Biotechnology: reality or dream

Abstract

The development of molecular biology and molecular genetics, especially of the recombinant DNA technology enabled improvement of experimental methods that provide manipulation within a cell-free system, such as cell and tissue cultures. Such methods resulted in the development of different new technologies with specific properties in relation to the conventional definitions. According to PERSLEY and lantin (2000) the following components are essential for the contemporary biotechnology: (i) genomics - a molecular characterization of all genes and gene products of an organism (ii) bioinformatics - the assembly of data from genomic analysis into accessible forms; (iii) transformation - the introduction of genes controlling a trait of interest into a genome of a desired organism (micro organisms, plants, animal systems). By the application of cotemporary biotechnology new methods in the field of diagnostic are developed such as rapid and more accurate identification of the presence and absence of genes in the genome of the organism of interest (identification of pathogens prenatal diagnostics, molecular markers assisted breeding for plants, etc). The traits of an organism are determined by its genetic material, i.e. by a molecule of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). watson and crick (1953) were the first scientists to describe the structure of DNA as a double-stranded helix. Higher organisms contain a set of linear DNA molecules - chromosomes and a full set of chromosomes of an organism is a genome. Each genome is divided into a series of functional units, i.e. genes. The traits of an organism depend on genes, but their expression depends not only on genes but also on many other factors, including whether a gene, controlling the trait, expresses, specific cells in which it expresses and specially the mode by which the gene and its product interact with the environment. A special aspect within the application of biotechnology occurs as an interaction of a foreign gene with a genome of an integrated organism. Also application of biotechnology provides transfer of one or several favorable genes from any evolutionary category into other category of an organism and in such a way it is possible to develop genetically modified organisms (GMO) having expressed desired, target traits. A survey of the application of biotechnology in the world and our country is presented in this paper

Determination of genotoxicity in waters from the region of Tetovo

“…The material was processed according to Tjio & Levan (1950), as well as the standard "squash" method after Battaglia (1955). Chromosome staining was done with hematoxylin after Gomori, according to Konstantinov et al (1985). Ten slides were analyzed for each of the series (30 slides per water sampling collection ), with 1000 analyzed cells per slide.…”

Mitotic index and pollen viability of Helianthus annuus l., after treatment with Pb(NO3)2

“…After fixation, they were transferred in 75% ethanol, for 24 hours. Roots were put for hydrolysis in 0,1N HCL, for 15 minutes on 60 0 C. Staining of the chromosomes is performed with leuco-basic fuchsin (Darlington & La Cour 1962) and Gomori's hematoxylin according to Konstantinov et al (1985).…”

Genetic Improvement: Molecular-Based Strategies

“…The use of recombinant DNA technologies enables the movement of a single or a few genes within or across species boundaries to produce plants with new traits, transgenic plants. Also, it is possible to get rid of an undesirable trait by shutting down the ability of the cell to make the product specified by the gene (Konstantinov et al, 2002;Drinic Mladenovic et al, 2004). The processes involved in developing genetically modified plants are the following: -identification and isolation of the desired gene, -gene cloning, -development of transgenes, -gene transfer and -introduction into breeding processes.…”

“…It is necessary to be acquainted with regulatory mechanisms of gene actions, as well as, with their secondary effects and interactions with other genes. Prior to this, it is necessary to identify an organism containing the desires gene in its genome (Konstantinov et al, 2002). Todorovska et al (2010) has noted that the main limitation of this technology is the availability of preliminary knowledge about the role of a gene in determining a given trait and is, at present, only applicable for traits that are determined by one or a relatively small number of genes.…”