Biotechnology and the lawmakers

The author reviews the origins of the public policy debate concerning recombinant DNA technology and Congressional consideration of legislation to regulate recombinant DNA research. He notes especially his successful attempts to urge delay in passing legislation until there was complete evaluation of data — studies that ultimately resulted in noting that potential hazards were not as great as originally conceived. The author comments that strict regulation of recombinant DNA research, as proposed by some legislators, would have inhibited many of the great benefits that society is now receiving from this research. The author then raises a number of questions concerning government regulation and funding priorities on scientific and technological innovation, as well as government practices regarding basic and applied research in industrial and academic laboratories. A major concern of his is the government's ability to assess and manage risk. The author reviews one legislative proposal, which would have established risk analysis demonstration projects, and outlines a number of legislative initiatives that could impact the biotechnology industry and university-based research. He concludes by discussing opportunities for industrial applications of this technology and possible roles for Congress.     

The transfer of knowledge from the Spanish public R&D system to the productive sectors in the field of Biotechnology

To determine the capability and resources of the Spanish R & D system to produce knowledge useful for the Biotechnology industries, an analysis of indicators derived from published work, scientific papers cited in US patents and inventions patented, has been carried out. The results show that the number of publications compares well with that of other European countries. The visibility of those publications seems evident as about two thirds of the authors studied have been cited in patents assigned to foreign enterprises, but very few of them have applied for patents. This is analysed in connection with the existing policies.     

The Department of Defense and Biotechnology

Thomas R. Dashiell, who is Director of the Office of Environmental and Life Sciences in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, describes the respective roles of the Departments of Defense, State and Commerce in developing and implementing export controls and related policies. The Militarily Critical Technologies List (MCTL) serves as the basic building block of Defense's program for assisting in the development of export controls. Current policy considerations by the Defense Department focus on the biotechnology sections of the MCTL that will serve as the basis for consideration of export controls for biotechnology products and processes. Mr. Dashiell concludes by calling for industrial advice to Defense in the development of the policies for control of biotechnology products and processes that have significant potential for enhancing the national security of the United States and its allies.     

生物技术与苜蓿品质改良

通过对世界上重要牧草作物－－苜蓿品质改良中有关抗膨胀苜蓿研究发展状况及存在问题的分析，提出了利用生物技术手段解决抗膨胀问题的关键－实现合成单宁的基础的适量表达这一观点，并结合我国草地资源及其利用，草地畜牧业的发展和生态环境脆弱等状况，阐述了实施苜蓿品质改良具有经济效益和生态效益的双重意义。     

Biotechnology in gold processing

The applicability of a biotechnological approach for extracting gold from lean grade and refractory ores and from tailings is analysed. Microbiological as well as physicochemical characteristics of various leaching bacteria are outlined. Technological aspects of bioleaching of refractory gold-bearing concentrates in specially designed bioreactors are illustrated with emphasis on control parameters and use of metal and temperature-tolerant strains. Commercial operations prevalent across the world are detailed and the relevance of biomineral technology for augmentation of gold production in India brought out.     

Innovation and Structural Change in Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology

The pharmaceutical industry has long been one of the most innovativeindustries and, unlike industries such as computers and aircraft,has remained relatively unconcentrated. In recent years, however,there have been contrasting industry developments that couldhave far-reaching, long-run effects on the industry's structure.This paper examines the impact of the entry of new biotechnologyfirms, the increasing real cost of innovation, and the recentimportant mergers among leading firms. Also, a regression analysisreveals disproportionately high innovative contributions fromboth new biotechnology firms and the very largest multinationalpharmaceutical firms.     

Biotechnology profile analysis in Colombia

It is widely accepted that biotechnology is a globally significant and growing research field. Because of its biodiversity, Colombia has a comparative advantage to innovate and commercialize biotechnological products and services. The aim of this study is to obtain a research profile and intellectual structure of the country in the biotechnology field by using bibliometric methods. These methods are needed to monitor the capacities and the compliance of national policies in biotechnology. By using records extracted from the ISI WoK database, this study describes the biotechnology publication trend, productivity and collaboration among institutions and countries, preferred journals, and the intellectual structure at the research subject area. Although, a growing trend in biotechnology publication was observed, the productivity is still low when compared to other countries in the region and the world. On the other hand, researchers seem to show a preference for international over domestic collaboration. The results suggest two elements: first, policy has not had the expected outcome in the short term, and second, a lack of internal collaboration could therefore reflect low endogenous capacities. The bibliometric methods used in this study can be applied to a wide range of research fields other than biotechnology.     

