Biotech: The New Engine of the Global Economy

In the history of science, many branches have been established throughout the centuries and each branch had their acme for a century or two – rationalism in ancient time, astronomy in the 16^th century, and chemistry, physics, geology and biology in the 19^th century. Today, we are now in the 21^st century, many say it’s the century for biotechnology.

What is biotechnology?

Biotechnology is the manipulation of biological organisms to make products for the benefit of humans. It contributed to a diverse area of the human lifestyle: food production, waste disposal, medicine and recently the environment we live in.

History of biotechnology

Although biotechnology has been around during the ancient times, the science has just achieved its most dramatic advances in the recent years because of the deeper understanding of other organisms. The first achievement in biotechnology was in the area of food production in 5000 B.C, it is the first hybridization of plants and animals for greater food supply centered in the cattle industry and farming -- this lead to the first ever biotechnology product, agriculture. Perhaps the greatest achievement that took biotechnology in the limelight is the discovery of the double-helix structure of the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) by James Watson and Francis Crick in 1953. This followed by the discovery of restriction enzymes by Werner Arber in the 1960s; that enables the scientists to cut and extract fragments of DNA of an organism. Because of this, Stanley Cohen and Herbert Boyer were able to undertake recombinant DNA technology, more commonly known as genetic engineering, in 1973. They used the restriction enzymes to insert genes of one bacterium to another. The most renowned, next to Watson and Crick’s double-helix structure, is the advent of polymerase chain reaction by Kary Mullis in 1983. This is a technique which uses an enzyme from a bacterium, Thermus acquaticus, to create millions of copies of a fragment of DNA by subjecting it to different controlled temperatures. Accordingly, the new technology sparked the interest of more and more scientists to venture in that branch of science.

Global inclination in biotechnology

With the help of previous discoveries and innovation of technological tools, more and more researches are being done and published in biotechnology. In waste management and environmental protection, biodegradable materials have been created for more eco-friendly wastes and wind and water turbines, solar panels and biogas generators has been continuously improved and introduced for public use in lieu of fossil fuel and coal burning electric source. Moreover, industries and companies have been compelled to do promote proper waste management to lessen pollution and create eco-friendly environment and products, like turning the building’s rooftop into green houses to absorb greenhouse gases in the environment. On the other hand, environmentalists create new tools to closely monitor the trends of global warming and climate change. These all help to save the environment and natural resources, thus promoting industrial ecology and eco-tourism.

The most phenomenal application of biotechnology is in the field of food production and medicine. Many have said through genetic modification of plants and animals, the problem in starvation would be answered. This is because genetically modified organisms yield more and bigger products, i.e. BT corn and touted cattles and poultry. Biotechnology now plays a big role in medicine by producing drugs for untreatable diseases like cancer, autoimmune diseases and neurological disorders, and by introducing alternative treatments to patients, such as gene dopping, stem cell treatments, and fertility treatments.

Nevertheless, these current trends are criticized in their effectiveness, relative side effects and ethical and moral integrity.

Biotechnology in the Philippines 

Local scientists and technologists also ride with the wave of biotechnology. In fact, many companies invest for the researches done in this field. A prime institute has been established to do these sort of things and we are lucky to have a tour inside their facilities, it is the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of the University of the Philippines (NIMBB-UP). It was established to meet the need for molecular biologists and biotechnologists in the academe and industry. The institute is endowed with state-of-the art equipment and renowned scientists to pursue various biotechnological studies. Their equipment include centrifuges, glass sterilizer, ultraviolet illuminator, spectrophotometer, electrophoresis and, the most important laboratory equipment in biotechnological studies, polymerase chain reaction machines and DNA sequencers. Because of their capability to undertake various studies, the institute’s research facilities are subdivided into Aquatic Biotechnology, Cell and Molecular Biology, Immunology, Medical Biotechnology and Genome Research, Molecular Microbiology, Molecular Toxicology, Plant Molecular Biology and Virology, and Protein Structures. These facilities are individualized from each other to do their own research project. Apart from this, several institutions have been established to carry out such experiments. There are also individuals that put up their own laboratories for biotechnological usage, such as horticulture.

