cure diseases

Biotechnology

Introduction of Biotechnology:

Biotechnology is defined as the use of living organisms in processes for the manufacture of useful products or for services.Although the biotechnology is new,the discipline itself is very old. Fermentation and other such processes,which are based on the natural capabilities of organisms, are commonly considered as old biotechnology.

For your information:

• Human began using microorganisms as a early as 4000 BC for making wine,vinegar, cheese,yogurt etc.Some of these processes have become a part of every home that we may even hesitate to refer them as biotechnology.

• In Scotland, in 1997,an embryologist Ian Wilmut produced a sheep (Dolly) from the body cell of an adult sheep. 

 Genetic engineering:

Biotechnology, Genetic engineering i.e. the artificial synthesis, modification,removal,addition and repair of the genetic material (DNA) is considered as modern biotechnology.It is done to alter the characteristics of organisms. The work on genetic engineering is started in 1944 when it was proved that DNA carries the genetic information.Scientists isolated the enzymes of DNA synthesis  and then prepared DNA outside cells.In 1970s, they were able to cut and paste the DNA of organisms. In 1978, scientist prepared the human insulin by inserting the insulin gene in bacteria. Human growth hormone was also synthesized in bacteria.In 1990, the Human Genome Project was launched to map all the genes in human cell.The complete map of human genome was published in 2002.

Scope and importance of Biotechnology:

In recent years,biotechnology is growing as a separate science.It has attracted the attention of many intellectuals from diverse fields like agriculture,medicine, microbiology and organic chemistry.The scope for biotechnology is so wide that is difficult to recognize the limits. The following are some areas of the application biotechnology.

Biotechnology in field of medicine :

Biotechnology, In the field of medicine, biotechnologists synthesis insulin and interferon(antiviral proteins ) from bacteria and released for sale. A large number of vaccines and antibodies; human growth hormone and other medicines have also been produced.Various enzymes are being synthesized for medicinal as well as industrial use. Gene (therapy through genes) has become important in recent years. Biotechnology also proved much beneficial in forensic medicine.The study of DNA helps in the identification of criminals.

Biotechnology in field of food and agriculture: 

Biotechnology, Fermented foods (e.g. pickles, yogurt), malted foods(e.g. powdered milk: a mixture of barley, weight floor and whole milk), various vitamins and dairy products are produced by using microorganisms.Vine and beer are produced  in beverage industry.Biotechnology have also revolutionized research activities in the area of agriculture.Transgenic (organisms with modified genetic set-up) plants are being developed,in which desirable characteristics are presents e.g.more yields and resistance against diseases, insects and herbicides.Transgenic goats, chickens,cows give more food and milk etc.Many animals like mice,goats cows etc.have been made transgenic to get medicines through  their blood milk and urine.



Biotechnology and Environment:



Biotechnology is also being used for dealing with environmental issues, like pollution control, development of renewable sources for energy, restoration of degraded lands and biodiversity conservation. Bacterial enzymes are used to treat sewage water to purify. Microbes are being developed to be used as biopesticides ,biofertilizers,biosensors etc.Such transgenic microorganisms are also used for the recovery of metals cleaning of spilled oils and for many other purpose.


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Fears are also being expressed about the advances in biotechnology in terms of release of harmful organisms developed through recombinant DNA technology.