Biotechnology is technology that utilizes biological systems, living organisms or parts of this to develop or create different products. Brewing and baking bread are examples of processes that fall within the concept of biotechnology. Three critical research areas of biotechnology are:
(i) Providing the best catalyst in the form of improved organism usually a microbe or pure enzyme.
(ii) Creating optimal conditions through engineering for a catalyst to act.
(iii) Downstream processing technologies to purify the protein/organic compound.
Application of Biotechnology in Agriculture involves scientific techniques such as Genetically Modified Organisms, Bt Cotton, Pest Resistant Plants. It helps in modifying plants, animals, and microorganisms and improve their agricultural productivity. The application of Biotechnology in the field of agriculture is known as Green Biotechnology or Green Revolution. Biotechnology has contributed a lot to the field of agriculture and they include:
The application of Biotechnology has tripled the yield and the food supply. Apart from the regular crop production, pest-resistant plants and genetically modified crops are introduced to increase food production and to feed the growing human population.
Genetically modified crops have their genes altered by inserting the genes with desired characteristics. Bt cotton, Bt brinjal, golden rice are a few examples of Genetically modified crops.
In medicine, modern biotechnology provides significant applications in such areas as pharmacogenomics, genetic testing (prenatal diagnosis), and gene therapy. Pharmacogenomics, the combination of pharmacology and genomics, is the study of the relationship between pharmaceuticals and genetics.
The drugs are mainly produced by the process of genetic engineering. Humulin, the genetically modified insulin, is used to treat diabetes is produced through genetic engineering.
Biotechnology has developed gene therapy which helps in the removal of the genetic disorders in the embryo. Other applications of Biotechnology in the field of medicines and molecular diagnosis include:
Transgenic animals are animals that have had a foreign gene deliberately inserted into their genome. Such animals are most commonly created by the microinjection of DNA into the pronuclei of a fertilised egg which is subsequently implanted into the oviduct of a pseudopregnant surrogate mother.
Few examples of transgenic animals are rats, rabbits, pigs, sheep, cows, fish, etc. Among all other transgenic animals, the mouse is the existing transgenic animal.
The main aim behind the creation of transgenic animals are:
Ethical issues that arise from modern biotechnologies include the availability and use of privileged information, potential for ecological harm, access to new drugs and treatments, and the idea of interfering with nature. Applications include agriculture and health care.