Biotechnology: Definitions and its Applications

Applications of Biotech

1. Biotechnology BSA – ANSC 3 and CS 3

2. The Meaning of Biotechnology The term “biotechnology” was first coined by a Hungarian engineer Karl Ereky , in 1919, to refer to the science and methods that permit products to be produced from raw materials with the aid of living organisms. is a multidisciplinary field that involves the integration of  natural sciences  and  engineering sciences  in order to achieve the application of organisms and parts thereof for products and services ( Wikipidia ).

3. Biotechnology the use of  biology  to solve problems and make useful products. The most prominent area of biotechnology is the production of therapeutic proteins and other drugs through  genetic engineering (Britannica) . biotechnology is technology based on biology - biotechnology harnesses cellular and biomolecular processes to develop technologies and products that help improve our lives and the health of our planet. We have used the biological processes of microorganisms for more than 6,000 years to make useful food products, such as bread and cheese, and to preserve dairy products.

4. Major Applications of Biotechnology Biotechnology in health care (RED) Agricultural biotechnology (GREEN) Environmental biotechnology Industrial biotechnology (WHITE) Marine biotechnology (BLUE) Food Biotechnology Recombinant DNA Technology

5. Health Care (Medical Biotechnology) develop diagnostic tools , therapies, and vaccines for human diseases. It encompasses various techniques, including genetic engineering, recombinant DNA technology, and cell culture. Healthcare biotechnology has been instrumental in developing new treatments for various diseases, including cancer, genetic disorders, and infectious diseases

6. Agriculture (Plant Biotechnologies) U sed in agriculture improves crop productivity, with the global goal of food security and sustainability. The technology used includes genetic engineering, molecular breeding, and marker-assisted selection techniques. Examples of agricultural biotechnology include the development of  genetically modified (GM)  crops that are resistant to herbicides, insects, and viruses and the use of marker-assisted breeding to develop crops with improved yield and nutritional content. Biotechnology has also been used to develop crops that can grow in challenging environmental conditions, such as drought or salinity, which can help farmers in areas with limited water resources. Another significant application of agricultural biotechnology is in improving food safety. Biotechnology can be used to reduce the presence of harmful pathogens in food, such as Salmonella and E. coli, and to improve the nutritional content of food, such as by increasing the number of vitamins or proteins.

7. Agriculture (Animal Biotechnology) Animal biotechnology is a branch of biotechnology in which molecular biology techniques are used to genetically engineer (i.e. modify the genome of) animals in order to improve their suitability for pharmaceutical, agricultural or industrial applications. Animal biotechnology has been used to produce genetically modified animals that synthesize therapeutic proteins, have improved growth rates or are resistant to disease.

8. Environmental Biotechnology used to address environmental challenges, such as waste management, pollution control, and renewable energy production. It includes techniques such as bioremediation, bioaugmentation, and phytoremediation. Example: Breakdown of pollutants in soil and water Production of biogas from organic waste materials Using plants to remove contaminants from soil and water

9. Industrial Biotechnology used in manufacturing involves producing biofuels, bioplastics, and other sustainable products. It includes techniques such as metabolic engineering, synthetic biology, and fermentation. Example: Production of biofuels (ethanol and biodiesel) Bioplastics (polylactic acid PLA) Production of enzymes and other specialty chemicals using microorganisms

10. Marine Biotechnology Marine biotechnology is the creation of products and processes from marine organisms through the application of biotechnology, molecular and cell biology, and bioinformatics. It is the field of science that deals with ocean exploration for development of new pharmaceutical drugs, chemical products, enzymes, and other products and processes. It also deals with the advancement of aquaculture and seafood safety, bioremediation, biofuels, among others. Example: Reproduction Nutrition Health management Growth promotion

11. Food Technology Food biotechnology is an umbrella term covering a vast variety of processes for using living organisms—such as plants, animals, microbes, or any part of these organisms—to develop new or improved food products. It includes the newer forms of food biotechnology that offer a faster and more precise means to develop food products.