EXPLORING BIOTECHNOLOGY

Unit 1 – Introduction to Biotechnology – Study Guide

Name__________________________________ Date________________ Period_____________________

Answer the following questions using your notes, handouts, and assignments.

1. What are the four major areas of biotechnology?

2. What is the definition of biotechnology?

3. “New” biotechnology is based on changing organisms using what?

4. Gregor Mendel is known as the father of which branch of science?

5. With what did Gregor Mendel conduct his experiments?

6. Biotechnology has three basic goals. What are they?

7. Which notable figure in the history of biotechnology is known as the Father of Medicine?

8. Which notable figures in the history of biotechnology are known for initiating the multibillion dollar
industry of biotechnology?

9. Who produced early data critical to the discovery of DNA, but was not given credit for her work because
she was a woman?

10. Who was the first surgeon to successfully separate Siamese twins joined at the head?

11. Who was known for research with wheat and feeding the world’s population?

12. Who described the structure of DNA and described how DNA carries genetic information?
13. Who headed the team that cloned Dolly using DNA from adult sheep cells and is know for ground-
breaking research and is an expert on cloning?

14. Who created a vaccine for rabies and pasteurized milk to kill bacteria?

Match the biotechnology timeline items with their correct year.

BIOTECHNOLOGY TIMELINE

15 Prior to 500 BC______ A. Pasteur proves yeast is a living organism.

16 500 BC______ I. Bread/cheese is made by fermentation.
17 1855________ B. Penicillin is the first widely used antibiotic.
18 1890________ G. Genentech becomes the first biotech company on the stock market.
19 1904________ C. Dangr sequences insulin from spam/pork.
20 1918________ H. Ammonia synthesis is discovered.
21 1956________ D. Flavr Savr tomato is sold to the public.
22 1978________ F. Rayon is discovered as a natural alternative to silk.
23 1993________ E. The Chinese use moldy tofu to treat boils.

24. When did the word biotechnology first appear in print?

25. What is the definition of the prefix bio?

26. What is the name of the billionaire who is the owner of the North Carolina Research Campus?

27. When microbes are grown so that their amino acids can be used to produce a product such as Equal®
sweetner it is an example of:

28. Genetically altered crops that can grow in exceptionally dry or wet, hot or cold climates are an example
of:

29. In which decade was DNA discovered?

30. Microbes that can clean up waste water before it enters streams and lakes are an example of:

31. Flu vaccine in the form of a nasal spray is an example of:

32. During what decade was Research Triangle Park developed?

33. Upon which industries was North Carolina’s economy based in the past?
34. What is North Carolina’s current ranking in the United States for biotechnology?

35. Which product of yeast metabolism caused the balloon to inflate during our lab?

36. What is the name of the metabolic process that yeast go through to produce their by-products?

37. What are the products of yeast metabolism?

38. What is the name of the billionaire who is the owner of the North Carolina Research Campus?

39. What is the name of the person who first coined the term biotechnology?

40. To prepare for a job in the biotechnology field, it is important to take science and biotechnology classes,
but you should also take which kinds of classes?