ANTHROPOLOGY OF

BIOLOGY
INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of this topic, you should be able to:
 1. Describe the science and technology behind
genomics, biotechnology, and synthetic biology
and their significance in society.

 2. Explain the role of humans in relation to the

wide-spread technological advancements in the
field of Biology in the 21st century.
INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES

 3. Evaluate the social impact and ethical

concerns of genomics, biotechnology, and
synthetic biology in terms of sustainable
development, quality of life, health, economics,
and political spheres.
CONTENT STANDARDS

Also, later on, you should be able to:

 Demonstrate understanding of the
relationship between human
“nature” and “nurture”.
ANTHROPOLOGY OF BIOLOGY

 Ever wonder why

BIOLOGY is
recognized as the
“Science of the 21st
century”?
 What is your idea
about “Anthropology
of Biology”
ANTHROPOLOGY OF BIOLOGY
 HUMAN
INTERVENTION
AND
MANIPULATION OF
LIFE at the
molecular level.
 Referring to what
specific molecule?
 Why this
molecule?
 How?
Biological technologies that could
shape society
 Genomics & proteomics
 Biotechnology including cloning, genetic
engineering, CRISPR
 Synthetic Biology

But before you proceed, let us review the central

dogma of biology and the genetic code table.
Central Dogma of Biology

What is DNA, RNA, and a protein molecule?

What is DNA replication? What is the purpose of this process?
What is transcription? What is the significance of this process?
What is Translation? What is the significance of this process?
Please review these basic biological concepts.
Why A-T/U and C-G pairing always?
Do you know how to use this table? Please review if you have
forgotten your basic Biology.
Review of the central dogma & genetic
code
For your review, answer the following guide
questions:
1. In
the preceding slide, what are these letters
represent U C A G?
2. Howabout the three letter codes like UAA,
AUG, etc?
3. How about the word “ stop”, and the symbols
Phe, Ser, Ala, Met, etc?
Exercises : Formulate the RNA from the given DNA
template

1) 3’ TAC GGC CTA ACG CCA ATG ACG GGC 5’

5’ AUG CCG GAU UGC GGU UAC UGC CCG 3’
2) 3’ TAC GAT ACT GGA CCA CAT CAG CAG 5’
5’ AUG CUA UGA CCU GGU GUA GUC GUC 3’
3) 3’ GGC CGT TAG CGA CAG CGT CCT CTG 5’
5’ CCG GCA AUC GCU GUC GCA GGA GAC 3’
4) 3’ GGA CGA CGT CTT TTA CTA GAT TCC 5’
5’ CCU GCU GCA GAA AAU GAU CUA AGG 3’
Exercises: Synthesize the peptide coded for by the
given DNA strand
1) DNA: 3’ TAC GGC CTA ACG CCA ATG ACG GGC 5’
mRNA: AUG CCG GAU UGC GGU UAC UGC CCG
Peptide: Met – Pro – Asp – Cys – Gly – Tyr – Cys - Pro
2) DNA: 3’ TAC GAT ACT GGA CCA CAT CAG CAG 5’
mRNA: AUG CUA UGA CCU GGU GUA GUC GUC
Peptide: Met – Leu - Stop
3) DNA: 3’ GGA CAG GAT TAC CCA TAC GGC CGT 5’
mRNA: CCU GUC CUA AUG GGU AUG CCG GCA
Peptide: Pro – Val – Leu – Met – Gly – Met – Pro - Ala
4) DNA: 3’CGT TAG GCC CGA CAT CTT TTA CTA 5’
mRNA: GCA AUC CGG GCU GUA GAA AAU GAU
Peptide: Ala – Ile – Arg – Ala – Val – Glu – Asn - Asp
Finished reviewing the concepts?
 At this point, I presumed that you have
already reviewed these basic concepts
because you are about to apply this
knowledge on the premise of human
manipulation of the DNA molecule in
genomics & proteomics, biotechnology,
and synthetic biology.
 GENOMICS AND PROTEOMICS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmgIClg0Y1k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXamRS85hXU 3. Whole Genome Sequencing
 Gene Structure

