Traditional and Modern

Biotechnology
Traditional or Classical Biotechnology
 This stage existed from 1800 to almost the middle of the twentieth
century. In the classical era different observations started pouring
in, supported by scientific evidence.
 The fundamental idea of the transfer of genetic information from
one generation to another forms the core of biotechnology.
Information on the transfer of genetic information was first
deciphered by Gregor John Mendel (1822–1884), an Austrian
Augustinian monk. Mendel presented his ideas on the laws of
inheritance to the Natural Science Society in Brunn, Austria. He
first observed the transfer of genetic information in a plant, Pisum
sativum, commonly known as the pea plant.
 Moreover, Mendel also hypothesized that an invisible internal unit
of information accounted for observable traits.
 These 'factors', later called genes, were passed from one generation
to the next.
 Nevertheless, the sad part of his story is that Mendel failed to
receive due acknowledgment for his invention for almost 34 years
after his death, when other scientists such as Hugo de Vries, Erich
von Tschermak and Carl Correns validated his work in 1900.
 The main reason why Mendel's discovery remained overlooked for
such long time was that in the same period Charles Darwin's theory
of evolution was so overwhelming that it overshadowed the work
done by Mendel.
 During this time the nucleus in cells was discovered, and Fredrich
Miescher, a Swiss biologist, reported the existence of nuclein, a
compound that consisted of nucleic acid that he had extracted from
pus cells, i.e. white blood cells.
 These two discoveries gave germination to the DNA era, which
became the basis of modern molecular biology, the discovery of
DNA as a genetic material and the role of DNA in the transfer of
genetic information.
 Meanwhile the bacterial propagation method was first proposed by
Robert Koch (1881), a German physician, who described the
bacterial colonies growing on potato slices (the first ever solid
medium).
 While working on the cause behind the solidification of jelly,
Walter Hesse (one of the co-workers in Koch's laboratory)
discovered the nutrient agar.
 Nutrient Agar is the most acceptable and useful medium for
obtaining pure microbial cultures, as well as for their identification.
 Heinrich Wilhelm Gottfried von Waldeyer-Hartz, a German
scientist in the nineteenth century, coined the term 'chromosome'
for an organized structure of DNA and protein present in cells.
 Among various other prominent discoveries during this period,
vaccinations against smallpox and rabies were developed by
Edward Jenner, a British physician, and Louis Pasteur, a French
biologist, respectively.
 Principle of genetics in inheritance was redefined by T H Morgan.
He showed inheritance, and the role of chromosomes in
inheritance, using fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster).
 Later, in 1926, this work was published in Morgan's book The
Theory of the Gene.
 Prior to Morgan's 1909 work, the term 'gene' had already been
coined by Wilhelm Johannsen (1857–1927).
 He described the gene as the carrier of heredity. Afterwards
Johannsen coined the terms 'genotype' to describe the genetic
constitution of an organism, and 'phenotype' to describe the actual
organism.
Modern Biotechnology
A major obstacle to scientific discoveries was the Second World War.
After the war, some essential discoveries were explored. These
discoveries form the basis for modern biotechnology and have
brought this field to its current status. Some of the prominent events
of the modern age of biotechnology are highlighted in table
Historical and current events that form the basis of modern biotechnology

1953
Watson and Crick explored DNA as a genetic material, and discovered its
structure, called the double-helix.
1954
Joseph Murray carried out the first kidney transplant between identical
twins.
1957Scientists revealed that sickle-cell anemia occurs due to an alteration in a
single amino acid in hemoglobin cells.
1960
A French researcher discovered messenger RNA (mRNA).
1961
François Jacob and Jacques Monad demonstrated the concept of Operon.
1962
Osamu Shimomura explored the green fluorescent protein in the
jellyfish Aequorea victoria. He afterward developed it into a technique
for examining formerly invisible cellular processes.
1963
•Samuel Katz and John F Enders developed the first vaccine for measles.
1963
•Autonomous groups in the USA, Germany and China produced insulin, a
pancreatic hormone.

1972
•Restriction enzymes were discovered.

•DNA ligases, which join DNA fragments together, were used for the
first time.

•The DNA composition of humans was discovered to be 99% similar to

that of chimpanzees and gorillas.
• The purified enzyme reverse transcriptase was first employed to
prepare complementary DNA from purified messenger RNA in a test
tube.
1980
•According to US Supreme Court, genetically altered life forms could be
patented, creating vast possibilities for commercially exploiting genetic
engineering.

•The first patent of this nature was awarded to the Exxon oil company to
patent an oil-eating micro-organism, which would afterward be
employed in the 1989 cleanup of the Exxon oil spill at Prince William
Sound, Alaska. S Cohen and D H Boyer received a US patent for gene
cloning.

1990
•The first nationally sanctioned gene therapy treatment was executed
effectively on a four-year-old girl suffering from an immune disorder
called adenosine deaminase deficiency.

•The Human Genome Project was launched.

2007 The FDA sanctioned a recombinant vaccine against human
papillomavirus, which causes genital warts and cervical cancer.

Researchers established the three-dimensional (3D) structure of HIV,

which causes AIDS.
Researchers discovered how to use human skin cells to produce
embryonic stem cells.

2011 A trachea developed from stem cells was transplanted into a human
recipient. Progress in 3D printing technology resulted in 'skin-printing'.