biogenist_top_1




A Scientific Approach To Biotechnology

biogenist_Banner_under_links
A Scientific approch to biotechnology between_pic_1 Biotechnology between_pic_2 Biotechnology Help
biogenist_divider_hor
 

Understanding Biotechnology

What is Biotechnology

Overview of Biotechnology
  Then and Now of Biotechnology
 

History of Biotechnology
  Gene Technology
  What is a gene
  Gene Technology Techniques
  Genetic modification myths
  Genes code for proteins
  What is DNA
  Where is DNA
  The Full Set
  What does DNA look like
  What does DNA work
  DNA Unknown

Why do we do biotechnology?
  Why do we do biotechnology?
  Biotechnology for ourselves

Biotechnology for the environment

Biotechnology for food and agriculture
How do you do biotechnology?
  How do you do biotechnology
Finding the gene you want
  Cutting and pasting genes
  Moving genes
  Reading and interpreting genes
  Cloning a gene
  Cloning plants
  Cloning animals
Biotechnology Applications
  Human Uses
  Fighting infectious diseases
  Antibiotics
  Producing human products
  Reproductive technologies
  The human genome project
  Genetic disorders
  Gene therapy
  Cloning
  Stem cells
  Transplantation
  DNA profiling
  Environment
  Biological control of pests
  Protecting threatened species
  Resurrecting extinct species
  Cleaning up and managing
  Researching new products
  Food and Agriculture
  Feed Me
  A problem with weeds
  A problem with insects
  Other reasons to modify crops
  The international scene
  Genetically modified food labeling
  Health and Medical
  Biotechnology in medicines
  Clinical trials
  Gene therapy
  Genes and cancer
  What are ethics
Benefits & Risks of Biotechnology
  Arguments for and against gene
  A nutritionist's view on GM foods
  Balance sheet 2020
  Sustaining the Food supply
Biotechnology Resources
  Ethics of biotechnology
  Conferences and events
  Forums and Communities
  Biotechnology Websites
  Glossary of terms
   
 
 

 

  Bookmark and Share

 

History of Biotechnology - 1970s
  The 1970s saw the birth of modern biotechnology. In 1973, Herb Boyer and Stanley Cohen showed it was possible to take a human gene and put it in a bacterium that could then mass-produce quantities of that gene. Bacteria were genetically engineered to produce human insulin and scientists immediately recognised the industrial possibilities of this discovery, but also the potential dangers.

Listen to this audio from the ABC - Track 1
 
 

History of Biotechnology - 1980s
  The 1980s saw more great advances in biotechnology. In 1980 Cohen and Boyer were awarded a US patent for gene cloning that allowed them to make human insulin from GM bacteria. The world's first GM vaccine was created for hepatitis B.

The first genetically modified organisms were released into the environment, GM foods were created and the anti-biotechnology movement began. Jeremy Rifkin was an important anti-biotechnology activist who argued against awarding the first patent for a GM bacterium that could break down oil.

Listen to this audio from the ABC - Track 3
 
 

History of Biotechnology - 1990s
  In 1997, Dolly the sheep was cloned, raising fears that humans would also be cloned and scientists would create designer babies.

In 2000, Professor Alan Trounson from Monash University announced he had taken stem cells from human embryos and grown them in the lab, highlighting their potential for developing a cure for paraplegia, Parkinson's disease and diabetes. Embryonic stem cell research led to public debate over the potential benefits and the ethics of harvesting human embryos.

In 2002, politicians voted to allow stem cell research to continue and Prime Minister John Howard announced funding for a new Centre for Stem Cell and Tissue Repair.

Listen to this audio from the ABC - Track 8
 
 

History of Biotechnology - 2000s
  Australian anthropologist Dr Alan Thorne from the Australian National University analysed DNA of skeletons from the dried-up bed of Lake Mungo in the western outback of New South Wales. Thorne controversially dated the skeleton to be 60,000 years old - the oldest Australian ever found - and suggested humans arrived in Australia 70,000 years ago, allowing 10,000 years for humans to migrate from the north of Australia to Lake Mungo.

Listen to this audio from the ABC - Track 9
 
 

Looking into the future
  Although the anti-biotechnology movement began in the 1970s, there continue to be ethical issues relating to biotechnology and increased, persistent fears of the potential dangers of GM organisms. People are still concerned about the implications of the Human Genome Project and the safety of GM food.

Where will biotechnology take us in the future?

Listen to this audio from the ABC - Track 10
 
   
biogenist_Bottom