Biotechnology and Biomedical Engineering: can they be Separated?

1. Biotechnology and Biomedical Engineering: can they be Separated? Presented at Maiden Ibadan Conference of Biomedical Engineering By Prof Muhammad YalwaGwarzO

2. Biotechnology • Biotechnology is the utilization of biological systems , living cells or part to develop or create different products. • Hence biological processes of microorganisms for more than 6,000 years to make useful products without being conscious of it to many communities

3. Biotechnology • For example, the aesthetic flavor of locust bean (Daddawa) produced in Hausaland • Production of local wine from cereals and palm milk • Quantum jump was achieved in the application of biotechnology with the emergence of genetic engineering in 1970s.

4. Biotechnology • Genetic engineering allows manipulation of DNA molecules to produce modified plants, animals, or other organisms. • The manipulated genes can be isolated passed from one animal or plant to produce the desired results. • Such transfer of genetic materials is called recombinant DNA Technology

5. What is Biotechnology ? • The application of biotechnology is versatile and covers disciplines like genetics, biochemistry, molecular biology • leading to the development of technologies and products in areas of medicine, agriculture, biofuels, industrial biotechnology etc

6. HealthCare and Pharmaceutical • Medical biotechnology can be used to find cures as well as getting rid, preventing diseases or diagnosis of disease. • Useful tool in research to find different or more efficient ways of maintaining human health, understanding pathogen, and understanding the human cell biology.

7. Drug Discovery • The use of microarray techniques has availed the screening of thousands of drug candidates • Use of fungi to develop and modify drug candidates • Manipulation of fungal genome to modify chemicals

8. Drug Development • Transgenic animals, chemical engineering, and cell cultures are used to test whether drugs work as expected

9. NanoTechnology • The use of tiny particles of nanometers size to deliver drugs to their targets

10. Clinical Diagnosis The development of tests for the diagnosis of disease - at cheaper cost -with low turn around time (Rapid test kits). - Some of these tests are done at the molecular level - HIV testing, malaria

11. Agriculture Genetically Modified Crop: • Pest resistance crops has reduced agricultures produce wastage in the last two decades. • The fungus Bacillus thuringiensis genes being transferred to crops to provide this protection • Herbicide-resistance: Roundup Ready cotton • Production of human proteins of clinical importance such as insulin can be generated in plants

12. Genetically modified animals • Generation cows with increase copies of cow growth hormone genes has led to increase in milk production. • Transgenic animals are being explored also for organ transplant and provision of some body constituents. Construction of Human gene transgenetic animal for the generation of blood is under consideration

13. Food - Food supplementation. Some crops such as rice are modified with genes required for the production of vitamin A precursors. Such attempt could replace the current practice of food fortification. • Transgenic animals can also be generated to increase the amount of meat in those animals

14. Industrial Biotechnology • Textile Biotechnology has helped to increase yield , reduce environmental impact and increase efficiency of the manufacturing industries improve efficiency, increase yields,

15. Laundry • Laundry detergent has enzymes derived from cold water microorganisms that work at cold temperatures

16. Plastic and Biofeuls • Plant-based plastics take fewer resources to produce and are biodegradable. • Biofuels Conversion of left over plant stover to ethanol.

17. Mining • Mining: Some microorganisms have the potential to leach minerals out of mine waste piles (tailings). This can reduce pollution and increase yield

18. Pollution monitoring and waste management • Biosensors. Conversion of action of biomolecules or animals into electrical signal has been used to detect pollution of environment with these molecules are animals • Bioremediation. Some Microorganisms can also be used toconverthazardous compounds to less hazardous chemicals. This has a potential use in combatting oil spillage

19. What is Bioengineering? Chemistry Biology Medicine Bioengineering Materials Science Engineering Computation

20. BioEngineering • Alessandro Volta (Galvani’s student ) invented the first battery in the 18th century. • Such discovery ledto the application of electricity to therapeutic purposes • Wilhelm Roentgen discovery of x-rays in the 19th century led to use of electromagnetic radiation for diagnostic purposes

21. BioEngineering • The practice of solving problems in the life sciences using an engineering approach • Like Biotechnology the application of Bioengineering in the design of materials to solve medical problems was known for many thousand years. • prosthetic devices, designed to replace missing body parts. • Mummies with wooden digits in Egyptian tombs.

22. Modern Bioengineering • The link between electricity and animal physiology was established by Luigi Galvani in late 1700s . • This led to use of electrical impulses of the body as diagnostic indications of health, such as in electrocardiology.

23. BioEngineering • The convergence of mechanical, electrical and chemical engineering process into complex medical systems was achieved in 20thcentuary. • This led to the development of systems such: • incldialysis, the pacemaker • Subsequently the development of • artificial heart, prosthetic devices that could respond • DNA testing that underlies a range of genetic technologies.

24. Biotechnology and Biomedical Engineering • Interdisciplinary branches of science • The specialization can be married together but applications differ considerably • Biotechnology covers a broader scope of natural sciences • Biomedical engineering deals mainly with aspect of medicine and engineering principles. • Both can be married to improve quality of life

25. Biotechnology and Biomedical Engineering • Biotechnology is the use of living systems and organisms or their products to develop or make useful products ” • Biomedical Engineering is the application of engineering and technology principles to the domain of living or biological systems. • It is involved in developing innovative biology, materials, processes, implants, devices and informatics approaches for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases, for patient rehabilitation, and for improving health.

26. The Intermarriage • Development of Rapid Kits in the Diagnosis of Disease • Microarray chips in identifying drug targets and diagnosis of genetic diseases • Provision of equipment as tool in biotechnology • While the marriage with BioEngeering is much broader as it covers all areas of application of Biotechnology such as pollution.

27. Thank you for listening

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