Opening remarks SIVB congress 2001: Opportunities and challenges in plant biotechnology

Summary U.S. Senator Christopher Bond joined Dr. Roger Beachy at the podium during the Society for In Vitro Biology’s 2001 Congress Plenary Session on Opportunities and Challenges in Plant Biotechnology to Benefit Health and Sustainability, on June 17, 2001, in St. Louis, Missouri. Senator Bond presented an advocate’s view regarding the benefits of plant biotechnology development. The strengths of the biotechnology regulatory system were extolled. The opportunities of this new technology to produce more and nutritionally superior food, additional plant-based medicines and vaccines, plant-based renewable sources of energy, and renewable industrial products were outlined. The benefits to the environment by adopting plant biotechnological innovations were discussed. Developing public policy regarding this new technology should be based on facts, science, and reason.     

Plant biotechnology in South Africa: Micropropagation research endeavours, prospects and challenges

Research in plant biotechnology is playing a crucial role in the production and conservation of plant-based resources globally. Being a country with rich and diverse floral resources, South Africa has a genuine opportunity to develop efficient and competitive plant biotechnology sectors. South Africa has a policy framework, in the form of a National Biotechnology Strategy that supports biotechnology research. The presence of competitive research infrastructure coupled with the government's willingness to commit significant resources will certainly help realise this. South Africa's plant biotechnology research has potential to make more significant contributions to the national economy. In this review, whilst highlighting the success, the research endeavours, prospects and challenges hindering the practical application of micropropagation research outputs are discussed.     

Renewable resources in the chemical industry – Breaking away from oil?

Rising prices for fossil-based raw materials suggest that sooner or later renewable raw materials will, in principle, become economically viable. This paper examines this widespread paradigm. Price linkages like those seen for decades particularly in connection with petrochemical raw materials are now increasingly affecting renewable raw materials. The main driving force is the competing utilisation as an energy source because both fossil-based and renewable raw materials are used primarily for heat, electrical power and mobility. As a result, prices are determined by energy utilisation. Simple observations show how prices for renewable carbon sources are becoming linked to the crude oil price. Whether the application calls for sugar, starch, virgin oils or lignocellulose, the price for the raw material rises with the oil price. Consequently, expectations regarding price trends for fossil-based energy sources can also be utilised for the valuation of alternative processes. However, this seriously calls into question the assumption that a rising crude oil price will favour the economic viability of alternative products and processes based on renewable raw materials. Conversely, it follows that these products and processes must demonstrate economic viability today. Especially in connection with new approaches in white biotechnology, it is evident that, under realistic assumptions, particularly in terms of achievable yields and the optimisation potential of the underlying processes, the route to utilisation is economically viable. This makes the paradigm mentioned at the outset at least very questionable.     

Chemicals from biotechnology: molecular plant genetics will challenge the chemical and the fermentation industry

 Industrial biotechnology has evolved as a significant manufacturing tool for products like fuel-grade ethanol, organic acids and bulk amino acids, but most items are still speciality products for food and pharmaceutical applications. Current development projects within the chemical industry, including lactic acid and 1,3-propanediol based polymers and plastics, indicate that new biotechnological processes and products may soon approach the market place, clearly targeted at the leading petrochemical bulk outlets. This is flanked by a strategic shift by the major chemical companies in to “life sciences”–pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals and the seed business as well as biotech fine chemicals. The recent tremendous achievements in molecular plant genetics and transgenic crop breeding will boost agro-biotechnology, agriculture and renewable raw materials as compelling projects for chemistry and biotechnology. New plant-based production routes may challenge established chemical and biochemical domains, but at the same time open new horizons to valuable feedstocks, intermediates and end-products. Received: 16 October 1998 / Received revision: 3 December 1998 / Accepted: 5 December 1998     

