Biotechnology 1 Flashcards
Use available evidence to describe the changes in a species of grain or animal as a result of domestication and agricultural processes.
Human domestication of wild species of sheep and wheat through artificial selection or selective breeding has led to the improvement of their quality and manageability.
Wheat domestication began about 9000 years ago. Natuficans are though to be the first to cultivate modern wheat. Wild wheat had small, loose grains and long, shattering stalks. Over time, wheat has been bred to have bulky, large grains that cannot blow away in the wind (needs human intervention) and short, strong stalks.
Sheep domestication began around 10 000 BC in Meopotamia. It is though that the mouflon were perhaps the origin of domesticated sheep. They had wirey coats like goats which were patched with brown and red colours. Sheep were selectively bred to be woolier, with improved physique for milk production and meat. Their behaviour was also chosen to become more docile - bred to have a social behaviour and placid personality.
Process information to outline an ancient Aboriginal use of biotechnology.
- Sophisticated knowledge of the natural weather, plant growth and animal movement cycles in their area.
- Dreamtime stories and sacred practices protected scarce or seasonal resources.
- Fire stick farming.
- Early forms of aquaculture are suggested by the discovered middens of oyster shells. Yabbies, oysters and other aquatic organisms were harvested and transferred to water holes.
- Archaeological excavations around the lands of the Mara nation in NW Victoria who that elaborate canals were built between swamps to catch eels more easily. Similar forms of early aquaculture have also been observed in Arnhem land and Queensland.
- Boats and nets for deep waters; traps and river weirs of brush and stone walls to trap eels and fish.
- Domestication of the wild dingo.
- Oak trunks were pushed into rivers and creeks to encourage insect havens for toredo grubs for instance. Wood piles 0.5mx2m were harvested a year later by women and old men. Candle nut trees were ringbarked for white grubs.
Describe the origins of biotechnology in early societies who collected seeds of wild plants and domesticated some species of wild animals.
Biotechnology refers to the use of living organisms by humans to suit their needs and benefit them.
The first practices of biotechnology were in the form of collecting seeds from more useful crops and the selective breeding of better animals.
Most early biotechnological practices were discovered by accident and were used as a means of preserving food for longer and when it was out of season.
Early biotechnology includes:
- preserving vegetables and meat in vinegar
- eating yoghurt to prevent digestive illness
- medicines from natural products
- mixing wine and water to prevent diarrhoea in children
Modern technology has allowed for more precise and further biotechnological practices e.g. DNA manipulation. However, older techniques are being returned to because they were more environmentally friendly.
Modern biotechnology includes:
- the use of microorganisms to produce: cheese, wines, yoghurt, beer; vitamins, insulin and pro-biotics, Herceptin (cancer drug)
- selective breeding of livestock and GMO crops
- natural products to produce anti-malarial drugs, heart treatments, aspirin and other medicines
- use of microorganisms to digest pollutants in the soil and air, digest fats and greases, sewerage treatment
- isolating natural products to developing anti-fouling agents e.g. for boats
Explain why the collection of seeds and breeding of animals with desired characteristics could be described as early biotechnology.
Biotechnology is the altering and use of living organisms by humans for their benefit. Hence, the collecting of seeds and breeding of animals can be considered as early biotechnology.
Early human societies were unconsciously using artificial selection and selective breeding for the plants and animals that they could benefit from the most and manage more conveniently. Although genetics would not be discovered for thousands of years, early peoples knew that offspring resembled their parents. Hence, they used this to control characteristics they wanted to breed in and out of their crops and livestock.
Today, wild plants and organisms bear little resemblance to their domesticated counterparts because of thousands of years of selection. Modern technology has additionally allowed this to become more exact with farmers being able to test the DNA of their produce.
Describe changes in one group of animals and one group of plants as a result of artificial selection of characteristics suitable for agricultural stock.
WHEAT
Wheat has been a cultivated food source for over 9000 years. The wild einkorn Triticum boeticum and the emmer Triticum dicoccoides are the likely ancestors of all cultivated wheats.
Wild wheats had long, brittle stalks. Their seeds were small and less rich, and blew away easily with the wind. This allowed the wheat to sow themselves.
The Natufians, a hunting gather people residing around Jericho and the Dead Sea, were the first to cultivate modern wheat in 8000 BC. It was a mutated wheat variety where the seeds where larger, richer and couldn’t fly away with the wind. These seeds were collected by the Natufians, who then sowed it, and began farming this modern wheat.
Over time, the frequency of this modern wheat increased, as more and more of it was selectively planted for its convenience. The continuation of this artificial selection has led to the modern varieties of wheat we know today.
Modern wheat have shorter, stronger stalks. Their seeds have richer nutrients and are fatter and steadfast. They have become so domesticated that they cannot sow themselves without human intervention
SHEEP
Sheep were probably domesticated between 11 000 to 9 000 years ago in Mesopotamia. Sheep were relatively appealing to domesticate because of its characteristics:
* Relative lack of aggression * Manageable size * Early sexual maturity * Social nature * High reproductive rates
It is unknown what the wild ancestor of the sheep is, but it is hypothesized to be the mouflon, which could be found in Europe and Asia
Wild mouflon have an outer layer of coarse hair, and a fine woolly undercoat; both coats can be shed annually. Mouflon are red brown in colour, with a dark back stripe and light coloured saddle patch and underparts. Males are horned, and females are either horned or polled.
Around 10 000 years ago sheep began to be kept on Western Asia. They were probably herded so they would be easiert to locate. Early sheep had thin, course hair like goats.
They were initially kept for meat, milk and skins. Archaeological evidence from sites in Iran suggest that selection for woolly began around 6000BC. 3000 years later, people were able to spin wool into cloth.
Sheep were bred to be woolier, more placid and behaviourally kept together in one herd so they were easier to monitor. Some species were selected for meat, others for milk production.
The Australian merino sheep is a fine wool species that has developed because of artificial selection.
