Online lecture by Klaus-Dieter Jany on 16 January 2024, 3 pm - 4 pm

Moderation: Eberhard Ehlers

Agriculture, with its intensive farming and animal husbandry, is associated with a wide range of negative effects on the climate and biodiversity. Agriculture alone is responsible for 14% of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, with the production of animal products accounting for a large proportion of this. In addition, the production of animal proteins is quite inefficient. Around 6 kg of plant protein is needed to produce one kilogramme of animal protein, i.e. with current meat consumption, around 40% of the grain and 70% of the soya bean harvest is used for animal feed.
The production of alternative meat-like products was started early on in order to minimise environmental pollution, reduce agricultural land consumption and partly for health reasons. As early as the mid-1980s, fermentatively obtained "single cell" proteins came onto the market, which were then transformed into meat surrogates with the appropriate ingredients. Today, development in this field continues, albeit in the fermentative production (precision fermentation) of special or customised animal proteins using genetically modified microorganisms. Two processes have currently become established for obtaining "meat" from the laboratory:

1. The cultivation of muscle stem cells and the subsequent structuring of the cell layer
2. The use of plant proteins (peas, beans, soya beans)

The presentation will mainly focus on the production of "meat" from stem cells. With regard to "meat" from plant proteins, the advantages, limitations, range of applications and aspects for environmental protection and health will be discussed. Insects and legal requirements should not go unmentioned.

Did you enjoy the lecture? Or are you unable to attend the lecture? Then write to Mr Prof. Jany by email; he will be happy to provide you with the slides of his lecture.

Online lecture by Klaus-Dieter Jany on 2 March 2021, 2 pm - 3 pm

Moderation: Klaus-Peter Jäckel

Genetic engineering is a generic term for applications of molecular biological processes to modify the genetic information of organisms. Genetic engineering has now found its way into all areas of our lives. However, the public is only aware of the areas of plant breeding and food.

Online lecture by Klaus-Dieter Jany on 2 September 2021, 2 pm - 3 pm

Moderation: Eberhard Ehlers

Abstract: In 2020, researchers Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer A. Doudna were awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their research into and establishment of the CRISPR/Cas system. Here is an excerpt from the citation for the award:

"Crispr-Cas9 has revolutionised the molecular life sciences, opened up new possibilities for plant breeding, contributed to innovative cancer therapies and could make the dream of curing inherited diseases come true. Charpentier and Doudna harnessed one of the sharpest tools of genetic engineering."

In the lecture, the new methods for genomic modifications will be explained, areas of application discussed and the effects of inadequate legal regulation on Germany and the EU as a business location highlighted.