Medicine in Society Collection

The Medicine in Society collection consists of some 3000 objects that reflect aspects of the changes in Victorian medical practice and research over the last 120 years.
This diverse collection is of national significance, telling many important Victorian and Australian stories of medicine, medical research and public health. It takes in items such as dental and surgical instruments, food models, prostheses, pharmacy furniture, medicinal herbs and psychiatric items.

Significant items

• General medical and surgical equipment used by Sir Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop after the Second World War.
• Research equipment and medicinal samples from the internationally significant Commonwealth Serum Laboratories (CSL) (1918–84).
• A 19th-century wooden medicine chest with compartments containing a range of pharmaceuticals.
• Prostheses and body parts from the early 20th century to the present, many designed and manufactured in Australia.
• 19th-century medical equipment, including a blood-letting instrument, pill-making slabs and rollers, a powder stretcher and straightjackets.
• Equipment from the Polack dental surgery in Melbourne (1930–85), including teeth-cleaning powders, samples of false teeth, anaesthesia equipment and various dental instruments.
• Equipment from the Whitehead medical practice in Melbourne (1935–86), including a circumcision clamp, mouth gags and catheters, as well as a variety of gynaecological devices.
• Preventative Medicine Exhibition models from the museum (1930s–1960s), including a mosquito model for the malaria exhibit (1949).
• Cochlear implant (bionic ear) developed by Graeme Clark.
• Examples of some of the first lithium-powered pacemakers in the world, developed by Australian scientists at Teletronics and Medtronic.
• Objects demonstrating contemporary uses of biotechnology in medicine.
• The first DNA sequencer used in Australia, the ABI 370.
• 
  

Distribution of biotechnology activities

Distribution of biotechnology activities, excluding genetic modification, (genetic diversity characterization; mapping, marker-assisted selection and genomics [MMG]; and micropropagation) by number of tree genera

Figure 2.1.4. Distribution of molecular markers used in forest biotechnology activities, excluding genetic modification

Figure 2.1.5. Distribution of reported forest biotechnology activities, excluding genetic modification, by category and applications (laboratory studies, field trials and commercial deployments)¹

¹MMG: mapping, marker-assisted selection and genomics.

THE STATE OF BIOTECHNOLOGY IN THE FORESTRY SECTOR, EXCLUDING GENETIC MODIFICATION.

The information compiled in the data set of biotechnology activities excluding genetic modification represents 2 196 references (or 81 percent of all activities reported). Activities were reported in 76 countries, broken down by regions as follows: 39 percent of the activities were reported in Europe, 24 percent in Asia, 23 percent in North America, 6 percent in Oceania, 5 percent in South America, 3 percent in Africa and less than one percent in the Near East (Figure 2.1.1A). Both developed countries (24 countries, representing 68 percent of biotechnology activities) and developing countries and countries in transition (52 countries, or 32 percent of activities) were represented (Figure 2.1.1B). Developing countries and countries in transition were mainly represented by India (27 percent of these countries’ activities), China (17 percent), Brazil (7 percent), South Africa (5 percent) and Malaysia
(4 percent). Three countries (India, China and Brazil) accounted for 52 percent of all biotechnology work reported in developing countries and countries in transition.
Species surveyed belonged to 142 botanical genera. Sixty-two percent of the information collected in the database regarded research carried out on less than six genera including Pinus (20 percent of biotechnology activities excluding genetic modification), Eucalyptus
(11 percent), Picea (9 percent), Populus (9 percent), Quercus (7 percent) and Acacia
(6 percent) (Figure 2.1.2). Just four genera (Pinus, Eucalyptus, Picea and Populus) account for almost half of the compiled biotechnology activities excluding genetic modification.
Work was found to be relatively evenly spread between the three main categories of biotechnology categories apart from genetic modification: characterization of tree species genetic diversity represented 32 percent of biotechnology activities, MMG 26 percent, and micropropagation 42 percent (Figure 2.1.3A). Differences were more marked when tree genera were considered (Figure 2.1.3B). The forestry sector appears to have rapidly adopted markers developed for agricultural crops (Figure 2.1.4). Isozymes and random amplified polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs) have been widely used for genetic diversity description although the present trend seems to favour microsatellites (nuclear and chloroplast) and amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs). Driven by research on genomics, expressed genome banks (ESTs [expressed sequence tags]) are being widely developed.
The majority of the work reported is still mainly at the experimental stage in the laboratory. Genetic diversity characterization has less than one percent of its reported activities in the field, MMG 2.5 percent and micropropagation 5 percent (Figure 2.1.5). Field tests are still mainly geared to supporting laboratory research. These results possibly reflect the origin of the information in the data set. While research activities in the public sector are relatively easy to collect, especially through international research storage databases, information on commercial applications is generally restricted and incomplete.
Commercial applications of micropropagation are, however, generating increasing interest. The potential is huge although, up to now, only several thousand hectares seem to have been established globally using micropropagated materials.
In South America, particularly in Brazil, some companies are reported to be integrating micropropagation into the clonal propagation process: micropropagation is used to ‘store’ clones in mother blocks (gene banks) in the laboratory as potential sources of responsive nursery stock plants for large-scale mass propagation. The use of rooted cuttings has allowed the propagation costs to be lowered significantly.
Great expectations have been raised about the possible contribution of biotechnology to tree selection and breeding, and its commercial applications. Genomics and proteomics should greatly help breeders in tree selection, in particular in the identification of traits of interests. However, it remains difficult to predict when new forest tree varieties selected with biotechnology tools will become available on the market. Although genetic diversity characterization started some 30 years ago, very limited large-scale commercial application has yet been reported in forest tree genetic resources conservation and management.

