The Smallpox Vaccine

Smallpox and Biotechnology

• Perhaps one of the greatest examples of biotechnology at work

• Successful application has saved millions of lives

What is Smallpox?

• Disease that has existed for at least 3,000 years

• Highly contagious• Typically fatal

Symptoms

• Fever• Rashes on face, hands, and feet• Pus-filled pimples develop• Attacks brain, heart, and lungs

Edward Jenner

• Born May 1749• From Gloucestershire, England• Studied Anatomy and Surgery at hospital• Received many smallpox patients in 1788

The Theory

• Noted patients who worked with cattle were immune to smallpox

• These patients previously contracted cowpox• Suggested someone injected with cowpox

would be immune to smallpox

Testing the Theory

• Extracted liquid from sores of milkmaid with smallpox

• Injected cowpox into young boy• Boy recovers in 6 weeks, injects him with

smallpox• Experiment was successful; boy was immune

to smallpox

The Vaccine

• Time-tested and successful• World Health Organization declared smallpox

extinct in 1979• Excellent example of the application of

biotechnology

Sources• Strickland, Jonathan. “What is Agricultural Biotechnology?”. howstuffworks.com. How Stuff Works, n.d. Web. 10

October 2010. <http://www.howstuffworks.com/environmental/life/genetic/agricultural-biotechnology.htm>.• NIH/National Institute of General Medical Sciences. "Study Details Structure of Potential Target for HIV and

Cancer Drugs." ScienceDaily 11 October 2010. 12 October 2010 <http://www.sciencedaily.com /releases/2010/10/101007141110.htm>.

• Peters, Pamela. “What is Biotechnology?”. AccessExcellence.org. C. Brown Publishers, Inc., 1993. Web. 12 October 2010. <http://www.accessexcellence.org/RC/AB/BC/what_is_biotechnology.php>.

• Biotechnology Industry Organization. “About Biotechnology.” Bio.org. BIO.org, n.d. 12 October 2010. <http://www.bio.org/about_biotech/>

• Agenbroad, Larry D. “Mammoths: Resurrecting Extinct Megafauna.” Actionbioscience.org. Action Bioscience, 2005. Web. 10 October 2010. <http://www.actionbioscience.org/biotech/agenbroad.html>

• Agar, Nicholas. “Designer Babies: Ethical Considerations.” Actionbioscience.org. Action Bioscience, 2006. Web. 10 October 2010. <http://www.actionbioscience.org/biotech/agar.html>

• Bianchi, Zoe. “The current Status of Gene Therapy.” Suite101.com. Suite101, 21 Jan 2010. Web. 12 October 2010. <http://www.suite101.com/content/the-current-status-of-gene-therapy-a192095>

• "Edward Jenner." Zephyrus Interactive Education Website. Web. 09 Dec. 2010. <http://www.zephyrus.co.uk/edwardjenner.html>.

• Hoyle, Brian. "Biotechnology." Science Encyclopedia. Net Industries. Web. 09 Dec. 2010. <http://science.jrank.org/pages/917/Biotechnology.html>.

• "Why Do We Do Biotechnology?" Biotechnology Online Home. Web. 09 Dec. 2010. <http://www.biotechnologyonline.gov.au/biotec/whydobiotech.html>.

Picture Sources

• Boy with Smallpox. 2009. Photograph. Center for Disease Control Public Health Image Library.

• Meynier, Charles. Charles Meynier "Portrait of Edward Jenner (1749-1823)" 1749. Photograph. Myartprints.co.uk, Institut Pasteur, Musee Pasteur.

• Sorolla Y Bastida, Joaquin. The Milkmaid. Photograph. Paintingmania.com.

• Vial of Smallpox Vaccine. 2009. Photograph. In.com.