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Showing 13 results for Biotechnology

Najmeh Farmanbar, Aliakbar Haddad-Mashadrizeh, Jafar Hemmat,
Volume 8, Issue 2 (10-2017)
Abstract

Biodiesel as a clean fuel is renewable, biocompatible and free of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons that could be deriving from animals, plants, fungal, algae and bacteria resources. Among these resources, oleaginous fungi due to the high capability to synthesize and accumulation of triacylglycerol are the best source for biodiesel producer. So, in order to providing approaches for increase biodiesel production based on biotechnology, molecular investigation in these organisms could be promising approach, which have been attentioned in this study. In this regard, a precise survey on the related molecular mechanisms led to reveal Malic enzymes as the effective and critical proteins in lipids production and accumulation in oleaginous fungi. Structural characterization of the genes, led to reveal that they are different in the length and GC content as well as they are continuous in the sequence context. Moreover, structural characterization of the enzymes led to determine their localization in the cells, present the functional domains with capability of post-translational modifications in all of them, which are including MAO1_MF, Malic_M and malic. Homologous sequences survey of the enzymes led to introducing fungal species with possible capability for lipid production.structural modeling of the selective malic and malic like enzymes led to provided suitable models in structure and quality in function with binding affinity to malate. In general, the results of this study, while introducing suitable fungal species for securance of biomass, led to reveal effective enzymes with special features that could be useful in tracing the capable strains or transgenesis modification.

Volume 8, Issue 30 (7-2011)
Abstract

  Lycopene is a naturally red carotenoid that can be produced by some plants and microorganisms. It is not provitamin A, but it has 11 conjugated double bounds with high antioxidant activity. The antioxidant activity of lycopene has been extensively evaluated based on its ability to scavenge free radicals. Lycopene is a major carotenoids found in human serum and by virtue of its ability to interact with free radicals can preserve the important cell biomolecules such as DNA, proteins and lipids and it plays a significant role in the prevention of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular, prostate, osteoporosis and gastrointestinal. Tomato and tomato products are the most important sources of lycopene and the increasing consumption of lycopene diets is benefit to human health. Because of high demand for natural carotenoids, the production of kinds of carotenoids from microbial sources has been focused by many researchers. Lycopene has been found in several microorganisms. The production of lycopene could been enhanced by using kinds of media cultures, metabolic stimulators and inhibitors, mutagenic materials, environmental and cultural factors and genetic engineering. This review summarized the information about structure and characteristics of lycopene and it,s role in human health and introduce the some microbial resources of it.
A.a. Ahmadian , S.s. Ghazinoory , F. Saghafi, S.s. Ghazinoori, M. Mohammadi ,
Volume 9, Issue 1 (1-2018)
Abstract

Aims: Emerging sciences and technologies have huge potential in the field of innovation; therefore, they should be protected against large uncertainties caused by unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate biotechnology forecasting innovation pathways based on its convergence with other technologies.
Information and Methods: In this systematic review, by the future-oriented assessment of biotechnology innovation pathways, future biotechnology strategies were developed at the national level. All potential applications of the future innovation pathways of this technology were identified in the combination and convergence with nanotechnologies, information, and cognitive science and technology. The strength and weakness of the effects and barriers in all areas of biotechnology were considered in terms of the short-, mid-, and long-term; in the same timeframe, the barriers to these technologies were identified in the field of combined dual technologies and ultimately for biotechnology itself, and future strategies for biotechnology were proposed based on 4 strategies, including ignorance, investment, exploitation, and opportunism.
Findings: In the field of biotechnology- information technology- in the mid-term, the greatest impact was on improving the quality of human life, improving social outcomes, and increasing the level of innovation, and in the field of biotechnology- nanotechnology and biotechnology- cognitive science on improving the quality of human life, increasing security and defending power, and improving the positive social consequences.
Conclusion: The highest number of applications is the mid-term. The "exploitation" strategy should be used in biotechnology- cognitive science and biotechnology- nanotechnology, respectively. The "investment" strategy should be the most widely used in the common areas of biology with information technology. In the common areas of biotechnology with nanotechnology and cognitive sciences, the most application is the “opportunism" strategy.


Volume 9, Issue 3 (10-2005)
Abstract

The recognition of patentability of biotechnological inventions by the the industrial countries’ patent offices in the last two decades and increasingly growth of the number of patents in this field have caused considerable ethical challenges and controversies, apart from technical difficulties. Some challenges stem from critical views about biotechnology and the environmental effects of genetic manipulations of living organisms and some critics are related to the monopolistic profits of patent holders and limitation of third parties access to the biotechnologies and intensification of trade attitude to the intellectual property rights. However some challenges are especially related to the implications of biotechnological patents, such as commodification of life in general and human genes and his body parts specifically, violation of human dignity and biopiracy and unfair exploitation of the third world genetic resources and traditional knowledge by the patent holders from industrial countries. After reviewig related legal developments and moral considerations in the patent laws and legislations, we will study the approaches of patent offices through the case studies of some famous controversial patents. The morality of inventions has not been considered in patent laws of some countries, such as U.S., but many patent laws, including European Patent Convention, TRIPs agreement and EU Directive on the legal protection of biotechnological inventions, the inventions which are contrary to the morality are excluded from patentable subject matter. However regarding the ambiguous concept of morality and economic benefits of biotechnological invitations and trade competitions in this field, the patent offices taking a utilitarian approach, narrowly interpret such provisions and rarely care the moral objections to the confered patents.
Z. Mohammad Hashemi , S. Ghazinoory , M. Sajadifar, M. Sahebkar Khorasani , A. Moussavi ,
Volume 10, Issue 4 (12-2019)
Abstract