Figure 2.1.1A. Distribution of reported forest biotechnology activities (excluding genetic modification) by world region

Figure 2.1.1B. Distribution of reported forest biotechnology activities (percent of activities in the data set, excluding genetic modification) by country (for the 15 countries most represented, making up 77 percent of the data set of entries excluding genetic modification)

Figure 2.1.2. Distribution of reported forestry biotechnology activities, excluding genetic modification, by genus

Figure 2.1.3A. Distribution of biotechnology activities, excluding genetic modification, by broad category (genetic diversity characterization; mapping, marker-assisted selection and genomics [MMG]; and micropropagation)

Biotechnology in the forestry sector

Biotechnology provides important tools for the sustainable development of agriculture, fisheries and forestry and can be of significant help in meeting the food needs of a growing and increasingly urbanized population,” reads an FAO press release dated 15 March 2000. The field of modern biotechnology is indeed often considered as one of the fields of scientific research in which the most rapid advances have been made in recent years.
Several elements can explain the growing interest of forest scientists, conservationists and tree growers in modern biotechnologies. They include the unique roles and functions that trees, major structural constituents of forest ecosystems have, their special biological characteristics, and their importance in the provision of environmental, social and economic goods and services. Special features of interest to scientists and geneticists include the low level of domestication of forest trees and their rich genetic diversity; their long life cycles, long generation times and late sexual maturity; their spatial requirements; the multiplicity of species and the low degree of heritability of traits of interest, linked to weak juvenile–adult correlations and the importance of genotype–environment interactions. Application of biotechnologies in forests has been seen as a unique opportunity for obtaining new information on the extent, patterns and functioning of tree genetic diversity; and for providing new tree varieties and reproductive materials adapted to changing environmental, social and economic environments (Fenning and Gershenzon 2002).

2.1.1.1 Background and methodology

Specific developments in biotechnology in the forestry sector have been addressed in a large number of conferences, meetings, publications, electronic fora and Internet web pages¹³. Owing to this abundant literature, this report, commissioned from CIRAD-Forêt by FAO in December 2003, will not describe the types and classifications of forest biotechnology in detail. It aims instead to fill a gap in global data and statistics on research in and applications of biotechnology for forest trees. Given the scientific and technical potential created by an increasingly accurate knowledge of forest tree species genomic structure, it is important to have an overall picture of the current status of forest biotechnology developments, together with trends and future prospects. The objective of this document is thus to review and summarize research, and the suitability and practical use of biotechnology in the forestry sector, and to provide tentative global analyses.
For the purpose of the study, a simple data set has been developed. The data set gathers major biotechnology activity (i.e. a given technology developed or used in a given country, on a given tree species or variety, by a given laboratory team, for a given purpose [Appendix 2.7.1]).
Data originated from (i) systematic searches in CAB Abstracts and associated global scientific databases, (ii) searches on the Internet (including sites of private companies, governmental and non-governmental institutions and linked references, and (iii) personal enquiries, observations and communications. Most significant publications, including those produced by major laboratories and teams, have been included in the data set. The study was mainly conducted between February and September 2004.
The data set included basic fields such as country, type of biotechnology, information source, reference or Internet site, stage of development, species or genera involved and, whenever available, year when the activity was conducted. These fields were considered to be a minimum set of requirements for entering a biotechnology activity in the database. The reference period covers approximately the last 10 years, although more than 75 percent of the data were from between 2000 and 2004. Internet references, however, could not always be dated.
The data set is in no way comprehensive, and some of its limitations reflect the difficulties of such information gathering. The study revealed language limitations (international databases cover only a fraction of the literature in Chinese and Russian, for example). International databases also tend to reflect past research activities, and only a small share of on-going research work. An additional flaw of the data set is related to private (corporate) research and commercial applications, for which public-domain information is generally scarce. Despite its drawbacks, the data set provides a sample (of unknown global representativeness) of materials available in the public domain. No attempt has been made to gather classified information. In total, data on 2 716 activities were collected, and their analysis supports the present report. Data, statistics and conclusions presented in this report should therefore be considered with caution and as general indicators.

