"Biotechnology is a multidisciplinary field that involves the integration of natural sciences and engineering sciences in order to achieve the application of organisms, cells, parts thereof and molecular analogues for products and services."
Use of living organisms and biological systems to develop or improve products or processes, such as drugs, biodegradable materials, and renewable energy sources.
Molecular biology: The study of molecular processes occurring within cellular organisms, including DNA replication, transcription, and protein synthesis.
Genetics: The study of heredity and the variation of inherited traits between different individuals.
Cell biology: The study of cell structure and function, including the processes of cell division and differentiation.
Biochemistry: The study of the chemical processes and substances within living organisms.
Microbiology: The study of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
Biophysics: The study of how physical principles underlie biological phenomena, such as the structure and function of biomolecules.
Bioprocessing: The engineering of biological organisms or their components for the production of useful products or services.
Bioinformatics: The use of computational tools to analyze and interpret biological data, including genomic and proteomic data.
Systems biology: The study of complex biological systems, including the interactions between multiple components and the emergence of behavior at the system level.
Ethics of Biotechnology: Understanding the ethical implications of advances in biotechnology, including the potential social, economic, and political impacts of new biotechnological developments.
Metabolic engineering: Biotechnologists use metabolic engineering to construct or optimize metabolic pathways in living cells. The goal is to produce a desirable product or to improve yields. For example, metabolic engineering may be used to create bacteria that produce insulin or to manufacture ethanol from agricultural waste.
Genome engineering: The genome of an organism is the complete set of its genetic instructions. Genome engineering involves changing or reprogramming an organism's DNA. This can be done by adding, deleting, or modifying specific genes to achieve a desired result. For example, one can design a bacteria that breaks down specific pollutants.
Protein engineering: Proteins are essential biomolecules that carry out many biological functions. In protein engineering, researchers modify or design proteins to achieve specific functions or properties. This can involve altering the protein's structure, changing the amino acid sequence, or manipulating protein-protein interactions. Some protein-engineered drugs are insulin, monoclonal antibodies, and enzymes.
Synthetic genomics: Synthetic genomics is the design and assembly of synthetic genomes that can be used to replace or supplement the genetic material in natural organisms. This can be applied to design organisms that can break down pollutants or soil decontamination.
Biosensors and diagnostics: Biosensors and diagnostics involve the use of biological molecules or synthetic biology to detect and quantify analytes in samples. This can include the use of engineered microorganisms as sensing elements or the use of synthetic antibodies for detection. Biosensors and diagnostics are essential for a wide range of applications, such as medical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and food safety.
"The term biotechnology was first used by Károly Ereky in 1919..."
"The core principle of biotechnology involves harnessing biological systems and organisms... to perform specific tasks or produce valuable substances."
"One of the key techniques used in biotechnology is genetic engineering, which allows scientists to modify the genetic makeup of organisms to achieve desired outcomes."
"This can involve inserting genes from one organism into another, creating new traits or modifying existing ones."
"Other important techniques used in biotechnology include tissue culture, which allows researchers to grow cells and tissues in the lab for research and medical purposes."
"Fermentation... is used to produce a wide range of products such as beer, wine, and cheese."
"The applications of biotechnology are diverse and have led to the development of essential products like life-saving drugs, biofuels, genetically modified crops, and innovative materials."
"It has also been used to address environmental challenges, such as developing biodegradable plastics and using microorganisms to clean up contaminated sites."
"Biotechnology had a significant impact on many areas of society, from medicine to agriculture to environmental science."
"However, despite its numerous benefits, it also poses ethical and societal challenges, such as questions around genetic modification and intellectual property rights."
"...essential products like life-saving drugs, biofuels, genetically modified crops, and innovative materials."
"Biotechnology is a rapidly evolving field with significant potential to address pressing global challenges and improve the quality of life for people around the world."
"...questions around genetic modification and intellectual property rights."
"The applications of biotechnology... led to the development of... genetically modified crops."
"The applications of biotechnology... led to the development of... life-saving drugs."
"It has also been used to address environmental challenges, such as... using microorganisms to clean up contaminated sites."
"Fermentation... is used to produce a wide range of products such as beer, wine, and cheese."
"The term biotechnology was first used by Károly Ereky in 1919..."
"As a result, there is ongoing debate and regulation surrounding the use and application of biotechnology in various industries and fields."