BIOTECHNOLOGY

Definition of Biotechnology Biotechnology is technology based on biology, especially when used in agriculture, food science, and medicine. United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity defines biotechnology as: Any technological application that uses biological systems, living organisms, or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or processes for specific use. Biotechnology is often used to refer to genetic engineering technology of the 21st century,

Aplication Biotechnology has applications in four major industrial areas, including health care (medical), crop production and agriculture, non food us- es of crops and other products, and environmental uses. For example, one aplication of biotechnology is the directed use of organisms for the manufacture of organic products (examples include beer and milk pro- ducts). Another example is using naturally present bacteria by the mi- ning industry in bioleaching. Biotechnology is also used to recycle, tr- eat waste, clean up sites contaminated by industrial activities (biore- mediation), and also to produce biological weapons.

Branches of biotechnology: Blue biotechnology Green biotechnology Red biotechnology White biotechnology

Blue biotechnology Blue biotechnology is a term that has been used to describe the marine and aquatic applications of biote- chnology, but its use is relatively rare.

Green biotechnology Green biotechnology Green biotechnology is biotechnology applied to agricultural processes. An example would be the selection and domestication of plants via micropropagation. Another example is the designing of transgenic plants to grow under specific environme- ntal conditions or in the presence (or absence) of certain agricultural chemicals.

As ex-president Jimmy Carter stated: ”Responsible biotechnology is not an enemy, starvation is. Without an adequate supply of food at available prices we cannot expect world health or peace”.

Red biotechnology Red biotechnology refers to the use of organisms for the improvement of medical processes. It includes the designing of organisms to manufacture pharmaceutical products like antibiotics and vaccines, the engineering of genetic cures through genomic manipulation, and its use in forensics through DNA profiling.

White biotechnology White biotechnology, also known as industrial biotechnology, is biote- chnology applied to industrial processes. An example is the designing of organisms to produce a useful chemical.