Building a Biotechnology Program

NEEDS & CONSIDERATIONS
Student School District Community
Will this be a part of a CTAE
Program?
What are the goals of this
course/ program?
How many Biotech firms are
located in your area?
Is this course intended
specifically to fulfill the 4th
Science requirement?
What curriculum materials
will be used to support
instruction?
Are there local
postsecondary Biotech
programs in the area?
What are the postsecondary
destinations of your
students?
What is the annual budget
available for Biotechnology?
What support is available
from community partners?
What are the students’ career
and job aspirations?
How will Biotech help our
students on the Georgia High
School Graduation Exam?
What are the needs of the
biotech employers in your
area?
What was the student’s
favorite science class?
What is the target student
population?
Who will be teaching the
course?
Who will facilitate the
community and district
collaborations?
What are the initial expenses?

BIOTECHNOLOOGY INDUSTRY FACTS

BIOTECHNOLOOGY INDUSTRY FACTS
 The biotechnology industry emerged in the 1970s, based largely on new
recombinant DNA technology.
 Biotechnology has created more than 200 new therapies and vaccines, including
products to treat cancer, diabetes, HIV/ AIDS and autoimmune disorders.
 There are hundreds of biotech drug products and vaccines currently in clinical trials
targeting more than 200 diseases, including various cancers, Alzheimer’s disease,
heart disease, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, AIDS and arthritis.
 Biotechnology is responsible for hundreds of medical diagnostic tests that keep the
blood supply safe from HIV and detect other conditions early enough to be
successfully treated. Home pregnancy tests are also biotechnology diagnostic
products.
 Agricultural biotechnology benefits farmers, consumers and the environment—by
increasing yields and farm income, decreasing pesticide applications and improving
soil and water quality, and providing healthful foods for consumers.
 Environmental biotech products make it possible to clean up hazardous waste more
efficiently by harnessing pollution eating microbes.
 Industrial biotech applications have led to cleaner processes that produce less waste
and use less energy and water.
 DNA fingerprinting, a biotech process, has dramatically improved criminal
investigation and forensic medicine. It has also led to significant advances in
anthropology and wildlife management.
 The biotech industry is regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA),
the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Agriculture
(USDA).
 In 1982, recombinant human insulin became the first biotech therapy to earn FDA
approval. The product was developed by Genentech and Eli Lilly and Co.

WHAT IS BIOTECHNOLOGY?

WHAT IS BIOTECHNOLOGY?
Biotechnology is the use or manipulation of an organism or the components of an
organism. By this definition, the origins of biotechnology date back to when people first
began to domesticate animals and cultivate food crops. While those early applications are
certainly still employed today, modern biotechnology is primarily associated with molecular
biology, cloning, and genetic engineering. Within the last 50 years, the biological sciences
were revolutionized by several key discoveries that enabled the rapid evolution of the
biosciences. These discoveries enabled scientists to isolate and manipulate genes, which has
facilitated the growth of the biotechnology industry.
INTRODUCTION TO BIOTECHNOLOGY COURSE
This course introduces students to the fundamental scientific principals of
biotechnology, bioethics, the variety of careers in biosciences, as well as the commercial and
regulatory characteristics of the biosciences. The Introduction to Biotechnology course
emphasizes how key concepts from biology, chemistry, and physics apply to modern
applications within the biological sciences. The knowledge and skills gained in this course
provide students with a broad understanding of biotechnology and the impact it makes on
society. As students work to master the content, they mirror what scientists and technicians
are doing in scientific laboratories. A significant part of the course involves actual and
simulated research being done in actual laboratories world-wide, which gives students the
unique opportunity to carry out the world changing experiments about which they are
learning. To accomplish this goal, the course is especially laboratory intensive, and students
spend 50-75% of class time carrying out actual experiments. This focus on working
knowledge allows students to learn and practice the skills that they would actually use in the
field of biotechnology and build up the practical skill set of each student. Ultimately, the
content and skills covered offer all students the opportunity to acquire basic competencies
required for an entry-level position in any biotechnology company. The target audience
includes all students interested in attending any college or technical schools by providing
foundational concepts and established laboratory procedures in a broad spectrum of
disciplines such as biology, chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology, microbiology,
genetics, and immunology.
Workers in biotechnology design, develop, and evaluate systems and products such
as artificial organs, artificial limbs, medication information systems, medical equipment and
instrumentation. Tasks associated with careers in biotechnology include researching new
materials for biomedical equipment, evaluating the safety of such equipment, utilizing
computer simulation of the body’s organs and systems, designing and developing new
procedures and equipment for detecting disease, and advising hospitals and other medical
facilities on the use of new and existing medical equipment. Major employers include
research and development companies, medicine manufacturers, medical equipment and
supply manufacturers, and private hospitals.

