Biotechnology Definition and Applications

Biotechnology Definition

• Biotechnology is the application of biological systems, living organisms, or derivatives to make or modify products or processes for specific use.

Biotechnology Applications

• Uses microorganisms to produce antibiotics, such as penicillin, and dairy products, like yoghurt.
• Employed to produce amino acids and enzymes.
• Helps meet basic needs, including food, clothing, shelter, health, and safety.
• Also used to maintain a good environment that promotes well-being.

Biotechnology Characteristics

• Multidisciplinary in nature, involving input from engineering, computer science, cell and molecular biology, microbiology, genetics, physiology, biochemistry, immunology, virology, and recombinant DNA technology.
• Involves genetic manipulation of bacteria, viruses, fungi, plants, and animals for product development.

Types of Biotechnology

• Use of living organisms to solve problems and make useful products, such as crop plants and farm animals, and yeast for bread production.
• Many types of technology that use cells, proteins, genetics, and other fields, including health care, agriculture, genetics, and food science.

Selective Breeding

• Breeding selected organisms to get offspring with certain traits, a centuries-old farming practice.

Hybrid

• A cross between two different species, such as a mule from a donkey and horse.

Genetically Modified Organisms

• Organisms whose genes have been changed, used for herbicide-resistant corn, making medicines, treating diseases, and improving crops.
• Examples include making insulin for diabetic patients.

Genome

• The entire set of DNA instructions found in a cell, consisting of 23 pairs of chromosomes in the cell's nucleus and a small chromosome in the cell's mitochondria in humans.

DNA Fingerprinting

• Not specified in the text.

Crop Yield

• Biotechnology has increased crop productivity by introducing disease resistance and drought tolerance to crops.
• Measured by the number of crops produced.

Cloning

• The process of generating a genetically identical copy of a cell or organism.

Bioremediation

• Uses existing bacteria in the soil to clean up the environment, such as oil spills and toxic waste.