Biotechnology

Introduction

Biotechnology is a broad area of biology, involving the use of living systems and organisms to develop or make products. Depending on the tools and applications, it often overlaps with related fields of molecular biology, bio-engineering, biomedical engineering, bio-manufacturing, molecular engineering, etc.

History

A historical laboratory setting with old scientific equipment.

The term biotechnology was first used by "Karl Ereky" in 1919, meaning the production of products from raw materials with the aid of living organisms. The concept of biotechnology encompasses a wide range of procedures for modifying living organisms according to human purposes, going back to domestication of animals, cultivation of plants, and "improvements" to these through breeding programs that employ artificial selection and hybridization.

Modern Biotechnology

Modern biotechnology provides breakthrough products and technologies to combat debilitating and rare diseases, reduce our environmental footprint, feed the hungry, use less and cleaner energy, and have safer, cleaner and more efficient industrial manufacturing processes.

Applications

Healthcare

In healthcare, biotechnology has helped develop numerous pharmaceuticals and has been instrumental in developing tests to detect diseases.

Agriculture

In agriculture, biotechnology has been used to genetically modify plants to increase yield, improve nutrition and increase resistance to pests and disease.

Environmental Uses

Biotechnology is being used to develop new, more sustainable methods of producing energy, cleaning up polluted sites and producing industrial materials and processes.

Challenges and Controversies

A group of people in a heated discussion in a conference room.

Biotechnology has also been at the center of numerous ethical debates, including those related to genetically modified organisms, stem cell research, and cloning.

Future of Biotechnology

The future of biotechnology is largely seen as promising, with the potential to address some of the world’s biggest problems, from food security to disease. However, the speed at which biotechnology is advancing also raises important ethical and safety questions that society will need to address.