Biotechnology Research and Development Careers

Chapter 35


Biotechnology Research and Development Careers



Learning Objectives



image Define at least 10 terms relating to biotechnology.


image Identify the function of the biotechnological health care team.


image Describe the role of at least five of the biotechnological health care team members, including personal qualities, levels of education, and credentialing requirements.


image Describe the structure, function, and method of replication of DNA.


image Describe three research techniques used by biotechnologists.


image Describe at least three ethical concerns that have been raised since the beginning of DNA research.



Key Terms















Biotechnology Terminology*







































































Term Definition Prefix Root Suffix
Antibody Against substances anti body  
Biodiversity Variety of life bio divers/it y
Biotechnology Study of technology and life bio tech/n ology
Congenital Born with con gen/it al
Dystrophy Painful or difficult growth or nutrition dys troph y
Endocrine To secrete inside endo crine  
Eugenics Pertaining to new origins eu gen ics
Genetic Pertaining to the origin   gen/et ic
Neoplasm New growth neo plasm  
Transgenic Pertaining to cross origins trans gen ic


image


*A transition syllable or vowel may be added to or deleted from the word parts to make the combining form.




Abbreviations for Biotechnology Careers






































Abbreviation Meaning
AIDS Acquired immune deficiency syndrome
CBER Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research
CF Cystic fibrosis
DNA Deoxyribonucleic acid
ELISA Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
FDA Food and Drug Administration
GM Genetically modified
HIV Human immunodeficiency virus
MD Muscular dystrophy
NIH National Institutes of Health



Careers


Biotechnology applies scientific and engineering techniques to the manipulation of the genes of living organisms. Biotechnology includes a broad range of improvements that may be applied to plants or animals and their products (Box 35-1). More than 111 vaccines and biologics have been approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for improving the health of livestock, poultry, and companion pets. In 2009, 80% to 90% of all soybean, corn, and cotton crops in the United States were bioengineered. Most of the genetic engineering was to allow the plant to produce its own insecticide or resist herbicides used to kill weeds.



BOX 35-1   Biotechnology Timeline Highlights*
























































































1870-1890 Plant breeders crossbreed cotton, developing hundreds of varieties with superior qualities. Farmers first inoculate fields with nitrogen-fixing bacteria to improve yields. William James Beal produces first experimental corn hybrid in the laboratory.
1919 First use of the word biotechnology in print.
1930 U.S. Congress passes the Plant Patent Act, enabling the products of plant breeding to be patented.
1941 Genetic engineering term used by microbiologist A. Jost.
1942 Microorganisms used to produce penicillin.
1946 U.S. Congress provides funds for plant collection and preservation.
1961 Registration of the first biopesticide: Bacillus thuringiensis.
1974 Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) started to oversee genetic research.
1976 DNA base pairs sequence for a specific gene is defined.
1977 First human gene placed in bacteria.
1978 Human insulin produced in bacteria.
1979 Human growth hormone made.
1981 Transgenic animals made using mice. Fish cloned.
1982 Biotech human insulin produced in modified bacteria approved by Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
1983 The polymerase chain reaction technique is conceived. First whole plant grown from biotechnology: petunia.
1985 Genetic fingerprinting used in a courtroom as evidence. Gene-therapy experiments in humans approved by NIH.
1986 Hepatitis B vaccine produced. Interferon produced. Transgenic tobacco plant approved by Environmental Protection Agency.
1988 Transgenic mouse patented.
1990 The Human Genome Project started. Successful gene therapy treatment performed. Transgenic dairy cow used to produce human milk proteins for infant formula.
1992 Technique developed for testing embryos in vitro for genetic abnormalities.
1993 Bovine somatotropin approved by FDA to increase dairy-cow milk production.
1994 FLAVR SAVR tomato approved by FDA. Gene for breast cancer is discovered.
1995 Baboon-to-human bone marrow transplant is performed.
1997 Dolly the sheep cloned from adult cell.
2003 GloFish become available as pets.
2004 Pet kitten cloned.
2006 Vaccine to prevent cervical cancer and genital warts approved by FDA.
2008 Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act becomes law.


