Question

What are some biotechnology products from bacteria, plants, and animals, and what are they used for? (pages \(507-08,510\) )

Short answer

Biotechnology products from bacteria include insulin, enzymes, and antibiotics. Insulin is produced using E. coli for diabetic patients, while enzymes have various industrial applications. Antibiotics, such as penicillin and erythromycin, are used in fighting bacterial infections. Products derived from plants include genetically modified crops, pharmaceuticals, and biofuels. GM crops improve traits like yield, pest resistance, and nutrient content. Some plants produce pharmaceutical compounds, such as paclitaxel, used to treat cancer. Biofuels provide a renewable energy source. Animals are used in biotechnology to produce recombinant proteins, transgenic animals, and xenotransplantation. Recombinant proteins, like clotting factors, are produced in the milk of goats, sheep, and cows. Transgenic animals are modified for medical research or aesthetic purposes, while xenotransplantation involves transplanting organs between species.

Step-by-step solution

Biotechnology Products from Bacteria

Bacteria are widely used in biotechnology for the production of various useful products. Some examples include: 1. Insulin: Bacteria like E. coli are used to produce human insulin, which is essential for diabetic patients. This process is carried out by introducing the human gene responsible for insulin production into the bacterial genome, enabling the bacteria to produce insulin. 2. Enzymes: Bacteria are used to produce various enzymes, including proteases, cellulases, and amylases. These enzymes have numerous applications in industries like food, textiles, detergents, and biofuels. 3. Antibiotics: Many species of bacteria produce antibiotics, such as Penicillin (produced by the fungus Penicillium), Erythromycin (produced by Streptomyces bacteria), and Cephalosporin (produced by Acremonium fungi). These antibiotics are important for fighting bacterial infections.

Biotechnology Products from Plants

Plants are also utilized in biotechnology for the production of various products, including: 1. Genetically Modified (GM) crops: These are plants whose genetic material has been altered through biotechnology to improve specific qualities such as increased yield, resistance to pests, or enhanced nutrient content. Examples include Bt cotton (resistant to pests), Golden Rice (enriched with Vitamin A), and herbicide-resistant soybeans. 2. Pharmaceuticals: Some plants are used to produce pharmaceutical compounds. For example, the Pacific yew produces paclitaxel (Taxol), which is widely used as a chemotherapy drug for various types of cancer. 3. Biofuels: Plants like corn, sugarcane, and cellulose-rich plants such as switchgrass are used to produce biofuels, providing a renewable and sustainable energy source.

Biotechnology Products from Animals

Animals are also employed in biotechnology for producing various products, such as: 1. Recombinant proteins: Using genetic engineering, animals like goats, sheep, and cows can be modified to produce recombinant proteins in their milk. This includes pharmaceutical proteins like clotting factors for hemophilia patients and antibodies for cancer treatment. 2. Transgenic animals: These animals contain a foreign gene inserted into their genome, which can enhance certain traits or have applications in medical research. Examples include genetically modified mice for studying human diseases and GloFish, which are zebrafish engineered to express fluorescent proteins for aesthetic purposes. 3. Xenotransplantation: This involves the transplantation of organs or tissues from one species to another. Pigs have been genetically engineered to produce organs that are suitable for transplantation into humans, which may help address the shortage of available human organs for transplantation.