10 Examples of Biotechnology

Biotechnology

The biotechnology is the technological application that uses biology (biological systems and living organisms or their derivatives) to create or modify products or processes for the benefit of man and his environment. It uses Sciences as the physical, chemistry, mathematics and engineering for the development of its advances.

Biotechnology includes practices and discoveries in the field of medicine, industry, the farming and in caring for the environment. For example: onthe development of new drugs or treatments for certain diseases, the desacrop development and food productionnts, the treatment waste and recycling.

Types of biotechnology

Stages of biotechnology

The origin of biotechnology dates back to 4000 BC. C. (approx.) with the beginning of the first civilizations that used the mechanism of fermentation for making bread, cheese and wine. This gave rise to traditional biotechnology that uses living organisms to make food or other processes.

The term biotechnology It is attributed to the Hungarian engineer, Károly Ereki (1919). In the last century, modern biotechnology developed from detailed knowledge of the structure of DNA. This made possible its manipulation and the advancement of practices such as genomics, genetic engineering (such as the development of recombinant insulin or the

transgenic foods) and pharmaceutical therapies.

Advantages of biotechnology

Biotechnology risks

The application of biotechnology in agriculture is one of the areas that arouses the most controversy. Organizations, activist groups and consumers ask to limit the presence of genetically modified organisms (those that have been modified by genetic engineering) and call for labeling laws to inform consumers about the presence of these organisms in food.

Although studies conducted by the United Nations, the US National Academy of Sciences, the European Union, the American Medical Association, and others Organizations have reported that these practices are safe, there are fears for the long-term consequences that they may have on people's health and on the environment.

Genetic engineering also raises ethical and judicial issues. Techniques that artificially modify ecosystems, genetic manipulation or cloning generate fear and rejection in part of the population.

Examples of biotechnology

1. Antibiotics
2. Bacterial and yeast cultures
3. Skim, fortified, or long-life milk
4. Contributions to the fight against cancer
5. Biofuel production
6. Transgenic plants
7. Biodegradable plastics
8. Vaccines
9. Cloning
10. Growth hormones