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Karoly Ereky, an agricultural engineer, introduced the term ‘biotechnology’ in 1919.
Biotechnology helps develop vaccines and antibiotics. Cross-pollination, cross-breeding, and grafting are some of the methods used in biotechnology. Biotechnology uses living creatures and their components to develop, modify, and make products beneficial to human health and well-being.
In order to create better fuel stocks with increased efficiency and capacity, scientists use genetic engineering and enzyme optimisation techniques, which also come under biotechnology. Biotechnology’s principles are also used in the biofuels sector to purify and ferment alternative fuels like biodiesel, bio-oil, and even bioethanol.
Biotechnology in Agriculture
Agriculture relies heavily on biotechnology. It aids in developing novel crop types. This branch of study enables modifying a crop so that it is disease-free. It helps cultivate plant tissue and cell cultures, which are used as diagnostic reagents in laboratories. It is possible to grow many kinds of rice, barley, wheat, and other crops using biotechnology principles like mutation.
In addition, biotechnology is widely utilised to improve common ornamental plants, particularly trees and shrubbery. Since the biofuel business benefits from the production of specific plants, farmers can use pesticides on weeds without affecting their crops (genetically modified crops).
Pharmaceutical
Biotechnological techniques help diagnose diseases and repair damaged cells using recombinant DNA technology and gene therapy. It helps treat cancer, hepatitis and heart disease, to name a few. For instance, genetically-modified insulin helps to manage diabetes.
Pharmacogenomics and genetic testing also benefit from biotechnology. Pharmacogenomics is a genetically enhanced method for deducing traits from DNA. While genetic testing helps identify criminals and biological parents.
Biotechnological techniques play a key role in gene therapy. It helps detect genetic disorders. Gene defects in embryos and children using various techniques.
Environment
The use of biotechnology can alleviate environmental pressures like pollution management. Pollution can be reduced by using genetically modified and engineered microorganisms. Bio-treatment technologies such as phytoremediation and bioremediation help reduce pollution by removing toxic chemicals from gases, solids, and water.
More farmers are turning to organic methods to reduce pollution while producing high-quality crops. This shift from chemical fertilisers and pesticides to bio-based alternatives has reduced environmental risks. Biotechnological techniques are also being used to help tackle the problem of plastics.
Molecular Diagnosis
To properly treat a disease, early diagnosis and understanding are critical. It is possible to detect disease at an early stage because of biotechnological techniques such as Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), Recombinant DNA technology, and Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA).
Biotechnology in Medicine
The recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid technology has contributed to healthcare developments by allowing the production of safe and simple medications. Gene splicing is the primary mechanism for producing medicines. It is used to create the genetically-engineered insulin known as humulin, which treats diabetes. As a result of the advances in biotechnology, gene therapy can now treat genetic diseases in developing embryos.
Genetically Modified Animals
Animals are classified as transgenic if they have a different gene-spliced into their genome to alter its function. Rats, rabbits, pigs, sheep, cows, and fish are a few examples of transgenic animals. Currently, the mouse comprises the maximum percentage of existent transgenic animals.
The quality and quantity of fish can be improved through biotechnology. The fish are given a dose of gonadotropin-releasing hormone to help them reproduce. As a result, they grow faster and develop better genetic traits.
Production of Antibiotics
Thanks to biotechnology, plants may be used to produce vaccinations, medicines, and synthetic hormones. The encoded proteins are produced in plants by introducing genes with the desired properties into the plants. Such treatments can help produce antibiotics and cure several disorders.
Conclusion
Biotechnology uses genetically modified organisms, such as plants, microorganisms, and animals, to manufacture various beneficial products, such as biofuels and antibiotics. There are numerous applications of biotechnology, such as waste treatment, food processing, diagnostic and therapeutic applications, bioremediation, energy production, and more.
