Development of Biotechnology
Biotechnology has developed by leaps and bounds during the past
century. The development of the biotechnology can be well understood under two
main heads namely conventional or traditional biotechnology and modern
biotechnology
This
is the kitchen technology developed by our ancestors, it is as old as
human civilization. This technology uses bacteria and other microbes in the
daily usage for preparation of dairy products like curd, ghee, cheese and in
preparation of foods like idli, dosa, nan, bread and pizza. This conventional
biotechnology also extends to preparation of alcoholic beverages like beer,
wine, etc.
With the advancement of the science and technology during the 18th
century, these kitchen technologies gained scientific validation.
There are two main features of this technology, that
differentiated it from the conventional technology are its i) ability to change
the genetic material for getting new products with specific requirement through
recombinant DNA technology ii) ownership of the newly developed technology and
its social impact. Today, biotechnology is a billion dollar business around the
world, pharmaceutical companies, breweries, agro industries and other
biotechnology based industries apply biotechnological tools for their product
improvement.
Modern biotechnology embraces all methods of genetic modification
by recombinant DNA and cell fusion technology. The major focus of biotechnology
are
·
Fermentation for production of acids, enzymes, alcohols, antibiotics,
fine chemicals, vitamins and toxins
·
Biomass for bulk production of single cell protein , alcohol, and
biofuel
·
Enzymes as biosensors, in processing industry
·
Biofuels for production of hydrogen, alcohol, methane
·
Microbial inoculants as biofertiliser, and nitrogen fixers
·
Plant and animal cell culture for production of secondary metabolites,
monoclonal antibodies
·
Recombinant DNA technology for production of fine chemicals,
enzymes, vaccines, growth hormones, antibiotics, and interferon
·
Process engineering – tools of biotechnology is used for effluent
treatment, water recycling.
This unit will reveal the various aspects of modern biotechnology,
its products and applications.
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