Genetics, Biotechnology, and Natural Resources: A Comprehensive Overview
XIX Century Classical Genetics. XX Century Molecular Genetics
Nucleic Acids: Nucleotides
Consisting of:
- Sugar (Pentose + nitrogenous base)
- Phosphoric Acid
DNA
AT antiparallel strands, CG (semiconservative replication)
RNA
A string AU, CG
Genetic Code
Replication, Transcription, Translation (5′ to 3′)
Mutations
- Gene: (changes, additions, and deletions)
- Chromosomal: (deletion, inversion, translocation, and duplication)
Biotechnology
Techniques that use living things to our benefit.
Genetic Engineering
Techniques for changing the genome of an organism.
Cloning
- Molecular: (gene to plasmid to replicate)
- Cell: (totipotent cells)
- Organisms: To copy many times a DNA fragment using the polymerase chain reaction.
Genetic Fingerprint
Genetic markers (nucleotide sequences that are repeated by the ADNY that are different in each organism).
Human Genome Project
Started in 1990 and ended in 2003 -> 30,000 genes.
Genetic Engineering Applications
Agriculture
- Pest resistance
- Slow fruit development
- Production of substances of interest
Livestock
- Best production
- Disease resistance
- Cows milk with human proteins
- Mice to study cancer
- Reproduce endangered species
Health: Genetic Diseases
- DNA changes: such as tumors
- Inherited: (from generation to generation, may not manifest)
- Congenital: (during embryonic development)
Types of Genetic Diseases
- Sex-linked: (X -> color blindness and hemophilia, and -> ichthyosis)
- Non-sex-linked:
- Monogenic: (single gene, albinism)
- Polygenic: (several genes, arteriosclerosis, obesity, Alzheimer …)
Prevention
- Primary: (genetic counseling)
- Secondary: (amniocentesis)
Gene Therapy
- Somatic / Germ (against the law)
- By direct methods (injection) / indirect (vector)
Assisted Reproduction
- Artificial breeding
- In vitro fertilization
- Gamete intrafallopian transfer
Stem Cells
To reconstruct tissues and organs, and dedifferentiation differentiation know, experience, curing diseases such as heart attacks.
Pharmacogenomics
- Monoclonal antibodies
- Hormones using bacteria (Escherichia coli, insulin and somatotropic)
- Vaccines (hep.B, rabies, and measles)
Natural Resources
Elements of nature we can use to meet our needs. Depending on the weather: renewable / non-renewable / inexhaustible. According to origin: biotic / abiotic / energy.
Air
A mixture of gases containing suspended solid particles in dust. Inexhaustible, it is regenerated by photosynthesis and the water cycle. Indispensable because it makes life possible, a source of raw material, and a source of wind energy.
Water
The major component of living things (70% of living matter). Very abundant (71% of the Earth’s crust). 97% salt, 3% freshwater: glaciers, surface waters, and aquifers. Interacts with the atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere through the hydrological cycle.
Water Resources
Quantity and freshwater processes that are available from natural sources in one place or specific time.
Uses
- Consumptive: (70% agricultural, 23% industrial, 7% domestic)
- Non-consumptive: (energy, recreational, ecological)
Ground
The top layer of the Earth’s surface formed by weathering of parent rock, through living interaction with earth materials. Very slow formation (pedogenesis). Two perspectives:
- Interface between the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere, organic and inorganic matter, characteristics depend on altitude, latitude, and climate.
- Physical environment that develops on human activity (agriculture, livestock, mining, location.)
Irrational Use
(Crops, pastures, forestry, resource extraction, location, recreation …)
Non-Fuel Mineral Resources
A mineral resource is the concentration of naturally occurring mineral that comes from the earth’s crust and found in a quantity/quality suitable to be exploited. Rock-forming minerals are separated into deposits where we distinguish ore (good) and gangue (bad).
Non-Metals
S, P, N, NaCl, and gypsum.
Metals
Raw material of many tools.
- Heavy industrial: (iron, copper)
- Light industrial: (Al, Mg)
- Precious: (Au, Ag, Pt)
- Minority: (cadmium and uranium)
Ceramics
Clay fired under high temperatures until it is hard. Clay is composed of aluminum and silicon oxides with impurities. Porcelain is fired at higher temperatures, clay + sand + alkaline flux. Does not conduct electricity or heat. High melting point.
Glass
Fusion of siliceous sand with potash.
Biotic Resources
Organisms or parts thereof.
Agriculture
- Extensive (subsistence)
- Intensive (cereal monoculture)
Produces food and biomass.
Livestock
- Extensive (subsistence)
- Intensive (single species into a stable, requires feed, vaccines …)
Sheep, cattle, goats, horses, bees, and pigs.
Fisheries
Food, 90% fish. Overfishing -> pollution and ecosystem destruction. Fishmeal provides amino acids and vitamins. Seaweed (food, paper, cardboard, glue, alcohol, yeast, and medicines). Sea microorganisms decompose waste. Desalination provides water.
Landscape
Biological, geological, hydrological, and human activities.
Forest
Renewable forest resources of the planet if their management is rational. Provides wood (for making paper, burning, or construction material), food, medicines, and industrial products.
Paper
Made from wood cellulose fibers, crushed, dispersed in water, dried in a film, and the water is extracted. Requires lots of water that is returned to the environment after removing chlorine, but now using other test substances for bleaching paper.
Energy Resources
Capable of providing energy.
Non-Renewable
Coal
Formed by accumulation, burial, and anaerobic fermentation, consisting of carbon. (Peat 40% Lignite 70% and 80% anthracite coal 97%) Used in the electric industry, steel industry, metallurgy, and chemical industry. It’s dirty, burning coal produces toxic sulfur oxides.
Oil
Anaerobic decomposition of plankton. A mixture of hydrocarbons. 1-4 C (gas) 5-19 (liquid) 20-60 (solid) is stored in reservoirs after finding an impermeable rock on their way to the surface. To extract: drill and extract. Then refined into fuels, lubricants, plastics …
Natural Gas
Methane is the main component. Is purified and liquefied, transported by pipeline and ships. Is easily removable, burning produces more energy, clean energy.
Nuclear Energy
Fission (uranium 235) / fusion.
Renewable
Wind, solar (thermal direct or steam turbine, and photovoltaic), hydro, tidal, geothermal, and biomass.