BIOTECHNOLOGY
BIOTECHNOLOGY
BIOTECHNOLOGY
Use of products be it microbial, plant or animal in origin for the benefit of mankind.
A technology that uses biological systems or living organisms to create and modify products
fir a particular purpose.
Hungarian engineer Karl Ereky reportedly coined the term “biotechnology,” which is often
referred to as “biotech,” in 1919.
BIOTECHNOLOGY
. APPLICATIONS
. PLANTS AND ANIMALS
BIOTECHNOLOGY
• Biotechnology has evolved significantly over the last century in ways that manipulate the
genetic structures and biomolecular processes of living organisms.
• This approach has resulted in innovations and breakthroughs in the following areas:
medicines and therapeutics that prevent and treat disease;
medical diagnostics such as PCR
biofuels that are sustainable, reducing waste and pollution; and
genetically modified organisms (GMOs) that lead to more efficient and cost-effective
agriculture.
HISTORY OF BIOTECHNOLOGY
• 1960s. Insulin is synthesized to fight diabetes, and vaccines for measles, mumps and rubella are
developed.
• 1969. The first synthesis of an enzyme in vitro, or outside the body, is conducted.
• 1973. Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen develop genetic engineering with the first insertion of
DNA from one bacteria into another.
• 1980s. The first biotech drugs to treat cancer are developed.
• 1890. The United States Supreme Court rules that a "live human-made microorganism is
patentable subject matter," meaning GMOs can be intellectual property.
• 1982. A biotech-developed form of insulin becomes the first genetically engineered product
approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
• 1983. The first genetically modified plant is introduced.
HISTORY OF BIOTECHNOLOGY
• 1993. GMOs are introduced into agriculture with the FDA approval of growth hormones that
produce more milk in cows.
• 1997. The first mammal is cloned.
• 1998. The first draft of the Human Genome Project is created, giving scientists access to
over 30,000 human genes and facilitating research on treatment of diseases such as cancer
and Alzheimer's.
• 2010. The first synthetic cell is created.
• 2013. The first bionic eye is created.
• 2020. MRNA vaccine and monoclonal antibody technology is used to treat the SARS-CoV-2
virus.
ENVIRONMENTAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
• Medical biotechnology, also known as biopharma, aims to fight and prevent disease and
improve healthcare.
• Biotechnology and biomedical research are the basis of the modern pharmaceutical industry.
Uses include the following:
• stem cell research that helps replace or repair dead or defective cells;
• antibiotics development;
• gene therapies for diseases such as leukemia;
• research into dangerous pathogens and the antibodies that fight them;
• 3D printing or growing of organs and bones in labs; and
• mRNA vaccines, monoclonal antibody treatments and research for COVID-19.
INDUSTRY
• fermentation and the use of enzymes and microbes to streamline chemical manufacturing
and reduce operational costs and chemical emissions;
• biofuels that use renewable crops such as corn to produce combustible fuel instead of
natural, nonrenewable fossil fuel resources, such as petroleum and oil; and
• biodegradable garments and textiles made from the proteins of living organisms, such as the
silk proteins of spiders.
AGRICULTURE
Biotechnology also comes with disadvantages and misuse. The main disadvantages include the following:
• Biological warfare. The potential exists for the development of pathogens and epidemics that could be
used in a conflict zone to infect populations.
• Decrease in biodiversity. Monocropping or the farming of only a small number of genetically
engineered crops could shrink the natural gene pool of species and make them less resilient and
adaptable to sudden changes in environment.
• Loss of soil fertility. Bio-enhanced plants require more nutrients from soil and yield more crops. This
can drain soil of fertile nutrients, devastate farmland and require the use of environmentally harmful
fertilizers to make up for the nutrient shortfall.
DISADVANTAGES OF
BIOTECHNOLOGY
• High costs. Biotechnology products often cost more than traditional products and have the
potential to raise pricing structures in various industries.
• Ethical considerations. Gene manipulation raises a range of ethical issues, such as the
genetic engineering of humans.
• Safety questions. Various groups have raised safety concerns about the health risks of
GMOs and biotech-related medical developments, such as mRNA vaccines.
Concerns about biotechnology's disadvantages have led to efforts to enact
legislation restricting or banning certain processes or programs, such as
human cloning, GMOs and embryonic stem-cell research.