Retrieved from: http://en.angelyeast.com/about/Yeast.html (Left), http://www.accessexcellence.org/RC/AB/BA/aapost/classical.php (right)
HISTORY
Humans have been manipulating other organisms to gain benefit from them or their by-products. Listed below are some techniques that were used for centuries and served as a foundation for modern bio-technology. Modern biotechnology processes involves genetic engineering as well as cell and tissue culturing technologies.
SELECTIVE BREEDING
Since 2000 years ago, humans have been breeding plants and animals for their particular genetic traits, which is the process of selective breeding. The mixing of different breeds produces a hybrid in plants and a crossbreeds in animals. Methods of selective breeding includes outcrossing, inbredding and linebreeding. Selective breeding of pea plants lead to Gregor Mendel's study of genetics. Charles Darwin also mentions the process of natural selection for desirable traits in evolution.
Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Big_and_little_dog_1.jpg
Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Big_and_little_dog_1.jpg
ALCOHOL FERMENTATION & BREAD BAKING
Dating to tens and thousands of years ago, alcohol fermentation is an anaerobic (absence of oxygen) process where yeast consumes sugar to produce ethanaol and carbon dioxide as waste products.The different types of sugars provided for the yeast will produce the different alcohol beverages
(e.g. wine, beer, whiskey and rum). Retrieved from: http://blog.beeriety.com/wp-content/uploads/fermented.png
(e.g. wine, beer, whiskey and rum). Retrieved from: http://blog.beeriety.com/wp-content/uploads/fermented.png
Alcohol fermentation is also responsible for the soft buns that you enjoy during a meal. The carbon dioxide that is produced as a waste product, causes the bread dough to rise by forming bubbles in the dough. The expanding dough allows all the ethanol to evaporate as the bread fully bakes.
Retrived from: http://www.kingarthurflour.com/blog/2011/11/18/big-batch-yeast-rolls-baking-buns-for-a-crowd/
Retrived from: http://www.kingarthurflour.com/blog/2011/11/18/big-batch-yeast-rolls-baking-buns-for-a-crowd/
Your students can compare the current methods of modifying organisms with the methods that were in place years ago. They can also create a timeline showing the advances in biotechnology as knowledge in the fields of biological sciences combined with the advances in technology were developed. This will show the students that the process of biotechnology was developed using an intergrated knowledge from the different fields of biology and has been useful to create products that vary in use.