Biotechnology 101 & Why You Should Sign Up!

Judith A. Kjelstrom, PhD

Acting Director

UC Davis Biotechnology Program

www.biotech.ucdavis.eduSeptember 24 , 2002

Welcome to the teachers and administrators of the Solano County Office of Education, SEDCORP members and other community

leaders:

• Let’s work together to create educational and business opportunities in the areas of: – Biotechnology

– Medical Technology

– Bioinformatics

– Information Technology Academic:Industrial Partnerships are the Key!

Pass it On ……

“The two technologies that will shape the next century are biotechnology and information technology”

Bill Gates Microsoft

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~“The two technologies that will have the greatest impact on each other in the new millennium are biotechnology and information technology”

Dr. Martina Newell-McGloughlin

UCBREP (past director of UCD biotech Program)

Quotes from 2000:

What Path Should Students Follow??

• The Hottest Jobs for the New Millennium are:

1. Computer and Information Science

2. Health Sciences

3. Biotechnology & Bioinformatics• All of these careers require a strong background in

MATH, COMPUTER SKILLS & BASIC SCIENCES!! • Also wanted: Strong Thinkers & Communicators (oral

and written)

But …….. Will the U.S. Keep Up with the Demand for Scientists & Engineers??

• The National Science Foundation (NSF) reports that as of 1999, about 25% of all U.S. workers with PhDs in science and engineering were foreign born.

• We must produce more American scientists and engineers as well as increase general science literacy.

• Dr. Judith Ramaley, section of education and human resources at NSF says, “It has to start around the 4-5th grade. You must go into the valley of the shadow, where pupils turn off to science and math unless they’ve experienced: good classroom material, chances to explore the topic and teachers who love the subject.”

• Full Report: www.nsf.gov/sbe/src/seind02/start.htm The Road to the AH HA!

Undergraduate data show a shift, not a decline in interest in Science

(Science, Dec 27, 2001, pg 2466-7)

• Paul Romer, an economist at Stanford thinks supplying more money will increase the number of US scientists and engineers.

• Technology Talent Bill (www.nber.org/papers/w7723)

• Elaine Seymour, a sociologist at the Univ. of Colorado, Boulder cites “appalling teaching” as a bigger reason for driving students away. She says that more money won’t hurt, but it won’t fix the problem. “It requires the systematic reform of the science curriculum at all levels and improved teacher training”.

• But …. How do we account for the steady growth in the life sciences, when other areas of science like physics are showing a decline?

– ~38,000 biology undergrads in 1990 to over 60,000 in 1998.

• Even though about one third of the total bachelor degree pool is in the life sciences, in today’s world of greater technological sophistication, we need to reach out to the other two thirds (especially women and underrepresented minorities).

Biotech 101- What is it???• Biotechnology is the Ah HA!• It is the KEY to the Future of

California’s Economy• It is a Collection of Technologies

that uses cells and biological molecules (DNA, RNA, proteins, etc.) to create new products, processes or services.

• It is involved in: medicine, agriculture, engineering, law enforcement, environmental clean-up, energy production, basic life science research, etc.

Biotech

The use of living organisms, or parts thereof, to provide useful products, processes and services.

PRODUCT: Golden Rice - insertion of genes for beta-carotene (pro-vitamin A) production into white rice. (Ag Biotech)

PROCESS: Microbes manufacturing human insulin for diabetes therapy. (Pharmaceutical Biotech)

SERVICE: Genetically engineered poplar trees for cleaning up heavy metal contamination of land and water. (Bioremediation)

Biotechnology or Bioengineering is generally

defined as:

But….we have broadened our definition of Biotech to include:

• Health Sciences & Medical Technology– DNA & Protein biochips, biosensors, tissue & organ

cloning, etc.• Bioinformatics/Proteomics/Genomics/

Metabolomics/Nutrigenomics [The “OMICS”] • Pharmaceutical Biotechnology

– vaccines, cancer treatments, gene therapy, etc.• Agricultural Biotechnology

– genetically enhanced crops & livestock• Environmental Sciences/Bioremediation • Neurobiology (understanding the Brain)• Microbiology (esp. combating Bioterrorism)• Biomedical Engineering, Nanotechnology, … & More!