水产生物技术发展战略研究

本文从水产养殖生物基因组测序、遗传连锁图谱绘制、重要经济性状相关分子标记/基因筛选、基因组编辑、基因组选择以及细胞培养与种质冷冻保存等方面综合介绍了水产生物技术的发展现状,并深入分析了水产生物技术研究中存在的主要问题,诸如基因功能分析平台不完善,抗病与性控育种技术研究滞后,基因组编辑与全基因组选择技术刚刚起步等。同时,围绕上述主要问题,提出了水产生物技术亟待突破的关键技术,并建议"十三五"期间设立重点研究计划专项,深入开展水产动物基因组资源开发与利用、重要经济性状遗传解析以及水产生物信息大数据平台构建等。     

Biotechnology research profile of India

Summary The study explores the chronological growth of Indian Biotechnology. Applicability of Lotka's law has been examined for the authorship pattern. Productivity of authors is analyzed and a list of 35 authors publishing more than 10 publications is given. Bradford's law of scattering is used to identify the core journals which cover most of the research and development output of Indian Biotechnology. The study also shows the active authors, institutions and statewise distributions of Indian Biotechnology research output.     

The Biotechnology of Gene Therapy

The prospect for correcting highly morbid or fatal inherited diseases, or ameliorating cancer and acquired, deadly infectious diseases such as AIDS using gene therapy is very exciting. Numerous recent advances in molecular biology make it possible, not only to identify and locate genes associated with human inherited disorders and cancers, but to potentially correct these disorders with functional genes. These advances include more rapid gene identification, isolation and sequencing techniques, a better understanding of the functions and relationships between genes and their products in vivo, the development and study of human and model organism genomes, elucidation of genetic disease pathology using animal genetic disease models, advanced computer amino acid and nucleotide sequencing software and data bases, and the development and use of novel chemical, physical, and viral vector gene delivery methods. Functional genes are introduced using two approaches, ex vivo and in vivo gene therapy. In ex vivo therapy, autologous cells are removed from the patient, genetically altered by inserting the functional gene, characterized, and then returned to the patient; in in vivo therapy, functional genes are packaged for delivery directly into the patient, where cellular uptake and gene expression occurs. Scores of clinical trials have been federally approved to treat patients with a variety of inherited disorders, cancers, and acquired diseases using these two approaches. Roadblocks to long-lasting gene therapy include understanding more completely the biological functions of somatic cells or organs targeted for gene therapy, targeting appropriate host cells and achieving high gene delivery rates in these cells, regulating and sustaining gene expression through optimal DNA insertion into chromosomes such that other cellular functions are not adversely affected, and the prevention of vector-induced diseases or cancers. Ethical considerations regarding proper use of somatic gene therapy and the potential for germline gene therapy must also be seriously considered. me prospect of permanent correction of highly morbid or fatal maladies using gene therapy could prove to be one of the great advances in public health and could revolutionize the identification and gene-drug treatment of a broad spectrum of inherited and acquired human diseases.     

The Biotechnology of Gene Therapy

Abstract

The prospect for correcting highly morbid or fatal inherited diseases, or ameliorating cancer and acquired, deadly infectious diseases such as AIDS using gene therapy is very exciting. Numerous recent advances in molecular biology make it possible, not only to identify and locate genes associated with human inherited disorders and cancers, but to potentially correct these disorders with functional genes. These advances include more rapid gene identification, isolation and sequencing techniques, a better understanding of the functions and relationships between genes and their products in vivo, the development and study of human and model organism genomes, elucidation of genetic disease pathology using animal genetic disease models, advanced computer amino acid and nucleotide sequencing software and data bases, and the development and use of novel chemical, physical, and viral vector gene delivery methods. Functional genes are introduced using two approaches, ex vivo and in vivo gene therapy. In ex vivo therapy, autologous cells are removed from the patient, genetically altered by inserting the functional gene, characterized, and then returned to the patient; in in vivo therapy, functional genes are packaged for delivery directly into the patient, where cellular uptake and gene expression occurs. Scores of clinical trials have been federally approved to treat patients with a variety of inherited disorders, cancers, and acquired diseases using these two approaches. Roadblocks to long-lasting gene therapy include understanding more completely the biological functions of somatic cells or organs targeted for gene therapy, targeting appropriate host cells and achieving high gene delivery rates in these cells, regulating and sustaining gene expression through optimal DNA insertion into chromosomes such that other cellular functions are not adversely affected, and the prevention of vector-induced diseases or cancers. Ethical considerations regarding proper use of somatic gene therapy and the potential for germline gene therapy must also be seriously considered. me prospect of permanent correction of highly morbid or fatal maladies using gene therapy could prove to be one of the great advances in public health and could revolutionize the identification and gene-drug treatment of a broad spectrum of inherited and acquired human diseases.     

Technology transfer: Biotechnology industry perspectives

Gabriel Schmergel is President and Chief Executive Officer of Genetics Institute and also serves as President of the Industrial Biotechnology Association. The importance of foreign capital for equity investments and supporting contract research is cited as crucial to the development of the newer biotechnology firms. The author addresses the potential impact of export controls on the international biotechnology network of people, money, information flow, and markets. He cincludes by noting that the key to industrial leadership is assembling the relevant capital and scientific and managerial talent that can organize the research for developing products.     

生物技术在食品检验中的应用

随着经济社会的发展,人们生活质量的提高,食品质量的安全问题也日益受到人们的关注,而高效准确的食品检验方法是保障食品安全的重要前提,本文详尽的介绍了几种常见且简单高效的生物检测技术在食品检验方法中的应用及研究进展,并进行了较为全面的分析,以供参考。