Biotechnology and Its Applications

Biotechnology for Diversity and Healthy Lifestyle

• Biotechnology is the application of modern techniques in fields like engineering and medicine to produce diverse products.

Biotechnology in Food and Agriculture

• The increasing human population requires higher yields of milk, meat, cereals, fruits, and vegetables.
• Biotechnology has improved the quality of animals and crops, increasing milk and meat production.
• Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are used to produce better quality food products.
• Examples of GMOs include featherless chickens, hornless bulls, and cows that can produce human milk.
• GMOs are also used to produce fruits and vegetables with improved quality and longer shelf life.
• Biofortification, the process of increasing the density of vitamins and minerals in crops, is used to produce crops with higher nutritional value.
• Examples of biofortified crops include rice with more iron, corn with more iron, and kiwi fruit with more iron.

Biotechnology and Food

• Major staple crops are often deficient in essential nutrients, leading to widespread mineral deficiency diseases.
• Biotechnology approaches have targeted increasing iron content in rice grains.
• Biofortification of wheat includes new varieties with higher iron and zinc content.
• GMOs are used to produce crops with higher yield and improved nutritional value.

Fermented Foods

• Fermented foods are made using microorganisms, and can be obtained from milk, fruits, vegetables, legumes, and meat.
• Examples of fermented foods include yogurt, cheese, vinegar, pickles, and kimchi.
• Biotechnology has improved the production of fermented foods, making them faster, better, and more economical.
• GMOs are used to produce yogurt and cheese with beneficial probiotics.

Biotechnology in Medicine

• Insulin was the first biotechnology medicine to be commercialized in 1982.
• Biotechnology is used to produce hormones, including insulin, human growth hormone, and others.
• Biotechnology is also used to develop vaccines, including the Hepatitis and COVID-19 vaccines.
• Gene therapies are another application of biotechnology in medicine.

Applications of Biotechnology

• Biotechnology has the potential to change the way we live, impacting food, agriculture, medicine, and the environment.
• Achievements of biotechnology include:
  • Producing more nutritious foods
  • Developing disease-resistant crops
  • Increasing yields of milk, eggs, and meat
  • Producing vaccines and human hormones
  • Creating biofuels and biodegradable plastics
  • Removing toxic wastes from the environment

Key Points

• Biotechnology uses engineering to genetically modify animals and plants.
• Biotechnology has economic benefits and leads to increased productivity.
• Genetically modified organisms combat deficiency diseases and improve human health.
• Biotechnology has increased life expectancy and improved the health system.
• Biotechnology is helping to reduce pollution and transition to renewable energy.