Mature mRNA
Review Questions for Genomics & Proteomics
 Differentiate genomics from proteomics.
 Obviously, the word genomics was derived from the word “gene”,
and proteomics from protein.
 What are genes and their relationship with the protein
molecule?
 If you cannot figure out the answer to this question, go back to the
basic concept.
 What are the techniques done in genomics? How is it connected
with the human genome project?
 How would this technology improve human lives? Are we using
this technology in the Philippines to improve our lives?
 How would this technology address problems in human health
and the environment?
 Biotechnology
 Letus now proceed1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnkH
mwTKksQ
to biotechnology
2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8Py
 Anyidea what AQ9bAPk
biotechnology or 3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dN4p
biotech is all hgsnt4s
about? 4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMDi
RKootnI
 Please watch these 5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hp-
videos vqd8zJM4
Biotechnology via gene cloning
Gene Cloning simplified
BIOTECHNOLOGY
(Chapter 9- STS book- McNamara,SJ et al.)
 The Biodiversity International has released a module
titled ”Law and PoIicy of relevance to the management
of plant genetic resources” (Bragdon et al., 2005) which
aims to help professionals in:
 Managing,
 Conserving, and
 Using plant genetic resources for food and agriculture
 The module provides the following
definitions:
 1. Biotechnology uses biological systems, living
organisms, or derivatives thereof, to make or
modify products or processes for a specific use.

 2. Genetic engineering is a technique that

allows genes and DNA to be transferred from
one source to another.
 It leads to the production of living modified
organisms (LMOs) or genetically modified
organisms (GMOs) or obtaining a better
understanding of the structure and function of
genes in living organisms.

 3. Modern biotechnology gives scientists

molecular tools for obtaining a better
understanding of the structure and function of
genes in living organisms.
AIMS OF MODERN BIOTECHNOLOGY:
 Develop new precision tools and diagnostics;

 Speed up breeding gains and efficiency;

 Develop pest- and disease-resistant crops;

 Combat salinity, drought, and problems of

agriculture;
 Enhance the nutritional quality of food;

 Increase crop varieties and choice;

 Reduce inputs and production costs; and

 Increase profits (Bragdon et al., 2005)

Biotech: C.R.I.S.P.R. technology
 Means Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic
Repeats
 You have to explain how does this technology works. The link
below will assist you in this task.
http://theconversation.com/what-is-crispr-gene-editing-and-
how-does-it-work-84591
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAhjPd4uNFY

This is one of the latest biotech procedures. What are your

insights pertaining to this technology? Regarding “designer
babies”, are we changing the course of human evolution
toward perfection and immortality, or would this be the start
of our extinction? What do you think?
Designer babies

 In the next two slides, these are the other

technologies that will make the “designer
babies” futuristic goal a realization.
 Is this kind of technology ethical?
 What will be its implication to society in terms
of the citizens’ clashing beliefs on Darwinian
evolution, creationsism, and intelligent design?
Synthetic Biology

Any idea what synthetic

biology is all about?
This web-link will give you a
clue. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rD5uNAMbDaQ
Synthetic Biology
Watch this short video about the social implications of
synthetic biology.
“Synthetic biology - what should we be vibrating about?:
Drew Endy at TEDxStanford”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rf5tTe_i7aA

If you are still interested to watch what is the future of

synthetic biology, you can access this link:
“It's Alive, But Is It Life: Synthetic Biology and the Future
of Creation”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rU_pfCtSWF4
SUGGESTED READINGS:
 Bragdon, S.,C. Fowler, Z. Franca and E. Goldberg (eds.) 2005. Law and policy
of relevance to the management of plant genetic resources. Learning module
with review of regional policy instruments, developments and trends (2nd
ed.). Produced by the CGIAR System-wide Genetic Resources Programme
(SGRP), International Plant genetic Resources Institute (IPIGRI), and the
International Food Policy research Institute (IFPRI). Rome, Italy: IPIGRI

 James, C. (2003). Preview: Global status of commercialized transgenic

crops:2003. Available from
https://www.isaaa.org/resources/publications/briefs/30/download/isaaa-
brief-30-2003.pdf
CONCLUSION

 Indeed, Biology is the science of the 21st century.

ASSIGNMENT ON-LINE ACTIVITY:
 Write your reflections on the issue:
 ISSUE: Considering human intervention on the advanced
biological technologies discussed, what will be its implication
to society in terms of the citizens’ clashing beliefs on
Darwinian evolution, creationism, and intelligent design?
 DETAILS:
 Individual submission
 Time Frame: F2F time (softcopy); March 8 (hardcopy)
 FORMAT: Times New Roman; 1.5 spacing; 500 words minimum