Biotechnology
Biotechnology is the utilization of living organisms like bacteria, yeasts, algae, fungi
and cells of higher plants and animals in the manufacture of useful products.
Biotechnology is a new discipline of science in which latest technology has been
applied to biological organisms for the welfare of society. Broadly, this can be
defined as the engineering of organisms for the purpose of human usage. The first
process involving biotechnology was fermentation which was used for the
production of alcoholic beverages, vinegar formation from sugary matters. Currently
biotechnology places more emphasis on the establishment of hybrid genes followed
by their transfer into organisms in which some, or all, of the gene is not usually
present.
The Main aims of Biotechnology:
1. To develop industrial process for the production of antibiotics, enzymes,
hormones, insulin, vitamins at low cost.
2. To develop techniques for tissue culture, cell culture and organ
transplantation.
3. To develop the use of bioenergy and to develop gene surgery and gene therapy
to cure genetic diseases.
4. To develop techniques for food processing and food preservation.
5. To develop tools and techniques for diagnosis and treatment of diseases.
Branches of Biotechnology:
Based on applications, there are five main branches of biotechnology
1. Animal Biotechnology:
It deals with the development of transgenic animals for increased milk or meat
production with resistance to various diseases. It also deals with in vitro fertilization
of egg and transfer of embryo to the womb of female animal for further development.
2. Medical Biotechnology:
It deals with diagnosis of various diseases; large scale production of various drugs
and hormones such as human insulin and interferon; vaccines for chicken pox,
rabies, polio etc., and growth hormones, such as bovine.
, 3. Industrial Biotechnology:
It deals with commercial production of various useful organic substances, such as
acetic acid, citric acid, acetone, glycerine, etc., and antibiotics like penicillin,
streptomycin, mitomycin, etc., through the use of microorganisms especially fungi
and bacteria
4. Environmental Biotechnology:
It deals with detoxification of waste and industrial effluents, treatment of sewage
water, and control of plant diseases and insects through the use of biological agents,
such as viruses, bacteria, fungi etc.
5. Plant Biotechnology:
Plant Biotechnology is a combination of tissue culture and genetic engineering. It
deals with development of transgenic plants with resistance to biotic and abiotic
stress; development of haploids, embryo rescue, clonal multiplication,
cryopreservation etc.
Applications of Biotechnology
Biotechnology has been used in different fields to modify and produce products for
human welfare. Earlier the use of biotechnology was limited to making bread,
alcoholic beverages and cross breed animals and crops. Modern biotechnology
makes use of the advancement in science such as genetic engineering and
recombinant DNA technology with great effect and has expanded the application of
biotechnology for the benefit and well-being of humans.
The applications of biotechnology include:
1. Application of Biotechnology in Agriculture
Application of biotechnology in the field of agriculture has increased the
productivity in the following ways:
a. Micropropagation: Micro propagation is the rapid multiplication of plants at
a large scale under artificial conditions. It follows asexual means of
reproduction (through vegetative parts of the plants). Micropropagation
facilitates the growth, storage, and maintenance of a large number of plants in
small spaces which makes it a cost-effective process.
Biotechnology is the utilization of living organisms like bacteria, yeasts, algae, fungi
and cells of higher plants and animals in the manufacture of useful products.
Biotechnology is a new discipline of science in which latest technology has been
applied to biological organisms for the welfare of society. Broadly, this can be
defined as the engineering of organisms for the purpose of human usage. The first
process involving biotechnology was fermentation which was used for the
production of alcoholic beverages, vinegar formation from sugary matters. Currently
biotechnology places more emphasis on the establishment of hybrid genes followed
by their transfer into organisms in which some, or all, of the gene is not usually
present.
The Main aims of Biotechnology:
1. To develop industrial process for the production of antibiotics, enzymes,
hormones, insulin, vitamins at low cost.
2. To develop techniques for tissue culture, cell culture and organ
transplantation.
3. To develop the use of bioenergy and to develop gene surgery and gene therapy
to cure genetic diseases.
4. To develop techniques for food processing and food preservation.
5. To develop tools and techniques for diagnosis and treatment of diseases.
Branches of Biotechnology:
Based on applications, there are five main branches of biotechnology
1. Animal Biotechnology:
It deals with the development of transgenic animals for increased milk or meat
production with resistance to various diseases. It also deals with in vitro fertilization
of egg and transfer of embryo to the womb of female animal for further development.
2. Medical Biotechnology:
It deals with diagnosis of various diseases; large scale production of various drugs
and hormones such as human insulin and interferon; vaccines for chicken pox,
rabies, polio etc., and growth hormones, such as bovine.
, 3. Industrial Biotechnology:
It deals with commercial production of various useful organic substances, such as
acetic acid, citric acid, acetone, glycerine, etc., and antibiotics like penicillin,
streptomycin, mitomycin, etc., through the use of microorganisms especially fungi
and bacteria
4. Environmental Biotechnology:
It deals with detoxification of waste and industrial effluents, treatment of sewage
water, and control of plant diseases and insects through the use of biological agents,
such as viruses, bacteria, fungi etc.
5. Plant Biotechnology:
Plant Biotechnology is a combination of tissue culture and genetic engineering. It
deals with development of transgenic plants with resistance to biotic and abiotic
stress; development of haploids, embryo rescue, clonal multiplication,
cryopreservation etc.
Applications of Biotechnology
Biotechnology has been used in different fields to modify and produce products for
human welfare. Earlier the use of biotechnology was limited to making bread,
alcoholic beverages and cross breed animals and crops. Modern biotechnology
makes use of the advancement in science such as genetic engineering and
recombinant DNA technology with great effect and has expanded the application of
biotechnology for the benefit and well-being of humans.
The applications of biotechnology include:
1. Application of Biotechnology in Agriculture
Application of biotechnology in the field of agriculture has increased the
productivity in the following ways:
a. Micropropagation: Micro propagation is the rapid multiplication of plants at
a large scale under artificial conditions. It follows asexual means of
reproduction (through vegetative parts of the plants). Micropropagation
facilitates the growth, storage, and maintenance of a large number of plants in
small spaces which makes it a cost-effective process.