生物技术的两用性及其监控措施

生物技术像一把双刃剑,它在给人类带来巨大利益的同时,也带来了消极隐患。隐患之一是如果先进的生物技术被恶意缪用或误用,就有可能产生给人类健康和社会发展带来巨大威胁的新的危险病原体。这些病原体有可能被用于发展生物武器和生物恐怖活动。本文简要介绍了近年来生物技术被恶意使用或误用的几个事例,分析了国内外生物技术两用性监控措施的现状和发展态势,提出了进一步加强生物技术监控时应思考的重要问题。     

Detection of an Abundant Plant-Based Small RNA in Healthy Consumers

The mechanisms of delivery of plant small RNAs to consumers must be investigated in order to harness this technology to positively impact biotechnology. Two groups have used honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) feeding regimes to detect a plant-based small RNA, termed MIR2911, in sera. Meanwhile, numerous groups have failed to detect dietary plant-based small RNAs in consumers. Here we catalog levels of MIR2911 in different herbs, and suggest that in particular herb MIR2911 levels are elevated. Feeding these different herb-based diets to mice, we found MIR2911 levels in the sera and urine were associated with dietary intake levels. Abundance was not the sole determinate of apparent RNA bioavailability, as gavage-feeding large-doses of synthetic MIR2911 permitted only small transient increases in serum levels. Dietary MIR2911 were not modified in circulation by association with the host’s RNA-induced silencing complex, as the RNA did not co-immunoprecipitate with AGO2. The stability of dietary MIR2911 in circulation differed from synthesized small RNAs, as tail vein administration of various synthetic plant-based small RNAs resulted in rapid clearance. However, synthetic MIR2911 appeared to be more stable than the other plant miRNAs tested. Notably, this uptake of dietary MIR2911 was not related to perturbations in the host’s microbiome or gut permeability. We suggest dietary uptake of MIR2911 is commonplace in healthy consumers, and reproducible detection of plant-based small RNAs in consumers depends on dietary abundance, RNA stability and digestion from within the food-matrix.     

Novel and Transgenic Food Crops: Overview of Scientific Versus Public Perception

Recombinant DNA technology offers opportunities to develop new products in many different fields, including agriculture and the agro-food area. Transgenic plants with improved agronomic traits currently grow in field trials and a few varieties have already reached the European market. By and large, new technologies raise both concerns and expectations and modern biotechnology is no exception. Indeed, a voluntary moratorium on experiments involving recombinant DNA molecules was called for in 1974. At the present time, although a majority of academic and industrial scientists agree that transgenic food crops pose no risk for the environment or human health, some others believe that certain applications of modern plant biotechnology are hazardous. In particular, deliberate releases of genetically modified plants are regarded as risky. There is also a disparity between expert and lay perception of r-DNA technology applications to food crops, which makes public information a difficult task. This paper aims at exposing these conflicting points of view on the agricultural applications of modern biotechnology. We also propose some recommendations pertaining to public information in Europe. It appears that consensus conferences might be a good approach to stimulate public information and public debate in Europe, although this approach has to be adapted to the cultural context of each country.     

植物基因克隆技术研究进展

随着分子生物学的发展,基因克隆技术已普及.主要介绍了定位克隆技术、转座子标签技术等8种植物基因克隆的方法,对各种方法的原理、应用及研究进展进行了阐述.     

Constraints on the development of biotechnology in Zambia

Biotechnology can play an essential role in fostering the economic and social development of developing countries like Zambia. However, due to a number of constraints, Zambia is not in a position to exploit the emerging opportunities from biotechnology. Prominent among these constraints are the lack of a biotechnology policy, an insufficient number of trained personnel, a poor science and technology base and very little basic research in universities and research institutions. The challenge Zambia must overcome is to establish a capacity and capability to innovate its own biotechnology as well as to adapt biotechnologies developed elsewhere to the Zambian conditions and environment. Despite all the hurdles and setbacks Zambia will face as she endeavours to enter the world of biotechnology, Zambia cannot afford to be a mere spectator as the rest of the world invests and benefits from the promise of biotechnology.The authors are with the Food Technology Research Unit, National Council for Scientific Research, Box 310158 Lusaka, Zambia     