Careers in Biotechnology

Taking up a job in biotechnology means involving oneself in the development of new products and processes for the good of mankind and quality of life. Before one seriously considers a career in biotechnology, it is imperative to have extensive knowledge in biology, chemistry, and other life sciences.

Biotechnology also has a deep impact on other areas such as human health careers which involves detecting and treating hereditary diseases, cancer, heart disease, AIDS, etc; in Veterinary Medicine, Animal Science, and Livestock Production; and in Agriculture and Plant Science.

A biotechnology company has a number of divisions, each performing different tasks and functions.

Career in Research and Development:

Like any other company, a biotechnology company also needs a qualified team of researchers to represent its future. While some researches may focus on a specific application, some may be carried out for acquiring new knowledge which may not need immediate application. Researchers may also work in academic environments such as universities or within the premises of the company setup. The most important thing is that research and product development form the foundation and basis of any biotechnological setup.

Career in Production and quality control:

People who have extensive knowledge of engineering or industrial-manufacturing technology are required by biotechnological firms in production and manufacturing. In order to make sure the finished products meet specifications, a group or team of quality assurance look after the production process, research and development. This group of experts belongs to the quality control division.

Career in Management:

Biotechnology companies need managers who can supervise the working of the company such as Research and Development, Production, and Quality Control. These people are often Ph.D. level scientists who have worked their way up through special achievements or accomplishments. They may also have business training and experience sometimes.

Career in Sales and Marketing:

Market researchers analyze, assess and estimate the need for a specific product and it would sell. They advertise and promote, and try to find new markets for products already being sold. Salespersons deal directly with consumers by selling, getting feedbacks etc, and are the most visible representatives of the biotechnology company.

Career in Regulatory Affairs

Since all biotechnology companies, especially agricultural and pharmaceutical, are regulated by federal and state agencies such as FDA, EPA, and USDA regarding the safety, ethics etc of manufacturing and products, they need a team of experts and specialists to make sure the company follows all regulations laid down by these agencies.

Career in Legal Affairs:

Any invention or discovery is not safe from copyright infringement without the proper patent. Since biotechnology companies and firms are continually engaged in the search for newer and better products, they need people specializing in law to prepare patent application, or keep track of patent laws.

Career in Public Relations, Communications, and Training:

Biotechnology companies must be able to relay information to the public or other agencies in a language they will understand because biotechnology involves the use of technical terms much of the time. They must also be able to convince others on the credibility and usefulness of their products. As the company grows bigger, the scope of its recruitment also grows along with it. This would imply the need for more training and staff development, and hence more trainers.

Biotechnology in India rapidly growing

Biotechnology is considered to be a quickly emerging and far-reaching technology. It's a branch of science that may play a major role in the development and growth of India. Biotechnology refers to any technological application that uses biological systems and forms in a governable manner, to not only produce new and useful processes or products but also modify the existing ones. It benefits both mankind and other life forms, such as microorganisms. Besides, biotechnology helps maintain an optimum ecological balance by lowering the amount of hydrocarbons and controlling pollution.

Biotechnology in India is one of the most rapidly growing knowledge-based sectors. Today, it's being increasingly used to design and develop unique, improved varieties of pharmaceutical products, crops, fertilizers, processed foods, a plethora of chemicals, cosmetics, growth enhancers, health care aids, and environment-related substances. The biotech segment in India has been making fast strides on the world platform. India is currently producing and marketing many therapeutic biotech drugs and vaccines. From 2005–2006, the Indian biotech sector recorded an impressive revenue of approximately US$ 1.07 billion and registered a 36.55% growth.

