Biotechnology
There are a wealth of resources on the web about biotechnology
and its applications in New Zealand. Use these
links to find the information you require. See also Molecular
Biology Techniques.
Biotechnology-a definition
(from the IBAC booklet "the
Biotechnology Question")
Biotechnology is a set of scientific tools which uses living things
to solve problems and make products.
The use of yeasts and bacteria to make bread, beer, wine and cheese
are techniques that have been used for centuries. Traditional plant
and animal breeding techniques are of more recent origin. Such methods
can be seen as 'biotechnology' even though the term biotechnology
was not coined until 1917. So-called traditional biotechnology is
also used to extract and purify active components from plants and
animals to produce cosmetics, drugs and health foods.
Modern biotechnology uses new techniques which provide much more
understanding of, and control over, living processes. These new
approaches are producing applications such as genetically
engineered crops, DNA
fingerprinting and cloning.
An even newer development is the integration of biotechnology with
other disciplines such as information and computer technology and
materials science. This approach is producing novel products like
biosensors, which provide physical objects with the sensory capabilities
of living things, and gene
chips in which many thousands of DNA fragments are attached
to a chip for rapid screening of genetic characteristics.
Biotechnology resources
Sites and articles most relevant to New Zealand
* New Zealand Bio has information on what biotechnology is being used for in New Zealand
today. Watch or download the video "Biotechnology for a better future" (21.1 Mb) .
* An excellent resource from New Zealand
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries on Genetically
Modified Food, is specifically targeted at the Seventh Form
Biology curriculum.This is just one of their resources for schools, have a look at
the others MAF
schools
* AgResearch has material for a schools and school visits.
ERMA is New Zealand's
body for regulating transgenic organisms. Of particular interest
is their
Information Sheet (2) on Genetically Modified Organisms and the attitudes to the 'Biotechnology question' in NZ
You can read all about the work and findings of
the Royal Commission on Genetically Modified Organisms on their
webpages.
Their background
papers contain a wealth of information regarding the New Zealand context.
* Crop
and Food A New Zealand Crown Research Institute.
* Also see our molecular
biology pages and genetically
modified animals pages.
Worldwide resources
Australia
Ausbiotech Use their education
and careers in biotechnology link to access a series of 12 informational
leaflets
1. What is biotechnology?
2. What is genetic engineering?
3. Biotechnology for agriculture: more for less
4. Biotechnology in animal agriculture
5. Biotechnology and diagnosis
6. Glossary of terms describing commonly used biological terms
7. Regulation of genetic engineering
8. Biotechnology in waste management
9. Transgenic animals and plants
10. DNA detective: gene probes and fingerprints
11. Biotechnology and food
12. Patents and biotechnology
The Green
Machine- Australian Science Education Centre, includes information
on gene technology for various ages, and links to other Australian
resources.
Europe
* National Centre for
Biotechnology Information (UK), part of the European
Initiative for Biotechnology Education it includes excellent
educational
resources. You'll need to be able to view these .pdf files.
*Science and Plants
for Schools (UK). Somewhat limited resources for British teachers.
USA
Scientific
American Explorations includes gene
therapy and a description of PCR
(page 88 of the May 1998 issue)
* Probably the best online resource
for plant and animal biotechnology in the world from the US
Department of Agriculture (USDA). Including resources for high
school education
* Access excellence
- 'a place in cyberspace for biology teaching and learning'
An excellent site from Genentech a major U.S. biotechnology company.
It includes many resources
for teachers.
* University
of Wisconsin's biotechnology site. Don't miss the
education resources here including many printable (.pdf) files,
quicktime movies and resources.
* Iowa
State Universities Biotechnology site This site has an excellent
biotechnology
education resources and a series of
datasheets on transgenics
* The WWW
Virtual library biotechnology, including a list
of education resources targeted at University and advanced students.
* Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
DNA learning Center, great animations.
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