BIOTECHNOLOGY .......!!!!!

 What is Biotechnology ..............? 

 Biotechnology is the branch of science which deals with the application of biological techniques for human welfare.

 It involves the modification of genes by the enzymatic action which leads to the production of some biological entity like antibodies, vaccines etc which benefits the mankind.

                           Fig. 1.

History of Biotechnology :- 

The field of biotechnology began to develop rapidly from the 19th century with the discovery of microorganisms, Gregor Mendel’s study of genetics and groundbreaking work on fermentation and microbial processes by giants in the field such as Pasteur and Lister.

 Early 20th-century biotechnology leads to the major discovery of penicillin by Alexander Fleming, which went into large-scale production in the 1940s.

Biotechnology took off in the 1950s, spurred by a better understanding in the post-war period of cell function and molecular biology. 

Every decade since then produced major breakthroughs in biotechnology. 

Some of the highlights are the following:

- The discovery of the 3D structure of DNA in the 1950s

- Insulin synthesis and the development of vaccines for measles, mumps, and rubella in the 1960s

- Massive strides in DNA research in the 1970s

- The development of the first biotech-derived drugs and vaccines to treat diseases such as cancer and hepatitis B in the 1980s

- The identification of numerous genes and the introduction of new treatments in decades for managing multiple sclerosis and cystic fibrosis in the 1990s

- The completion of the human genome sequence in the 1990s, which made it possible for scientists worldwide to research new treatments for diseases with genetic origins like cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s

Branches of Biotechnology :- 

The five main branches are:

 (1) Animal Biotechnology 

(2) Medical Biotechnology 

(3) Industrial Biotechnology 

(4) Environmental Biotechnology 

(5) Plant Biotechnology.

(1) Animal Biotechnology:

It deals with the development of transgenic animals for increased milk or meat production with resistance to various diseases. It also deals with in vitro fertilization of egg and transfer of embryo to the womb of female animal for further development.

(2) Medical Biotechnology:

It deals with diagnosis of various diseases; large scale production of various drugs and hormones such as human insulin and interferon; vaccines for chicken pox, rabies, polio etc. , and growth hormones, such as bovine. In the field of medical science, genetic engineering has helped in the large scale production of hormones, blood serum proteins; in the development of antibiotics, and other medically useful products. 

(3) Industrial Biotechnology:

It deals with commercial production of various useful organic substances, such as acetic acid, citric acid, acetone, glycerine, etc., and antibiotics like penicillin, streptomycin, mitomycin, etc., through the use of microorganisms especially fungi and bacteria. 

(4) Environmental Biotechnology:

It deals with detoxification of waste and industrial effluents, treatment of sewage water, and control of plant diseases and insects through the use of biological agents, such as viruses, bacteria, fungi etc.

(5) Plant Biotechnology:

Plant Biotechnology is a combination of tissue culture and genetic engineering. It deals with development of transgenic plants with resistance to biotic and abiotic stress; development of haploids, embryo rescue, clonal multiplication, cryopreservation etc.

Application of biotechnology :- 

The applications of biotechnology include -

 1) Therapeutics,

 2) Diagnostics, 

3) Genetically modified crops for agriculture,

 4) Processed food,

 5) Bioremediation, 

6) Waste treatment, 

7) Energy production.