Biotechnology techniques genomics

Provides a highly readable glossary for systems and techniques used in biochemistry, molecular biology, biotechnology, proteomics, genomics, and systems biology... 

Sometimes, the disease is caused by expression of a gene that should be turned off. A biotechnological technique that is used in this case is to take the gene, scramble its genetic code so that, when reinserted into the genome, it can no longer code for a normal product. This is called antisense DNA (Vogel, 2003). This technique is used to interfere with the cellular formation of undesired substances. 

If biocatalysis is so attractive, why was it not widely used in the past The answer is that only recent advances in biotechnology have made it possible. First, the availability of numerous whole-genome sequences has dramatically increased the number of potentially available enzymes. Second, in vitro evolution has enabled the manipulation of enzymes such that they exhibit the desired properties substrate specificity, activity, stability, and pH profile [42]. Third, recombinant DNA techniques have made it, in principle, possible to produce virtually any enzyme for a commercially acceptable price. Fourth, the cost-effective techniques that have now been developed for the immobilization of enzymes afford improved operational stability and enable their facile recovery and recycling [43]. 

All current varieties of plants enhanced by biotechnology have new pieces of DNA introduced in their genome. These pieces of DNA are unique and well characterized and thus can be tested for. The most commonly used analytical technique is PCR, which consists of a set of repetitive enzymatic amplification steps performed on a small and specific part of the genome in order to obtain a high enough number of copies of specific DNA that it can be detected by the assay. 

Scientific and technical developments offer opportunities for innovation. Medical imaging, new techniques of microsurgery, biotechnology, and genetic and cell therapies are examples of such developments. Knowledge of the humein genome and the patentability of gene functions will profoundly influence therapeutic approaches. 

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