Weekly Reflection

This week, we have discussed historical perspectives of biotechnology, classifications of biotechnology based on its applications, and how biotechnology has revolutionized healthcare, agricultural, and environmental sectors.

Here are some key points for you to review what you have learnt this week. There is no need to answer them all. You could use these to check the gist of this week.

1.What are the two biotechnological pillars discovered in the early to middle 1970s? Use the following web link to identify a recent approval (within 6 months) by the FDA for each technological category. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/CDER/daf/index.cfm?event=report.page

2.Briefly describe the PCR technique and how it has invigorated the biotechnology research.

3.Briefly summarize the gene silencing (RNAi) technique and its initial application in agri-biotechnology, and its later application in the development of cancer therapeutics.

4.What were the four major goals of the Human Genome Project (1990-2003)? According to the estimate from HGP, how many genes every person has?

5.Update the global, US and Taiwan market for the top 10 biologics (inclusive of Biosimilars) as of the current year. Note top10 may be defined differently in different countries.