Medical and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology

Question 1

key areas of medical biotechnology (7)

Answer 1

Stem Cells
Gene Therapy
Molecular Diagnostics
Xenotransplantation
Tissue Engineering
Vaccines
Drug Delivery

Question 2

types of Stem Cells (3)

Answer 2

Embryonic
Adult/Somatic
Induced Pluripotent

Question 3

what are stem cells

Answer 3

unspecialized cells that renew themselves for long periods through cell division that can be induced to become specialised cells, which could be used to repair damaged body parts

Question 4

how are hES cells derived

Answer 4

human embryonic stem cells (hES) are derived from the inner cell mass (ICM) of human blastocysts

Question 5

what is gene therapy

Answer 5

Treating genetic diseases by transferring normal genes into cells to correct a disorder

Question 6

describe the types of gene therapy (2)

Answer 6

a. Somatic: Corrects a disorder by targeting only body cells, not affecting the offspring
b. Germ line: Alters genes in reproductive cells, leading to permanent changes that can be passed down. Banned due to ethical and safety concerns.

Question 7

what are molecular diagnostics

Answer 7

using molecular biology techniques to analyze genetic material to detect diseases, conditions, or mutations

Question 8

what is down syndrome

Answer 8

syndrome resulting from an extra copy of chromosome 21, causing Mental impairment and other defects

Question 9

ways to detect down syndrome before birth (2)

Answer 9

1. amniocentesis: uses a needle to remove a sample of the amniotic fluid to check the fetus for extra copies of chromosome 21
2. blood test: tests mother’s blood for abnormally elevated levels of chromosome 21 because small amounts of fetal DNA enter the mother’s bloodstream

Question 10

what is xenotransplantation

Answer 10

the practice of transplanting living cells, tissues, or organs from one species to another

Question 11

what is tissue engineering

Answer 11

creating or regenerating biological tissues

Question 12

what is a vaccine

Answer 12

A substance containing weakened or inactivated parts of a pathogen that stimulates the immune system to build up an immune response without causing the disease

Question 13

what is one method of drug delivery

Answer 13

stretchable mechanism using stretchable materials like hydrogels or flexible polymers, to make wearable patches that conform to the skin and release medication when stretched

Question 14

traditional pharmaceutical sectors (2)

Answer 14

drug extraction from biological sources, chemical-based drugs through chemical synthesis

Question 15

history of the pharmaceutical industry before the 20th century (4)

Answer 15

medicinal herbs like digitalis for the heart, quinine for malaria
mercury for syphilis
Synthesis of aspirin in 1895 by Bayer

Question 16

when and how did the pharmaceutical industry begin

Answer 16

1930s
discovery and synthesis of sulpha drugs from Prontosil rubrum, a red dye, to treat bacterial infections

Question 17

what happened to the pharmaceutical industry in the 1940s

Answer 17

industrial-scale production of penicillin boosted the biopharmaceutical industry

Question 18

What is Taxol

Answer 18

anti-cancer agent developed by Bristol-Myers-Squibb from the bark of the Pacific yew tree

Question 19

what happened to taxol in 1992

Answer 19

approved by FDA for ovarian, lung, breast cancer

Question 20

story of taxol
(skip, only memorize if you have time)

Answer 20

1967: Identified by NCI from Pacific Yew tree bark (Taxus brevifolia)
Used by American Indians for inflammation treatment
1955: NCI screens 35,000 plants for anticancer agents
1967: Cytotoxic ingredient identified as Taxol (generic name)
1969: 10g of pure compound extracted from 1,200kg of bark
1979: Mechanism of action in leukemic mice—stabilizes microtubules to inhibit cell division
1984: Phase 1 clinical trial, supply issue arises
1988: Phase 2 trials show 30% success in ovarian cancer
1989: Ecological concern about 360,000 trees destroyed annually
1989: BMS partners with NCI, $100M investment
1992: FDA approves Paclitaxel (Taxol) for cancer treatments
Now produced using plant cell culture technology, annual sales $2-3 billion

Question 21

story of penicillin (3)

Answer 21

• 1928: discovery by Alexander Fleming when he noticed it killed bacteria
• WWII: Howard Florey and Ernst Chain produced more penicillin but supply was exhausted
• Commercial production of penicillin by a fermentation process

Question 22

Lessons from the penicillin story

Answer 22

• production process set the standard for bioprocess development and biotechnology
• critically analyzing failed experimental results leads to creative, original ideas
• developing biological processes requires interdisciplinary collaboration

Question 23

biotech drug discovery process (7)

Answer 23

• discovery: 2-10 years
• preclinical testing: lab and animal testing
• phase I: check safety and dosage
• phase II: check efficacy and side effects
• phase III: check long-term side effects
• FDA review and approval
• postmarketing testing