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Defining and Solving Human Problems C
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Stephanie Stockwell W Stephanie Stockwell, Editor
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Biotechnology is a fascinating interdisciplinary field uniquely L
poised to take on some of the world’s most complex problems.
Create your own With this thesis at its core, Modern Biotechnology: Defining and
Customized Content Solving Human Problems takes a refreshing problems-based
Bundle—the more approach to exploring the field. Novice readers will come away
with a broad appreciation for the significance of current and
books you buy,
emerging biotechnologies—from regenerative medicine, to
the greater your
genetically enhanced crops, to biofuels. Experts will benefit
discount! from the concise review of timely game-changing technologies
such as DNA sequence-by-synthesis and genome editing.
THE CONTENT Despite being set within a conceptual framework of “wicked”
• Energy Physics problems (i.e., disease, food production, environmental degra-
Engineering dation), insights into the current state and future potential of
• Biology biotechnologies make this book both optimistic and forward Modern
thinking. This is not just an informative text—it’s an entry point
• Biotechnology
into a discipline with the potential to change the world.
• Mathematics Biotechnology
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• Chemistry
Stephanie Stockwell, PhD, is an associate professor in the
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Department of Integrated Science and Technology at James d
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THE TERMS Madison University. She obtained her BS in Bacteriology from rn Defining and Solving
the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her PhD in Biological
• Perpetual access for B
Sciences from Dartmouth College. Her doctoral and c urrent i
a one time fee o Human Problems
research is focused on the genetic determinants a ssociated with t
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• No subscriptions or the agriculturally significant symbiotic relationship b etween c
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access fees soybean and soil bacterium, Bradyrhizobium japonicum. In n
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concurrent usage dialogue that occurs between cells during the plant i nfection g
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• Downloadable PDFs process. Recent articles can be found in the j ournals of M olecular
• Free MARC records Plant Microbe Interactions, Virology, and the Journal of Micro
biology and Biology Education. Other scholarly interests include
emerging biotechnologies, contextualized course design, and
For further information,
pedagogical best practices for fostering i nclusivity and integra-
a free trial, or to order,
contact: tion in science. Dr. Stockwell has received two teaching awards,
[email protected] one of which recognized her excellence in the integration of
scholarship and teaching.
Stephanie Stockwell
ISBN: 978-1-60650-913-5
MODERN
BIOTECHNOLOGY
MODERN
BIOTECHNOLOGY
D S
efining anD olving
H P
uman roblemS
STEPHANIE STOCKWELL, PhD
MOMENTUM PRESS, LLC, NEW YORK
Modern Biotechnology: Defining and Solving Human Problems
Copyright © Momentum Press®, LLC, 2017.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored
in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—
electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other—except for
brief quotations, not to exceed 400 words, without the prior permission
of the publisher.
First published by Momentum Press®, LLC
222 East 46th Street, New York, NY 10017
www.momentumpress.net
ISBN-13: 978-1-60650-913-5 (print)
ISBN-13: 978-1-60650-914-2 (e-book)
Momentum Press Biotechnology Collection
Cover and interior design by Exeter Premedia Services Private Ltd.,
Chennai, India
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Printed in the United States of America
For my beloved husband and children—Mike, Birch, and Fenna—who
each made sacrifices for the sake of this book. In loving memory of
Baxter, my patient and faithful writing companion.
a
bStract
Biotechnology is a fascinating interdisciplinary field uniquely poised to
take on some of the world’s most complex problems. With this thesis at
its core, Modern Biotechnology: Defining and Solving Human Problems
takes a refreshing problems-based approach to exploring the field. Novice
readers will come away with a broad appreciation for the significance
of current and emerging biotechnologies—from regenerative medicine,
to genetically enhanced crops, to biofuels. Experts will benefit from
the concise review of timely game-changing technologies such as DNA
sequence-by-synthesis and genome editing. Despite being set within a
conceptual framework of “wicked” problems (i.e., disease, food produc-
tion, environmental degradation), insights into the current state and future
potential of biotechnologies make this book both optimistic and forward
thinking. This is not just an informative text—it’s an entry point into a
discipline with the potential to change the world.
KEYWORDS
bioassay, biofuel, biopharmaceuticals, bioremediation, bioreporters, bio-
sensors, biotechnology, cancer, cloning, CRISPR/Cas9, DNA sequenc-
ing, drug development, gene therapies, genetically modified crops, HIV,
interdisciplinary, molecular diagnostic, ‘omic technologies, recombinant
DNA, stem cells, systems thinking, transgenic animals, vaccines, wicked
problems
c
ontentS
List of Figures xi
List of Tables xiii
List of Boxes xv
Acknowledgments xvii
1 Introduction 1
1.1 What is Biotechnology? 1
1.2 Milestones in the Development of Modern Biotechnology 4
1.3 Wicked Problems 14
1.4 Brief Summary 16
2 Biological Foundations 17
2.1 Biological Parts 17
2.2 Modern Tools of the Trade 30
2.3 Brief Summary 54
3 Disease 55
3.1 The Problem: Disease 55
3.2 Better Medical Interventions 62
3.3 Brief Summary 85
4 Food Production 87
4.1 The Problem: Food Production 87
4.2 Safer Foods 89
4.3 Better Crops and Livestock 93
4.4 Brief Summary 99
5 Environmental Degradation 101
5.1 The Problem: Pollution 101
5.2 Better Environmental Monitoring 102
5.3 Better Environmental Clean-Up 104
