Biotech Biotech Applications in Applications in

Livestock Livestock ProductionProduction

BiotechnologyBiotechnologyDefinitionDefinition

The science of altering The science of altering genetic and reproductive genetic and reproductive processes in plants and processes in plants and animalsanimals

Two areasTwo areasGenetic engineeringGenetic engineeringReproductive systemsReproductive systems

Genetic Genetic EngineeringEngineering

is based on a technology is based on a technology involving recombinant involving recombinant DNADNA

Deoxyribonucleic acidDeoxyribonucleic acid

Genetic Genetic EngineeringEngineering

involves taking a tiny bit involves taking a tiny bit of DNA containing the of DNA containing the desired gene from one desired gene from one organism and splicing it organism and splicing it into the DNA strand of into the DNA strand of another organismanother organism

Genetic Genetic EngineeringEngineering

purpose - to have the purpose - to have the recipient organism take recipient organism take on the characteristic on the characteristic controlled by the controlled by the transferred genetransferred gene

Genetic Genetic EngineeringEngineering

ExamplesExamplesdisease resistant animalsdisease resistant animalsgrowth regulatorsgrowth regulators

BST & PSTBST & PSTnew drugs and vaccinesnew drugs and vaccines Identification / parentage Identification / parentage

testingtesting

ExamplesExamplesspecify size and sex of specify size and sex of

animalsanimalsDNA-based genetic DNA-based genetic

evaluationevaluationorganism that “eats” oil organism that “eats” oil

used in the Persian Gulfused in the Persian Gulf

ExamplesExamplesWhat are we going to What are we going to look at?look at?BSTBSTPSTPSTCloningCloningSemen SexingSemen Sexing

BSTBSTBovine Somatotropin Bovine Somatotropin (Bovine Growth Hormone)(Bovine Growth Hormone)

Somatotropins are proteins Somatotropins are proteins that affect the utilization of that affect the utilization of energy in the bodyenergy in the body

Mainly used in the dairy Mainly used in the dairy industryindustry

BSTBSTIntroduced in the early Introduced in the early 1980’s and tested on 1980’s and tested on over 20,000 cowsover 20,000 cows

Finally Approved on Finally Approved on November 5, 1993November 5, 1993

BSTBSTcauses energy derived causes energy derived from feed to be used for from feed to be used for milk production rather milk production rather than weight gainthan weight gain

BSTBSTdoes not reduce energy does not reduce energy

available for body available for body maintenancemaintenance

increases energy available increases energy available by improving breakdown of by improving breakdown of fat and increasing appetitefat and increasing appetite

BSTBSTSmall amounts of BST Small amounts of BST are produced naturally are produced naturally in the cow by the in the cow by the pituitary glandpituitary gland

BSTBSTPreviously, the only source Previously, the only source of BST for research has been of BST for research has been from pituitary glands of dead from pituitary glands of dead cowscows

Now, because of genetic Now, because of genetic engineering, large quantities engineering, large quantities of BST can be producedof BST can be produced

BSTBSTGene that controls BST Gene that controls BST production is spliced production is spliced into the DNA of a into the DNA of a bacteria “bacteria “AgrobacteriaAgrobacteria””

Is injected into a cowIs injected into a cow

BSTBSTcausing increased BST causing increased BST production in the cowproduction in the cow

BSTBSTresearch at the University research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and of Wisconsin-Madison and Cornell University in New Cornell University in New York has showed possible York has showed possible increases of 40% over increases of 40% over lactation (305 days)lactation (305 days)

FormulaFormula20,000# X 40% = 20,000# X 40% = 8000# of extra milk8000# of extra milk

8000# @ $10/cwt 8000# @ $10/cwt =$800=$800

Porcine Porcine SomatotropinSomatotropin

is produced naturally by is produced naturally by the pituitary gland of the pituitary gland of the pigthe pig

it acts as a growth it acts as a growth regulatorregulator

PSTPSTproduction decreases as production decreases as an animal maturesan animal matures

PSTPSTproduced through rDNA produced through rDNA technologytechnology

PSTPSThow it workshow it worksA. causes an increase in A. causes an increase in cell division in muscle cell division in muscle tissue.tissue.