Into the world of NIMBB

The newest laboratory in the NIMBB is the Aquatic Biotechnology laboratory. This facility specializes in the study of freshwater green algae and microalgae such as Chlorella. They are also doing a project on the phylogenetics of algae and its probability to be an alternative source of electricity from biomass production.

Another laboratory is the Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory which is doing studies with a wide range – isolation and analysis of fluorescent proteins from local invertebrates, analysis of candidate genes in hyperactivity of mouse, and nanomaterials for imaging and therapeutic agents for cancer.

The Protein Structure and Immunology Laboratory focuses on the peptide vaccine against the parasitic agent of malaria disease, Plasmodium falciparum, protein structure analysis of metastatic and non metastatic cancer cells and fluorescence in marine animal proteins.

A laboratory that focuses on the medical importance of organism is the Medical Biotechnology and Genome Research Laboratory, which has a project regarding the isolation, analysis and phylogentics of sea snails and their toxins. They are trying to identify which proteins and genes in the toxin of the snails would be of medical use.

The Molecular Microbiology Laboratory ventures in characterization of endemic species and water-borne pathogens, detection of GM corns and soybeans, detection of oil degrading bacteria, analysis of Vibrio organism and detection of strains of Saccharomyces in wine and biofuel production.

Phylogenetics of zebrafish and treatments for acute coronary syndrome are the current projects of the Molecular toxicology laboratory.

The Plant Molecular Biology and Virology laboratory undertakes a study in the gene construct for transgenic abaca to make it virus-free and make anti-bodies for viruses in plants. They use a gene gun to introduce new genes in the plants.

The institution carries out all these projects with the help of the funding of local and international organizations. It also caters to the young minds to develop their skills and knowledge and later venture into biotechnology. This proves that there is bright future for biotechnology in the country despite oppression being done by developed countries to developing countries, like the Philippines. Furthermore, the results of these researches would change the way people’s perception on biotechnology and genetic engineering. Apart from this, it would enable the Filipino researchers to make a name in the international scientific community on our capabilities to do such works for science.

Sprouting from biotechnology

A remarkable product of biotechnology having a trend in the Philippine setting is the industry of Horticulture. It involves the manipulation of plant organisms to yield a desired product. One of the researchers that we have met working in this industry is Mr. Ray Ong. He is a horticulturist that uses improvised materials and tools to carry out the experiments he is doing. Among his experiments are the propagation of various plants, such as chrysanthemums, ferns and orchids, and embryo rescue of endemic ferns. This is a helpful way to generate employment to laboratory technicians and preservation of the floral biodiversity of the country.

Philippine biotechnology and sustainable development

With all these various techniques and equipment being utilized by the biotechnology industry, it is inevitable that the environment may be of harm’s way. Consequently, the society should integrate the principles of the sustainable development to protect the environment. Nowadays, the private sector and government have used their powers to protect the environment and many non-profit organizations have volunteered to watch the propagation of this industry and its effect in the environment. 

References:

Levine, L. (2009). Biotechnology. Microsoft Encarta [DVD]. Redmond, WA: Microsoft Corporation.

Peters, P. (1993). What is biotechnology? Biotechnology: a guide to genetic engineering. WM: Browning Publishing.

ScienceDaily. (2010). Biotechnology news. Retrieved October 7, 2010 from http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/plants_animals/biotechnology/

Rao, C. K. (2008). Genetic modification in nature. Foundation for biotechnology awareness and eduction. Retrieved October 7, 2010 from http://fbae.org/2009/FBAE/website/special-topics_biotech_basics_gm_ge.html

National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology – University of the Philippines. (2010).  Research. Retrieved October 7, 2010 from http://www.nimbb.upd.edu.ph/?page_id=24