工业微生物解脂耶氏酵母及其应用研究*

解脂耶氏酵母是一种可利用多种底物发酵生产多种产品的非常规酵母,环境适应性强、易培养、安全性高。因此,该物种作为一种新型的生物工程菌株引起了科学界的广泛关注。近年来,工业生物技术因绿色、循环、低碳等优势成为新兴工业技术,在国内外得到了快速发展。介绍了解脂耶氏酵母的特征及其代谢生产各类化合物的方法,并通过对工业生物技术与传统化学化工技术的比较分析,阐述了工业生物技术的特点、研究现状及应用前景。     

Public perceptions of biotechnology

The very term ‘Biotechnology’ elicits a range of emotions, from wonder and awe to downright fear and hostility. This is especially true among non-scientists, particularly in respect of agricultural and food biotechnology. These emotions indicate just how poorly understood agricultural biotechnology is and the need for accurate, dispassionate information in the public sphere to allow a rational public debate on the actual, as opposed to the perceived, risks and benefits of agricultural biotechnology. This review considers first the current state of public knowledge on agricultural biotechnology, and then explores some of the popular misperceptions and logical inconsistencies in both Europe and North America. I then consider the problem of widespread scientific illiteracy, and the role of the popular media in instilling and perpetuating misperceptions. The impact of inappropriate efforts to provide ‘balance’ in a news story, and of belief systems and faith also impinges on public scientific illiteracy. Getting away from the abstract, we explore a more concrete example of the contrasting approach to agricultural biotechnology adoption between Europe and North America, in considering divergent approaches to enabling coexistence in farming practices. I then question who benefits from agricultural biotechnology. Is it only the big companies, or is it society at large – and the environment-also deriving some benefit? Finally, a crucial aspect in such a technologically complex issue, ordinary and intelligent non-scientifically trained consumers cannot be expected to learn the intricacies of the technology to enable a personal choice to support or reject biotechnology products. The only reasonable and pragmatic alternative is to place trust in someone to provide honest advice. But who, working in the public interest, is best suited to provide informed and accessible, but objective, advice to wary consumers?     

2001年度NSFC资助的医药生物技术与生物技术药物研究项目简析

总结了2001年度获得国家自然科学基金资助的医药生物技术与生物技术药物领域项目的基本情况,分析了其主要研究方向、特点,提出加强医药生物技术与生物技术药物基础研究的建议。     

白腐真菌生物技术降解氯酚污染物

生物降解是降解氯酚污染物的一条重要的转化途径,白腐真菌是一种高效的生物降解菌种,应用白腐真菌生物技术降解具有毒性和抗降解性的氯酚具有重要意义。本文阐述了白腐菌降解氯酚类污染物的途径,阐述了白腐真菌技术,主要包括酶技术、固定化技术、真菌强化技术、堆肥化和生物反应器等在氯酚污染环境治理中的应用,并概述了近几年白腐菌降解氯酚的研究热点和白腐真菌生物技术的应用趋势。     

细胞电穿孔与电融合的机理及应用

近十余年来,由于细胞生物学家、分子生物学家、免疫学家与物理学家之间在学术上的相互渗透、共同实验,已经开辟出一个生物物理技术的新领域．它既涉及细胞电磁场效应及其机理的基础研究;同时作为一种新的生物技术,又涉及对分子生物学、细胞生物学、免疫医学以及医药、食品、农业等方面的广泛应用．文章综述了本领域的最近进展．     

冲击生物技术第三次浪潮

工业生物催化是继医药、农业之后的生物技术第三次浪潮。从21世纪化学工业发展的前沿特点,介绍生物催化加工过程及生产方式,主要解决传统产业改造和新的应用领域的开拓,提出发展生物催化产业的策略和加强支持力度的建设。     

