological component binds to another molecule of interest. Current application: Measure blood glucose levels. Monitor industrial processes in real time. Provide physicians with instant test results. Locate and measure environmental pollutants. Measure the nutritional value and safety of food.

Consists of a biological component, such as an

Biosensor Technology
Analytical devices capable of providing either qualitative or quantitative results. Consist of bio-recognition systems, typically enzymes or binding proteins, such as antibodies, m/o, cells immobilised onto the surface of physico-chemical transducers. Specific interactions between the target analyte and the complementary biorecognition layer produces a physico-chemical change which is detected and measured by the transducer. The transducer can take many forms depending upon the parameters being measured - electrochemical, optical, mass and thermal changes.

Measurement of blood glucose level

Test strips contain electrodes and immobilized enzymes (Glucose oxidase and Ferricyanide) Glucose + Glucose oxidase Gluconic acid Gluconic acid + Ferricyanide Ferrocyanide Oxidation of Ferrocyanide generate current which directly proportional to the glucose concentration.

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)

Is a popular type analytic biochemistry assay that uses a solid-phase enzyme immunoassay (EIA) to detect the presence of a substance (by color change), usually an antigen, in a liquid sample or wet sample. Steps:
1. Antigens from the sample are attached to a surface. 2. Specific antibody is applied over the surface so it can bind to the antigen. 3. This antibody is linked to an enzyme, and, in the final step, a substance containing the enzyme's substrate is added. 4. The subsequent reaction produces a detectable signal, most commonly a color change in the substrate.

Recombinant DNA Technology

Uses molecular techniques to join or recombine DNA molecules from different sources. Current application: Treat certain genetic diseases Improve food nutritional value Develop biodegradable plastics Provide new and improved vaccines Enhance bio-control agents in agriculture Decrease allergenicity of certain foods Increase crop yields and decrease production costs

Metabolic engineering of phaZ and phaC genes for PHA production

Comamonas sp., locally isolated strain can produce polyhydroxyalkanoate (polymer). Insertion of extra synthase gene (phaC) can over express and increase PHA production. To avoid intracellularly accumulated PHA degraded as energy by PHA producer, PHA depolymerase gene (phaZ) is deactivated.

Microarray Technology
Allows analysis of thousand genes, proteins or other molecules
simultaneously. Current applications: Detect genetic mutations Tailor drug treatment to patient Asses potential toxicity to drug Identify stage of disease progression Find microbes for cleaning up pollution

Protein Engineering Technology

Improves existing proteins such as enzymes and antibodies or
creates proteins not found in nature. Current applications: Create novel enzymes Improve catalytic ability of enzymes Develop sustainable industrial processes

Antisense Technology
Decrease the production of specific proteins by blocking the genes encoding them. Current applications: Slow food spoilage Control viral diseases Engineer metabolic pathway in crops Treat diseases such as asthma and cancers

Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH)

Used to detect and localize the presence or absence of specific DNA sequences on chromosomes. FISH uses fluorescent probes that bind to only those parts of the chromosome with which they show a high degree of sequence complementarity. Fluorescence microscope is used to find out where the fluorescent probe is bound to the chromosomes. FISH is often used for finding specific features in DNA for use in genetic counseling, medicine, and species identification. FISH can also be used to detect and localize specific RNA targets in cells, circulating tumor cells, and tissue samples.

Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH)