What is Biotechnology?


    What is Biotechnology?

    Before learning what is biotechnology and the ways in which Biotechnology has showed marked improvements in a human society, it is worth understanding what the subject is all about.

    What is Biotechnology?

    To define it in the simplest way possible, Biotechnology is the technology used on living systems and organisms to study and discover products that facilitate a better life.

    The application of Biotechnology is nothing new. For thousands of years, human beings have applied and tested biotechnology in a variety of fields like food production, the discovery of drugs and medicines and of course agriculture.

    The good examples of biotechnology are brewing and baking bread using “yeast” (a living organism) to make the final products.

    However, the term Biotechnology was first coined by a Hungarian engineer named Karoly Ereky in the year 1919. Continuous research and developments in the field have resulted in the expansion of Biotechnology to numerous other branches of science like applied immunology, genomics, pharmaceutical therapy, diagnostics, and gene technology.

    Biotechnology Examples

    Since biotechnology successfully develops products and technologies to combat issues like environmental hazards, overuse of energy resources, the spread of infectious diseases, hunger, industrial difficulties and others.

    Biotechnology ExamplesAfter getting down to the brass tacks, analyzing and discovering remedies from very natural resources, Biotechnology has changed the odds of malefic, lethal diseases all across the globe. It has benefited the world with numerous instruments that are highly equipped to detect disease or infection at a very early stage.

    The contribution of Biotechnology towards the society is enormous. Fuel is imperative for survival today.

    Putting processes like fermentation and exploitation of biocatalysts like microbes, enzymes, and yeast into use to create valuable manufacturing plants, this branch of science has beefed up the production of fuel and other biological alternatives by leaps and bounds.

    Biotechnology – An Academic Overview

    Biotechnology, as the name suggests is not restricted to ideas about Biology and Technology only. In fact, as a student of Biotechnology, you will be expected to learn the ropes of:

    Career Opportunities in Biotechnology

    Since Biotechnology is a booming course of study these days, career options are huge. There are openings for Biotechnologists in the industrial sector, pharmaceutical sector, food and beverage sector and also in the field of agriculture, animal husbandry and environment conservation.

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    Here are the good resources on Biotechnology from around the web.

    AGROGENE, Molecular marker and plant breeding
    AGROGENE brings you the latest innovation in plant research & biotechnology. With a decade of plant genetics and breeding expertise, our laboratory, based in France, provides you with molecular marker service (AFLP, Microsatellites, PCR test, GMO detection). Link

    Art’s Biotechnology Resource
    This site allows easy access to hyperlinks and free software for the biochemist, biophysicist, and molecular biologist. This site is constantly evolving and expanding, so it can be easy to use, reliable, and comprehensive. This is purely a non-profit site for your enjoyment. Link

    The biotech equipment trading site
    BioBid.com is the largest independent Internet trading site that allows people to communicate their buying and selling needs for biological research and clinical laboratory equipment. Link

    Bioresources and Biotechnology Division, TERI
    Promote the efficient management of natural resources, particularly forest wealth, and harness modern biological techniques to enhance yields, protect and conserve biodiversity, and control environmental pollution. Link

    Bioscience Engineering – University of Cambridge
    Web pages of the a research group in Cambridge, UK, working on gene and protein delivery technologies. Techniques used include bioresponsive polymers, viruses and carbon nanotubes. Link

    BioSTAR – HOME
    Biotechnology Strategic Targets for Alliances in Research. Part of Industry – University Cooperative Research Program. Link

    Biotechfind – Biotech Industry Search Engine
    BiotechFind.com is a directory of international links covering the fields of biotechnologies and biofinances and including a keyword-based search engine. Link

    Biotechnology Computing Facility
    Homepage of the Biotechnology Computing Facility, a division of Arizona Research Laboratories, BCF is a research support facility specializing in Bioinformatics, Image Processing and Molecular Modeling at the University of Arizona. Link

    Biotechnology for the 21st Century: New Horizons
    1995 report by the Biotechnology Research Subcommittee of the (U.S.) National Science and Technology Council describes major areas of biotechnology application and identifies research priorities in the field. Link

    Biotechnology Homepage
    Biotechnology – Welcome to the largest state-of-the-art gateway to biotechnology worldwide! This fully revised and expanded Second Edition takes into account all recent developments in biotechnology. It is extraordinarily broad in scope, up-to-date, carefully structured and well-balanced. Biotechnology considers both basic concepts and widely-differing industrial applications: it is a successful synthesis of theory and practice. Link

    Bioweb Biotechnology Information Switzerland
    News, articles, library catalog, glossary and links on various topics related to biotechnology and genetic engineering. Link

    Common Access to Biotechnological Resources and Information
    The CABRI (Common Access to Biotechnological Resources and Information) Project aims to meet the need of European biotechnology research and development for high-quality biological resources by providing common access for the user via the Internet to the resources and information of the providers within the project. Link

    Council for Biotechnology Information
    Founded by biotechnology companies to create a public dialogue and share information about scientific research, independent expert opinion and peer-reviewed published reports. Link

    Cropgen
    An education and information initiative for consumers and the media on the subject of crop biotechnology. Link

    Department of Biotechnology – University of Wuerzburg
    The research program of the Department of Biotechnology focusses on different aspects of membrane-biotechnology and -biophysics: electrical field-effects in biological systems, development of biocompatible implants, membrane transport processes, long-distance water transport mechanisms in higher plants. Link

    FAO: Biotechnology in Food and Agriculture
    Features news articles, current projects, an electronic forum, meeting schedule and a glossary of terms. Link

    Guide to Biotechnology
    Explains what the field is, historical development, applications, current approved drugs, and statistical data. Link

    International Organisation of Biotechnology and Bioengineering
    The organization was formed in 1968 to represent all researchers, laboratories, and industries involved in any aspect of biotechnology, that is using the biological material for the improvement of health, food, feed, fertilizer, energy and commodity product formation. Link

    Marine Bioproducts Engineering Center
    Marine Bioproducts Engineering Research Center. An NSF funded partnership between the University of Hawaii, Manoa, University of California, Berkeley and private industry that includes education, research, and discovery, separation, characterization, and production of marine bioproducts. Link

    Mass Spectrometry and Biotechnology Resource
    Provides reference materials for scientists working with mass spectrometry in the biotechnology industry. Link

    National Center for Biotechnology Information
    Established in 1988 as a national resource for molecular biology information, NCBI creates public databases, conducts research in computational biology, develops software tools for analyzing genome data, and disseminates biomedical information – all for the better understanding of molecular processes affecting human health and disease. Link

    Pratical Biotechnology
    This collection of practical investigations has been compiled by the NCBE is an association with the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (formerly the Agricultural and Food Research Council). Many of the investigations have previously appeared in the NCBE Newsletter, or have been used in NCBE workshops for teachers. All of the ideas have been tested, both in the NCBE laboratory and, more importantly, by teachers in schools. Link

    Stem Cells & Cloning Club (SCCC)
    All things stem cells and cloning related, including; science, news, ethics, politics, investments, media, culture, discussion forum and more. Link

    The Genosphere Project
    A citizen’s guide to resources for getting a handle on the biotechnology revolution. Link

    The World-Wide Web Virtual Library: Biotechnology
    This directory contains well over 1000 URLs of companies, research institutes, universities, sources of information and other directories specific to biotechnology, pharmaceutical development, and related fields. It places emphasis on product development and the delivery of products and services. Link

    USDA: Agricultural Biotechnology
    Lists the rules and procedures for obtaining and keeping a permit to work with genetically modified plants and animals. Defines pharmaceutical and commercial use. Link

    Vivamer : Responsive Biopolymers for Drug Delivery and Tumour Imaging
    Vivamer creates novel drugs and imaging agents based on its unique responsive biopolymer chemistry platform. Link


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