Grade 8 SSC LECTURE –WORKSHEET 1

Biotechnology, Quarter 3, Week 2-3

TRADITIONAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
Name: _____________________________ Section: ____________________ Score: ______
Learning Competency:
Discuss techniques or practices used in traditional biotechnology (cheese, soy sauce, vinegar
making, nata de coco, etc.)
Subtasks:
1. Explain traditional biotechnology.
2. Recognize the techniques or practices used in traditional biotechnology
3. Discuss the contribution of traditional biotechnology in ancient time.
Key Concept:
What is traditional biotechnology?
Traditional biotechnology refers to a number of ancient ways of using
organisms to make new products or modify existing ones. In its broadest
definition, traditional biotechnology can be traced back to human’s transition from
hunter gatherer to farmer.
A farmer, humans collected wild plants and cultivated them and the best yielding strains
were selected for growing seasons. As humans discovered more plant varieties and trails
or characteristics, they gradually became adept at breeding specific plant varieties
over several years and sometimes generations, to obtain desired traits such as
disease resistance, better taste and higher yield. With the domestication of animals,
ancient farmers applied the same breeding techniques to obtain desired traits among
animals over generations.

Techniques/ practices:
1. Fermentation
uses bacteria or fungi such as yeast to change food. Human beings have been using fermentation
since time immemorial to make a range of goods. In Genesis, we read about Noah getting drunk on
wine for example. This clearly shows that people have been using fermentation over a long time,
traditional uses of fermentation include: Use of yeast to make sorghum beer. Other products of
fermentation include sour porridge), marula beer (buganu) , kimchi, miso, sourdough, kombucha
2. Mushroom Production
is an example of a bioconversion application. Bioconversion refers to the use of microorganisms to
convert organic material such as plant or animal waste, into usable products or energy sources. In
this case, a spawn of a fungus is grown on organic waste to produce the mushrooms. Mushrooms
are a high source of protein and can also be a source of income. The resulting residue can either be
used as animal feed stock or used as a soil conditioner.
3. Traditional Selection
The farmer examines a population of individuals that show variation for a specific trait. From
these, those that meet particular criteria are selected and kept aside to grow a new population
which is then maintained. Traditional varieties of crops and animal species have been developed
based on this method. In plants, characteristics such as size, color, taste etc. have been selected for
giving us the range of varieties of crops such as Bambara groundnuts (tindlubu), cowpea
(tinhlumaya), pumpkin etc. that we know.
4. Traditional breeding and selection
A slightly more advanced application is whereby the breeder selects one or a few individuals as
above but then crosses these with other individuals in order to incorporate a new trait. In the
traditional setting, farmers prefer to mate their cows with large strong bulls in an effort to combine
desirable traits into their own herd.
Plant and animal breeders often combine traits from other varieties, wild relatives in the same or
closely related species using this method. In addition to the gene(s) for the desired trait, other
undesirable genes are also dragged along. It then becomes necessary to invest time in weeding
these out through repeated backcrossing
.
5. Plant tissue culture/in-vitro culture
in this application, bits of plant tissue referred to as the explant are grown in laboratory conditions
on an artificial medium containing hormones and vitamins. The starting material can be
obtained from the leaf, stem, root, buds etc.This offers opportunities for:

1.Reduced contamination of plants,

2.Rapid propagation or multiplication i.e. a large number of plants can be grown from a single
individual starting with little amounts of material
3. Rejuvenation of plants, and,
4. Production of disease free planting material through use of growing tips(apical meristems) which
are also cleaned and treated to eliminate viral diseases.
6. Cloning
is used by scientists to refer to a range of applications in
which copies of a cell or organism are produced from a single
ancestor. Clones are therefore genetically identical
to each other. Cloning can be used to refer to: Production
of a large number of copies DNA or genes, Production of a
large number of genetically identical cells, Production of
genetically identical individuals by asexual reproduction or
artificially. Micro propagation is also a means of cloning. The first
animal to be cloned from adult cells was
Dolly the sheep

Activity No.2: Explain it!!!

Directions: List down and explain briefly the different techniques/practices in traditional biotechnology.
Activity No.3:
Directions: Select only one technique /practice of traditional biotechnology and explain how it helps
the people in ancient times.

EVALUATION: QUIZ 2
Directions: Multiple Choice.
1____________ refers to a number of ancient ways of using organisms to make new products or
modify existing ones.
a. biotechnology b. traditional biotechnology c. modern biotechnology d. b&c
2. _______ also means cloning.
a. traditional breeding b. micropropagation c. genetic engineering d. fermentation
3. It uses fungi to change food.
a. traditional breeding b. micropropagation c. genetic engineering d. fermentation
4. Plant and animal breeders often combine traits from other varieties, wild relatives in the same or
closely related species using this method.
a. traditional breeding b. micropropagation c. genetic engineering d. fermentation
5. It is the production of a large number of copies DNA or genes
a. traditional breeding b. micropropagation c. genetic engineering d. fermentation

ENRICHMENT
Directions. Based on your own experience, briefly explain the significance of traditional
biotechnology in your life.

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All answers should be handwritten

Prepared by :Dr. Amie D. Marmol

Grade 8 SSC LECTURE –WORKSHEET 3

Biotechnology, Quarter 3, Week 2-3
Name: _____________________________ Section: ____________________ Score: ______

Characteristics Traditional Biotech Modern Biotech

Definition Traditional biotech, as the name suggests, refers Modern biotechnology shares the same
to the traditional methods of using living organisms foundation, but it refers to biotechnological
to yield new products or modify foods or other techniques for the manipulation of genetic
useful products for human use. material, cells and living tissues in a
Traditional biotech is based on active techniques controlled environment.
which have great efficiency and accuracy. Modern biotech involves making
products from whole organisms or
parts of organisms.

Method Traditional biotechnology may include the products Recombinant DNA technology is the
of tissue culture, micro-propagation, or various foundation of modern biotechnology.
strategies used to eliminate disease, while modern Modern biotech uses GE techniques, such
biotechnology incorporates a specific focus on as DNA diagnostic probes, recombinant
industrial usage of rDNA, cell fusion and novel DNA, functional and structural genomics
bioprocessing techniques. for genetic modification.
Traditional biotechnology is based on active
techniques which have great efficiency and
accuracy, and are cheaper.
Applications Traditional biotechnology remains the technology Modern biotechnology is applied in
of choice for the most important agronomic traits. medicine and healthcare in therapeutics,
Early examples include breeding animals and mainly for the discovery, development and
crops to make cheese, yoghurt, bread, beer and production of novel drugs, and in
wine. Microorganisms are also used to produce diagnostics, for protein and nucleic acids
various products such as enzymes for use in based tests.
laundry detergents. Biotechnology applications in the
environment focus primarily on using living
organisms to treat waste and prevent
pollution.

Critical Thinking Questions:

1. What are the differences between traditional biotechnology and modern biotechnology?

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2. As a Biotechnology student, what are the varied biotechnology concepts you observed in CHANGE-MAKER
Exhibit? What are the importance of these products to society.
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Note: All answers should be handwritten . ` Prepared by: Dr. AMIE MARMOL