Introduction to Biotechnology

A multidisciplinary field combining living organisms with techniques for economic purposes. It's rapidly evolving thanks to advancements in molecular biology.

The word 'biotechnology' comes from two Greek words: 'Bios' meaning life and 'Technologia' meaning study of techniques, tools, or machines.

Hungarian scientist Károly Ereky coined the term 'biotechnology' in 1919, describing the conversion of organic raw materials into useful products.

Biotechnology covers a wide range of biological and technological concepts, making a universal definition challenging.

The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity defines biotechnology as any technology using biological systems for creating or modifying products. The definition emphasizes using living organisms or their derivatives for specific applications.

The use of living organisms or biological processes to create products or services beneficial to humans.

A natural process where microorganisms break down organic matter without oxygen, producing valuable substances like alcohol or acids.

The study of genes, heredity and genetic variation in organisms.

The process of growing cells outside their natural environment, in a controlled laboratory setting.

A type of biotechnology that involves combining genetic material from different organisms.

The direct introduction of genetic material into cells or organelles.

The fusion of cells from different taxonomic families to achieve breeding goals.

A technique in biotechnology that alters the genetic makeup of organisms to create new products.

The process of introducing foreign DNA (transgene) into a cell, enabling the organism to produce new proteins.

Catalysts in living organisms that speed up specific metabolic reactions, known for their specificity and regulation.

The process of making enzymes stable and usable outside of living organisms, often for industrial purposes.

A technique using living organisms to clean up polluted environments by degrading or neutralizing contaminants.

The practice of using living organisms for various purposes, with a long history dating back to fermented foods.

A more modern and advanced form of biotechnology, utilizing techniques like genetic engineering, fermentation, and cell culture.

Microorganisms genetically modified to produce substances like proteins or enzymes with specific applications.

The use of enzymes for various industrial processes, including the production of biofuels and pharmaceuticals.

A bacterium commonly used to create insect-resistant crops. It contains genes expressing insecticidal proteins that target specific insect pests.

A protein produced by Bt, toxic to specific insects, but harmless to humans and most other animals. It's often used in genetically modified crops.

A gene from Bt, responsible for producing the Cry protein, which provides insect resistance in plants.

A genetically modified crop expressing the Cry a gene, making it resistant to the European corn borer.

Genetically modified plants expressing specific proteins that interfere with virus replication, preventing their spread.

Genetically modified plants that produce toxins or other compounds that make them resistant to fungal or bacterial infections.

The process of introducing new genes into an organism's DNA, often to create a specific trait like disease resistance.

A method of using genes from specific organisms, like bacteria, to create pest-resistant crops through genetic modification.

Traditional fermentation processes, such as alcoholic fermentation, production of organic acids (citric acid, acetic acid, etc.), and production of antibiotics, focus on using microorganisms to create products.

Enzymes and biocatalysts are naturally occurring proteins that accelerate specific reactions, finding applications in various fields such as food processing (cheesemaking, brewing), chemical synthesis, and medical diagnostics.

Biotechnology seeks alternative sources of fuel and organic products to replace petroleum-based ones. This involves harnessing processes like hydrogen photolysis, biomass digesters for methane production, and alcohol production from plant sugars.

Interferon and monoclonal antibody technologies have revolutionized medicine, enabling the development of targeted therapies for diseases. They also contribute to the creation of advanced diagnostic equipment.

Plant cell cultures offer an alternative for producing biomass and various chemical products, including steroids and alkaloids. Using single-cell protein sources, like microalgae, provides an efficient pathway for biomass production.

Bioremediation employs microorganisms to clean up pollutants from wastewaters and soils. This environmentally friendly approach helps in pollution control and waste treatment, especially in the agri-food industry.

Biological nitrogen fixation is the process where nitrogen gas from the atmosphere is converted into usable compounds. This process offers an alternative solution for reducing dependency on synthetic nitrogen fertilizers in agriculture and ammonia production.

A process that uses genetically modified plants, like tobacco or potatoes, to produce proteins that are normally found in human blood, such as albumin or hemoglobin. These proteins are then used in medical treatments.

Transgenic tobacco plants can be used to produce human albumin, a protein important in trauma treatment.

Biotechnology offers a new way to produce human albumin. This approach avoids relying solely on blood plasma donations, which can be problematic due to supply and potential risks.

Genetically modified plants like bananas can be used to deliver vaccines, offering a convenient and potentially affordable method for vaccinating populations in developing countries.

Scientists are working on developing a vaccine banana to protect people from E.coli bacterial gastroenteritis.

Producing therapeutic molecules and vaccines from plants like tobacco, corn, or potatoes can be a safer alternative to traditional production methods, as it eliminates the risk of contamination by human-specific viruses.

Enzymatic processes are environmentally friendly and are used across different industries for various applications involving the breaking down or changing of substances.

Enzymatic processes are used in starch processing for producing alcohol and sugars, food industry additives for quality improvement, animal feed production, cosmetics, paper manufacturing, tanning, and various chemical applications.