空间生物技术研究与应用动态

由于空间生物技术潜在重大社会和经济效益。加强探索空间生物技术的发展。目前已经成为空间科学技术发展的重点之一。我国的空间技术在系列应用卫星成功发展的基础上,已将进入到更先进的载人飞船阶段。我国的科技人员将会有更多的机会,更好的条件在空间开展生物技术的研究。以促进其发展和应用,造福于人类,本文简要地介绍了空间发展生物技术的优越性。空间生物技术发展的热点和趋势,以及空间生物技术硬件发展的动态。     

Life sciences and biotechnology in China

Life science and biotechnology have become a top priority in research and development in many countries as the world marches into the new century. China as a developing country with a 1.3 billion population and booming economy is actively meeting the challenge of a new era in this area of research. Owing to support from the government and the scientific community, and reform to improve the infrastructure, recent years have witnessed a rapid progress in some important fields of life science and biotechnology in China, such as genomics and protein sciences, neuroscience, systematics, super-hybrid rice research, stem cell and cloning technology, gene therapy and drug/vaccine development. The planned expansion and development of innovation in related sectors and the area of bioethics are described and discussed.     

Ecological Risk Assessment and Regulation for Genetically-Modified Ornamental Plants

Classic plant breeding has increased the beauty and utility of ornamental plants, but biotechnology can offer completely new traits for plants used in homes and gardens. The creation of blue petal color in carnations and roses are examples where biotechnology has created novelty that conventional hybridization cannot match. However, all innovations have benefits and risks, and future commercialization of transgenic ornamental plants raises complex questions about potential negative impacts to managed landscapes and natural ecosystems. Predictive ecological risk assessment is a process that uses current knowledge to estimate future environmental harms or benefits arising from direct or indirect exposure to a genetically-modified (GM) plant, its genes, or gene products. This article considers GM ornamental plants in the context of current ecological risk assessment principles, research results, and current regulatory frameworks. The use of ecological risk assessment by government agencies to support decision-making is reviewed in the context of ornamental plants. Government risk assessments have usually emphasized the potential for pollen-mediated gene flow, weediness in managed areas, invasion of natural areas, and direct harm to nontarget organisms. Some of the major challenges for predictive risk assessment include characterizing gene flow over time and space, plant fitness in changing environments, and impacts to nontarget organisms, communities and ecosystems. The lack of baseline information about the ecology and biodiversity of urban areas, gardens, and natural ecosystems limits the ability to predict potential hazards, identify exposure pathways, and design hypothesis-driven research. The legacy of introduced ornamental plants as invasive species generates special concern about future invasions, especially for GM plants that exhibit increased stress tolerance or adaptability. While ecological risk assessments are a valuable tool and have helped harmonize regulation of GM plants, they do not define the acceptable level of risk or uncertainty. That responsibility belongs to regulators, stakeholders and citizens.     

“生物工程设备”国家一流本科课程建设与实践

生物技术产业是我国战略新兴产业,近年来发展极为迅速,对实践创新型人才需求极大。作为生物工程专业核心课程,“生物工程设备”在生物技术产业实践创新型人才培养中具有重要意义。本课程针对当前课程教学中的设备可及性低、工程实训机会少和学生学习缺乏主动性等痛点,以设备资源和素材库建设、虚实结合工程实训、学生学习积极性调动为抓手,构建“育德、育智、育能(实践创新能力)、对接社会发展新需求、融入学科前沿新进展、引入科研实践新成果(三育三新)”教学内容,创新教学方式和优化考核评价,通过课内外联动-校内外联动、引入前沿进展及科研成果、多样化资源集成、线上线下结合等手段,提高学生的主动性和创新能力,以达到“三会一能”。通过教学探索和实践,提高了课程教学的有效性,学生实践创新能力显著提升。