PSTPSTB. causes decrease in fat B. causes decrease in fat storage and increases in storage and increases in accumulation of protein. accumulation of protein.

C. improves feed C. improves feed efficiency and decrease efficiency and decrease fat depositionfat deposition

ResultsResultsA. increase in feed A. increase in feed efficiency 29%efficiency 29%

B. increase daily gain 19%B. increase daily gain 19%C. increase loin eye area C. increase loin eye area 12%12%

D. decreases fat 33%D. decreases fat 33%

DisadvantageDisadvantageLabor and costLabor and costMust be injected dailyMust be injected daily

CloningCloningCloning is the process of Cloning is the process of making a identical making a identical duplicate of one duplicate of one individual.individual.

CloningCloningVery controversialVery controversial

Ethical?Ethical?Personal Opinions?Personal Opinions?

CloningCloningDiscovered by accident Discovered by accident while doing research on while doing research on fertility in human embryos fertility in human embryos in 1993in 1993

Animals had been Animals had been previously cloned during previously cloned during embryonic research in 1986embryonic research in 1986

Cloning Cloning Gene Dolly

CloningCloningAnimals have been cloned Animals have been cloned

and threatening to use in and threatening to use in humans.humans.

Involves taking DNA and Involves taking DNA and reproducing an reproducing an animal/human from one animal/human from one sample of DNA.sample of DNA.

CloningCloningStarted in Lab rats and Started in Lab rats and then moved to sheepthen moved to sheep

““Dolly” “Gene”Dolly” “Gene”Life expectancy is Life expectancy is uncertainuncertain

CloningCloningAdvantages (when works)Advantages (when works)

Maintain Superior AnimalMaintain Superior AnimalSave endangered speciesSave endangered speciesMaximize profitsMaximize profitsKnow what kind of animal Know what kind of animal you are going to getyou are going to get

CloningCloningDisadvantagesDisadvantages

Life expectancyLife expectancyMoral concernsMoral concerns

Idea that we are going to Idea that we are going to create 100 Abraham Lincoln’screate 100 Abraham Lincoln’s

Little research due to Little research due to regulationsregulations

CloningCloningSo…where are we going So…where are we going with cloning?with cloning?

CloningCloningFactory FarmingFactory Farming

Attempt to clone large Attempt to clone large group of chickensgroup of chickensAugust 15, 2001August 15, 2001

CloningCloning““Billions of clones could Billions of clones could be produced each year be produced each year to supply chicken farms to supply chicken farms with birds that all grow with birds that all grow at the same rate, have at the same rate, have the same amount of the same amount of meat and taste the meat and taste the same'' same''

CloningCloningFutureFuture

Government regulations Government regulations are restrictiveare restrictive

Not very promisingNot very promisingPersonal OpinionsPersonal Opinions

Semen Sexing Semen Sexing Determining sex of animal Determining sex of animal

before animal is bornbefore animal is bornWork with X and Y Work with X and Y

chromosomechromosome

Semen Sexing Semen Sexing Two waysTwo waysA. EA. Extract one cell from xtract one cell from an early embryonic an early embryonic stage and with the use stage and with the use of a DNA probe, one can of a DNA probe, one can determine the sexdetermine the sex

Semen Sexing Semen Sexing B. sorting of semen, one B. sorting of semen, one

sperm at a time, into sperm at a time, into males and femalesmales and femalesdetecting by laser beamdetecting by laser beam

X sperm glows brighterX sperm glows brighter

Semen Sexing Semen Sexing AdvantagesAdvantages

Can eliminate unwanted sexCan eliminate unwanted sexMaternal over TerminalMaternal over Terminal

Females vs. MalesFemales vs. Males

Semen Sexing Semen Sexing DisadvantagesDisadvantages

CostCostLabor Labor Limited SourcesLimited SourcesAccuracyAccuracy

Genetic Genetic EngineeringEngineering

Questions on genetic Questions on genetic engineering?engineering?BSTBSTPST PST CloningCloningSemen SexingSemen Sexing