With the approval of the law for supporting knowledge-based firms in 2010, a new wave in Iran's science, technology and innovation system began with a focus on the knowledge based economy and innovation-based. Currently, there are more than 4,000 knowledge-based firms in Iran that nearly 5% of them are active in biotechnology. The aim of the present study is to design an empirical model of the relationship between financial and tax incentives of this law on some of the performance indicators of biotechnology knowledge-based firms. For this purpose, after analyzing the content of related documents and designing the study model, for evaluating the direct and interacting effects between policy tools, identifying the important empirical factors and their level, "23 factorial design" was used. Study target community includes 113 manufacturing knowledge-based firms in the field of biotechnology. The findings of this study on input additionality indicators show the positive effect of the threefold interaction of factors on the R&D expenditure and the positive effects of commercialization financing and technology financing and their interactions on R&D employee. In the present study, there was no relationship between the effectiveness of policy tools on output additionality indicators.

Soode Mirmohamadi, Morteza Soltani, Fereidoun Mahboudi, Meysam Shahbazi,
Volume 13, Issue 2 (1-2023)
Abstract

This study investigates the factors affecting the commercialization of products in medical biotechnology accelerators, it also demonstrates the priority of these factors. The research is applied and descriptive survey. It has been done in two phases, qualitative and quantitative. Based on the general purpose of this study, to provide a framework for the commercialization of products in medical biotechnology accelerators, we interviewed with informed experts. 62 sub-codes were obtained as effective factors in the commercialization of products in medical biotechnology accelerators, which were classified into 5 main dimensions including individual, organizational, industry and competition, institutional and product. These dimensions are presented as a framework. In the quantitative phase, the main dimensions as well as the sub-themes were ranked in the main dimension. Finally, the priority of the main dimensions was as follows: 1. Individual (personality, behavioral and mental characteristics of the mentor and manager) 2. Industry and competition (interaction with pharmaceutical companies as customers, investors, etc.) 3. Organizational (experience of startup teams, codified strategy, R&D, etc.) 4. Product (value added and high-tech) 5. Institutional (government is pragmatic to the country's slogans, interaction with government managers, etc.).
Iman Akbarpour,
Volume 14, Issue 2 (5-2023)
Abstract

Over the past few years, due to the shortage of forest resources as well as the increasing consumption of paper and paperboard, many pulp and paper manufacturers have developed the use of different sources of recycled (secondary) fibers. Therefore, recycling of paper is an effective and eco-friendly way to preserve forest resources, which eventually save the natural diversity and energy. The use of biotechnology in various sectors of the cellulosic products industries such as bio-pulping, bio-bleaching, bio-deinking, bio-wastewater treatment, etc. has been considered and good achievements have been obtained in this field. One of the most important applications of biotechnology in the cellulosic industries is the use of enzymes in the processing of recycled fibers. The use of enzymatic technologies, as environmental friendly process, has led to changes in industrial processes as much as possible and indicated great potential in solving many problems of recycled fibers, especially problems related to waste paper deinking, pulp drainage rate, fiber hornification, refining and stickies materials. In general, deinking with enzymes under acidic or neutral conditions declines the chemicals usage and reduces the yellowing of recycled paper under conventional alkaline deinking conditions. Today, the use of cellulosic enzymes (cellulase and hemicellulase) and oxidative enzymes (such as laccase) as well as amylase and pectinase have shown acceptable results for deinking different types of waste paper and most experiments in semi-industrial as well as industrial units have shown that deinking with them can reduce the cost of chemicals, increase the separation of ink particles

Volume 15, Issue 4 (7-2013)
Abstract

Xylitol is the first rare sugar that has global market due to having beneficial health properties and being an alternative to current conventional sweeteners. Biotechnological production of xylitol by Candida tropicalis DSM 7524 as an alternative to chemical method for the fermentation of xylose to xylitol was studied. Banana peel was used as a substrate for xylitol production. Hydrolysate was detoxified by neutralization, activated charcoal treatment and vacuum evaporation. Effect of pH was tested for C. tropicalis at three different levels and pH value of 2.5 was found to be the best; producing 24.7 g L-1 xylitol. Rusks were prepared by replacing sucrose with xylitol at different levels. Physicochemical analysis of rusks at different intervals of storage i.e. 0, 10, 20 and 30 days was carried out. Hardness decreased significantly (P< 0.05) from the treatment having 100% sucrose(4,950.6 g) to 100% xylitol (3,090.3 g) upon replacing sucrose with xylitol, while fracturability value increased from 71.90 to 74.26 mm for the treatment containing 100% xylitol.Color value and water activity of rusks increased significantly with the replacement of sucrose with xylitol. The increase in moisture content and decreasing trend in other parameters with storage were observed in rusks. Xylitol has low calorific value as compared to sucrose so it can be incorporated into dietetic foods which may help in controlling sugar level in diabetic patients.

