What is Biotechnology?

Both traditional and modern biotechnology share the same foundation: the use of living organisms to enhance crops, fuels, medical treatments and a host of other tools that can help humans. The two schools of thought about what biotechnology is can elicit much debate. Whereas modern biotechnology manipulates the genes of organisms and inserts them into other organisms to acquire the desired trait, traditional biotechnology harnesses the potential of processes performed by living organisms, such as fermentation.

The definition of biotechnology varies, but a simple definition is the use of living organisms by humans. One example of biotechnology is cloning. We have been cloning plants for centuries. Each time a leaf is excised from a violet plant and placed in soil to grow a new plant, cloning has occurred. Today, we are not only doing the physical manipulation at the visual level but also on the molecular level. In modern or molecular biotechnology, we physically select the desired characteristic at the molecular level and add it to the organism's genetic makeup.

Biotechnology is the science for this century. With its advances, we are on the first part of a great journey. Humans have expanded their understanding of the biosphere by journeying into space and exploring the depths of the ocean. We have not only been able to look at the surrounding universe and the depths below with the advancement of tools and techniques, but we also have been able to live there. Advanced tools and techniques are now allowing us to look at the universe of atoms. Biotechnology is utilizing the sciences of biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, computers, and information technology to develop tools and products that hold great promise. Humans have spent thousands of years selecting for and cultivating the best traits nature has to offer. Now with the help of biotechnology, nanotechnology and a host of other sciences, we are able to harness these traits at the atomic level to develop safe and beneficial crops, medical treatments, biofuels and household products.

Ex 4. In pairs, ask and answer questions based on the text.

Ex 5. Identify the grammar structures used in the text. Explain their form, meaning and usage:

- conjunctions

- the of structures

- modal verbs

- irregular verbs

- verb tenses ( Simple, Progressive, Perfect, Perfect Progressive)

- the Passive voice

- -ing forms ( gerund and present participle)

- -ed forms ( past participle)

- infinitive ( its functions)

- compound sentences

- complex sentences

Ex 6. Listen to the description of the graphic and use the context to figure out the meanings of the following words and phrases. Use a dictionary to check your answers.

Ewe, provide, mammary cell, clone, copies of all genes, need, produce a sheep, only genes for proteins required by, active, grow, divide, generate precise copies of themselves, are deprived of nutrients, induce them to dormancy, can be activated in a laboratory dish, the nucleus is dislodged from, blend with the spark of electricity, molecules, program genes, engender the embryo, clusters of embryonic cells, are implanted into a surrogate mother, the resulting lamb, the donor ewe.

Lesson 7.3.3. Genetic Ingineering

Speaking

Ex 1. Listen to the passage for a second time, follow the graphic, take notes and then describe all the stages of cloning.