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Biotechnology

Biotechnology encompasses the application of living organisms to develop products for human welfare, with its origins traced back to 1919. It involves processes like bioprocess engineering and genetic engineering to produce pharmaceuticals and enhance agricultural practices, contributing to advancements such as pest-resistant crops. However, biotechnological research faces ethical challenges, including animal welfare and the potential for misuse of genetic engineering.

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14 views1 page

Biotechnology

Biotechnology encompasses the application of living organisms to develop products for human welfare, with its origins traced back to 1919. It involves processes like bioprocess engineering and genetic engineering to produce pharmaceuticals and enhance agricultural practices, contributing to advancements such as pest-resistant crops. However, biotechnological research faces ethical challenges, including animal welfare and the potential for misuse of genetic engineering.

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salihougueye1998
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Biotechnology is defined as the broad area of biology which uses both the technology

and the application of living organisms and their components to develop, modify and produce
useful products for human welfare. The term ‘Biotechnology’ was coined in the year 1919 by
an agricultural engineer Karoly Ereky; hence he is called the Father of Biotechnology. It is
one of the oldest industrial technologies that have ever been recorded. For example, the
application of fermentation in alcohol production is a biological technique that has grown

Bioprocess engineering is the multiplication of cells in the bioreactors. A large amount


of culture is obtained in the process, which produces a higher yield of the required protein.
The products that are obtained are subjected to a series of processes. The products are purified
by downstream processing and subjected to quality checks before undergoing further trials.
This process is used to manufacture antibiotics, vaccines and other therapeutic medicines.

The underlying principle used in this process is to alter the existing organisms by
modifying the genetic makeup of the organism, which involves recombinant DNA
technology. Genetic engineering involves the manipulation of the gene to its base level, to
produce artificially enhanced organisms, including DNA cloning and Recombinant DNA
technology. Chemical engineering’s main point of distinction between biotechnology and
chemical engineering is the scale of operation as mostly the products from biotechnology are
low on the volume of biochemical and high on value. Biotechnology increased the scope of
pharmaceuticals.

The use of biotechnology in the field of agriculture gave way to the Green Revolution.
The contribution of biotechnology in the field of agriculture includes organic agriculture,
agrochemical-based agriculture and genetically engineered crop-based agriculture. It has also
proved to be beneficial for the introduction of pest-resistant plants and genetically modified
crops that increase food production and help to meet the needs of the growing human
population. The involvement of recombinant DNA technology has permitted the mass
production of safe and more effective therapeutic drugs. These drugs are produced as a result
of genetic engineering.

Biotechnological research faces several ethical challenges, including the use of


animals in research, the potential for bioterrorism, and the equitable distribution of research
benefits. The use of animals, particularly in cancer research, raises significant ethical concerns
due to the pain and suffering inflicted on these animals. Additionally, the potential misuse of
genetically engineered organisms for harmful purposes necessitates stringent ethical
guidelines and regulatory oversight.

Adapted from Geeksforgeek.org/biotechnology and its fundamentals, July 23rd 2025

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