Volume 15, Issue 5 (9-2013)
Abstract

This study pursued the molecular identification of fish species from processed products for human consumption which, a priori, belonged to nine species. DNA barcoding using direct sequencing of about 650 bp of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) revealed incorrect labeling in the three Alaska Pollack samples (11% of all samples). Substitution of fish species constitutes serious economic fraud, and our results increase concern regarding the trading of processed fish products in Iran from both health and conservation points of view.

Volume 16, Issue 1 (2-2009)
Abstract

Granting of intellectual property rights on biological materials could be very contentious issue from cultural, legal, ethical and religious points of view. This could be even more complicated, once it acquires an international dimension. The Agreement on Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs) is the latest international arrangement under which, a complex structure for international protection of intellectual property rights has been created. However, while it embodies some provisions of pervious international documents on intellectual property rights, it reflects a unique and unprecedented scheme of protection of intellectual property rights, which also highlights a tension between developed and developing countries especially over the patentability of biological inventions. The provisions of TRIPs make it difficult for developing countries to deny such protection. However, it is possible for them to limit the scope of such protection by relying on exceptions provided by TRIPs and also by relying on the distinction between invention and discovery. These strategies would allow developing countries to exercise some discretion in defining the scope of patentable biotechnologies.

Volume 20, Issue 3 (7-2013)
Abstract

Job creation, income generation, and natural resources conservation, all are pillars of sustainable development for industries using new technologies. Despite the importance of new technologies, developing countries face many limitations, such as economic and political problems, which make the development and transfer of technologies more difficult. In this study, we focus on development of new technologies in Iran’s petrochemical industry, including nanotechnologies, biotechnologies, and membranes. Solutions are proposed to improve the current unsatisfactory status. For that matter, taking into account experts’ viewpoints, a new technology tree is suggested for Iran’s petrochemical industry. The literature on technology assessment and prioritization is reviewed, and then primary indicators are proposed based on ability, attractiveness, and patent features. Forty industry experts are surveyed and the results are analyzed using face validity, reliability test, and factor analysis, by which the current status of new technologies is assessed.

Volume 21, Issue 150 (6-2024)
Abstract

Aspartic proteases play a vital role in diverse biological processes, with microbial variants garnering considerable attention for their commercial potential across various industries. This comprehensive review delves into the intricate aspects of microbial aspartic proteases, encompassing their biosynthesis, genetic regulation, secretion mechanisms, post-translational modifications, characteristics, and emerging applications. The biosynthesis of these proteases involves the translation of corresponding genes into precursor proteins, which undergo a series of processing steps culminating in the formation of mature enzymes. The efficiency of aspartic protease production and commercialization relies heavily on understanding the mechanisms governing their secretion. Notably, post-translational modifications, such as glycosylation and phosphorylation, play a significant role in influencing the activity and stability of these enzymes. The review further explores the substrate specificity and catalytic properties of microbial aspartic proteases, along with their potential applications in the food industry, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology sectors. In the food industry, these proteases find utility in enhancing flavor, texture, and nutritional value. In the pharmaceutical realm, they contribute to drug discovery and development. Additionally, in biotechnology, microbial aspartic proteases exhibit versatility in applications such as protein engineering, peptide synthesis, and bioremediation. This comprehensive examination provides valuable insights into the multifaceted nature of these enzymes, shedding light on their biosynthesis, genetic regulation, secretion mechanisms, post-translational modifications, characteristics, and promising commercial applications.
 

Volume 24, Issue 1 (1-2022)
Abstract

Food security in developing countries faces new challenges these days. Scientific developments and biotechnological applications such as transgenic products are of particular importance due to their principal impact on key contexts such as food production. If transgenic products are a potential solution to the world's challenges, authorities need to know and understand the core of society's responses to scientific innovations and their products. This paper expands the body of knowledge by examining the predictors of transgenic product consumption by mediating the role of food integrity. The study population included 681 faculty­ members of Shiraz University in Iran. The sample size was estimated at 140 faculties using the stratified random sampling method, based on the Cochran formula. The results of applying path analysis showed a good fit of the variables entered in the conceptual model (RMSEA= 0.068). The explaining power of variables in the model respectively include attitude to transgenic product, environmental concerns, trust, and ethical norms. Results of this investigation could be effective in providing practical solutions in social issues such as enhanced attitude to the transgenic product with cultural mechanisms, emphasis on ethical norms, and trust-building in the academic community. These factors, based on public awareness of human involvement in food systems, can be improved by planning and presentation by researchers from relevant business and executive organizations. Based on these findings, providing factors that ensure the health of people could reduce the level of concern about the issues of food integrity and lead to the ideal level of acceptance and consumption of transgenic products.

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