*Modified from the Biotechnology Industry Organization, http://www.bio.org/speeches/pubs/er/timeline.asp.


Biotechnologists research medical disorders and create drugs and proteins that can affect the cell. According to the March of Dimes organization, 1 in 150 live births have a chromosomal abnormality. Biotechnologists also directly alter or change the cells of living things to discover and improve genetic traits (Box 35-2). More than 200 therapies and vaccines have been created to treat cancer, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, and autoimmune disorders.



BOX 35-2   Biotechnology Careers





image Brain Byte


Biotechnology is a $38 billion a year industry and has produced more than 160 drugs and vaccines.



Biotechnologist


Scientists have been using natural techniques of biotechnology such as fermentation, selective breeding, and artificial insemination for many years. This emerging field began to take form as a separate discipline in the early 1980s with the development of cloning and recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) techniques of gene manipulation (Box 35-3). Other personnel are filling positions to design, manufacture, and operate the equipment necessary to make these techniques possible (Table 35-1). Personnel in biotechnology must show great creativity and logical thought and must be able to work independently and as part of a team. The work takes great concentration and perseverance because the results might not be available immediately.



BOX 35-3   Genetics Pioneer Profile


Barbara McClintock was often considered an eccentric and a maverick during her career in the field of genetics. She entered Cornell University in 1919 and had her work in the field ignored and discarded for the following 30 years. She overcame many obstacles of birth; women were not considered to be credible scientists. In fact, she was not allowed to join the research department of her choice at Cornell because women were excluded from it.


In 1931 McClintock published research that proved chromosomes formed the basis of inheritance in corn (maize). In 1944 DNA was discovered, providing a broader basis for research in heredity. The structure of DNA as a double helix was not discovered by Crick and Watson until 1953.


McClintock formed experiments that led to her concept of “jumping genes,” or the movement of genes on chromosomes (recombination). Her theory went against the accepted “Central Dogma of Crick,” which stated that DNA is transcribed to RNA to translate to protein. Her work was ignored, and the concept was later claimed by two other scientists. Barbara McClintock was recognized for her work as a pioneer cytogeneticist in 1983 with the awarding of the Nobel Prize in Medicine.



Because of the competitive nature of the field, most biotechnology laboratories use elaborate safety and security systems. Safety guidelines for the transfer and manipulation of DNA have been established by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Some of these precautions include the use of laminar flow hoods to vent and filter air, strict sterilization, and careful planning to ensure all microorganisms are harmless. To date no incident of a safety problem has been documented.


Biotechnologists also face criticism within their own profession. Many researchers believe that too much money is being spent duplicating work. For example, more than a dozen laboratories worked in competition rather than in cooperation to identify a gene that causes breast cancer.


Biotechnologists face a unique challenge as professionals in the health care field. Unlike any other area of health care practice throughout history, biotechnology has made many complex advances faster than they can be communicated to the public. More than 1400 biotechnology companies exist in the United States, most working in therapeutic and diagnostic areas of the field. Biotechnologists also face ethical concerns about the control of human characteristics (eugenics) and the safety of organisms produced by gene manipulation. Some concerns include the counseling of couples to not have children if a faulty gene is present, insurance carriers refusing to cover offspring born after detection of a known genetic defect, and selection of offspring before implantation based on favorable traits such as gender. Some controversial genes are being researched, such as those that may influence characteristics such as obesity, violence, and hyperactivity.


Biotechnologists may work in many fields of practice including research, forensics, immunology, and teaching. Health professionals from other disciplines may specialize in the field of biotechnology. Biotechnologists may also work for regulating agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and NIH.


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Apr 15, 2017 | Posted by in MEDICAL ASSISSTANT | Comments Off on Biotechnology Research and Development Careers

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