Molecular Biotechnology: Principles and Applications - Glick, B., & Pasternak, J. 2002

Fundamentals of Molecular Biotechnology
The Molecular Biotechnology Revolution
Recombinant DNA Technology

Molecular biotechnology is a fascinating field of scientific research that has fundamentally revolutionized humanity's relationship with the living world. At its core is The transfer of units of heredity (genes) from one Organism to another using the Methods of Introduction/32.html">Genetic Engineering (Recombinant DNA technology). In most cases, the goal of such transfer is to create a new product or produce an already known product on an industrial scale. In Part I, we introduce the reader to The concepts of molecular biotechnology and the microorganisms used in it, the fundamentals of molecular biology, and recombinant DNA methodology. Methods such as chemical Gene synthesis, the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), and DNA Sequencing will be described. Beyond successfully cloning the desired gene, it is crucial to ensure its proper functioning in the new host organism; therefore, we will also discuss approaches for optimizing the Expression of cloned genes in prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems. Finally, we examine how The properties of final products can be enhanced by modifying cloned genes through the introduction of specific nucleotide substitutions (in vitro mutagenesis). Overall, the material presented in the first part serves as a foundation for understanding various aspects of specific Applications of molecular biotechnology.

On October 15, 1980, a landmark event took place on the New York Stock Exchange: just 20 minutes after trading opened, the price of a single share of the biotechnology company Genentech soared from $35 to $89. This was a record-breaking price jump for a commercial enterprise at the time. By the close of trading that day, the price of a Genentech share stood at $71.25, and the total value of all 528,000 shares was so astronomically high that small investors hoping to acquire a modest block of shares had no chance whatsoever.

This was apparently the first time in history that the beginning of a major technological revolution was heralded by the opening bell of a stock exchange. In 1980, when Genentech first offered its shares to the public, it was a small company in California that had successfully spent four years working on recombinant DNA technology. Two years earlier, the company's scientists had managed to isolate gene fragments (DNA sequences) encoding human Insulin and transfer them into genetic elements (cloning vectors) capable of replicating in the Cells of the common bacterium Escherichia coli. These bacterial cells operated as biological factories for the Production of Human insulin, which, after appropriate purification, could be used as a therapeutic drug for diabetic patients who experienced allergic reactions to porcine insulin. Just a decade earlier, such a turn of events would have seemed unrealistic, but today it has all become entirely commonplace.

The dizzying surge in Genentech's share price was driven both by a realistic appraisal of the potential of recombinant DNA technology and by dreams of future possibilities. Many believed that the new technology would become the 20th-century horn of plenty, feeding and sustaining all who desired it. These dreams were fueled by the enthusiasm of newspaper and magazine articles and television reports, amplified by stockbrokers and science fiction plots. The imagination was stirred by hordes of wondrous microbes, plants, and animals created by humans. Enthusiasts predicted that genetically engineered microbes would displace chemical fertilizers and clean up oil spills; plants would emerge with inherited pest resistance and exceptionally high nutritional value; and farm animals would be created that utilize feed more efficiently, gain weight rapidly, and yield lean meat. It seemed that since specific biological properties are determined by one or a few genes (units of heredity), creating organisms with novel genetic designs would be effortless. And indeed, although the hype surrounding the new technology was not entirely warranted, the fascination with the idea was well-grounded. A little more than fifteen years passed, and many of the most sensible projects became reality. In our book, we describe how this happened and what the Prospects are for applying recombinant DNA technology.

The strategy for transferring a functional unit of heredity (a gene) from one organism to another was developed by American scientists Stanley Cohen and Herbert Boyer in 1973. It was clear to Cohen, Boyer, and many others that recombinant DNA technology offered immense potential. As Cohen noted at the time, "...there is hope of introducing into [the bacterial Cell] E. coli genes associated with metabolic or synthetic Functions characteristic of other biological species, such as genes for Photosynthesis or antibiotic production."

However, one of the scientific community's earliest responses to the new technology was a moratorium on certain biotechnology experiments considered potentially dangerous. The self-imposed research ban was proclaimed by a group of molecular biologists, including Cohen and Boyer. They believed that combining genes from two different organisms could accidentally lead to the creation of a new organism with undesirable and hazardous properties. Several years passed, scientists gained experience with the new technology, safety guidelines for these Procedures were agreed upon, and passions gradually subsided. The temporary halt in certain recombinant DNA research projects did not dampen the enthusiasm of genetic engineers. The new technology continues to attract unprecedented attention from both the public and the scientific community.

Word of the Gene cloning performed by Cohen and Boyer swept around the globe. Many researchers immediately recognized the advantages of this strategy and developed a vast array of techniques that made it relatively simple and highly efficient to identify, isolate, characterize, and utilize genes. These technological developments have made a significant contribution to virtually all biological disciplines—including animal behavior, developmental biology, molecular evolution, cell biology, and Human Genetics—yet the most profound changes have occurred in the field of biotechnology.