India has diverse biological resources. Biotechnology offers opportunities to convert these resources into employment opportunities and economic wealth. Several factors create an impetus for India to produce excellent capabilities in the domain of biotechnology. These factors include a strong pool of scientists and engineers, a large reservoir of scientific human resources, affordable manufacturing capabilities, numerous medical colleges, educational and training institutes providing diplomas and degrees in biotechnology, a large number of national research laboratories engaging thousands of scientists, fast developing clinical capabilities, and a vibrant drugs and pharmaceutical industry.

The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) in India is regulated by the Ministry of Science and Technology and is a top authority responsible for the development of the biotech industry. This department is responsible for planning, promoting, and organizing different biotechnological activities and programs in India. It also offers grants to universities, national research laboratories, and research foundations associated with biotechnology-related activities.

The key responsibilities of the DBT include:

    Promoting large-scale use of biotechnology
    Acting as a government agent for importing fresh recombinant DNA-based biotechnological processes, technologies, and products
    Building infrastructure facilities to aid R&D and production
    Initiating technical and scientific efforts associated with biotechnology
    Promoting international collaborations to expound the knowledge base of the biotech sector in India
    Providing bio-safety guidelines for laboratory research, applications, and production
    Serving as a nodal agency for collecting and disseminating biotechnology-related information

Furthermore, the Indian government has set up the National Bio-Resource Development Board (NBDB) under the department to determine the broad-policy framework for efficient use of biotechnological research and development.

The key functions of this board include:

    Promoting how bio-resources add value and strengthening bioinformatics
    Formulating predictive groupings of biological resources via well-developed molecular lineages
    Providing efficient conservation strategies for bio-resources with potential economic and scientific value
    Promoting the application of biological software in pathogens' and agricultural pests' management
    Training and teaching human resources towards achieving all these objectives

The Indian government is also establishing many biotech parks and incubators. Some existing biotech parks/incubation centers are in Uttar Pradesh, Hyderabad, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, and Bangalore.

With so many measures being adopted to promote biotechnology, the Indian biotech sector is set to flourish, and it can revolutionize agriculture, industrial processing, health care, and environmental sustainability.

Biotechnology:An small introdution

Biotechnology has become popular in the present time eventuality. Almost every new technological innovation is employing biotechnology. However what precisely is it? In simple terms, biotechnology can be depicted as the science of using living organisms and their products for varied purposes.

Contrary to the popular belief, biotechnology is not a recent phenomenon or idea. It has been in use for many millennia ; albeit in less sophisticated forms. For instance, it has been utilised for centuries in agriculture ; as seeds ( part of living organisms ) to grow crops. Animal husbandry is also a form of biotechnology and focuses on rearing animals for food production.

Well, why biotechnology is a rage? It is the discovery of microbes that brought it into spotlight. The micro-organisms were a benefit to mankind as they lead to the production of antibiotics and the immunization of a bunch of infections. What further made the biotechnology a thing to contemplate was the discovery of DNA and the enzymes. These discoveries made biotechnology further handy. This technology is so advanced today the scientists can simply manipulate the structure of enzymes for different purposes.

In the modern world, biotech is not restricted to farming or medical sciences. It is widely being employed in the business sectors as well. The many alternative kinds of biochemicals ; have been utilized by numerous industries for separate functions. The chemicals are of certain signification to food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic companies though . For example, skin care cream makers are highly fascinated by the advantages of vegetable extracts. Popular acne solutions like Exposed Skin Care System are also using the same as active elements for their formulae.

Another huge field where you will see the utilization of biotechnology is the food industry. It is used to improve the quality of crop, increase the resistance of the plants towards pests and also augment the quality of food preservatives. This technology has a good distance to go, as scientists are attempting to discover an in built bio-indicator that would spot food contamination in packed food. The wines of best quality also use biotechnology for production.

The environmental arena is using biotechnology to restore tarnished soil, air and water too. It's also getting used to treat economic effluents and risks. What's more, biotech is consistently being used to treat brown fields for redevelopment. It is recognized as a safer methodology of pest elimination too.

Given its many uses ; biotechnology is predicted to become and indivisible part of life and its many processes in the very near future. And, the potential benefits from the same might be easily worth holding our breaths for.