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What is biotechnology?Biotechnology is the term used to describe a group or collection of technologies which capitalise on the attribute of cells, an example of this is manufacturing capabilities and their DNA and proteins are made to work for us.Biotechnology however isn't something new, we have used biological process for over 6,000 years to achieve more useful food products, such as cheeses and bread and to help us preserve dairy products. It wasn't however until the 60`s and 70`s that we gained a better understanding of biology and we reached a point where we could start to use only the very smallest part of an organism, the molecules. Cells and biological molecules Everything has a basic building block and cells are the building blocks of all living things, the most simplest of all living things is yeast, this consists of one single living cell that is self sufficient. Plants, humans and animals however are more complex and are made up of many different types of cells each with their own specific job to do, but despite the diversity of cell types in living things, they are all remarkably similar and it is these cells which are the foundation for biotechnology. Cells all share the same basic design, are made of the same material and operate using the same processes, with DNA being the genetic material of all living things. DNA is what directs cell construction while proteins do all the work, as DNA contains all the necessary information for making proteins it can direct cell processes by determining which proteins are made and when they are made. All cells understand each other and because they understand each other, one cell can be read and implemented by another cell from another living thing. So technologies based on biological molecules and cells can now provide us with greater flexibility in using nature's diversity. Biological products are now able to solve very specific problems and have fewer unwanted consequences because biological molecules and cells are very specific in the way they interact with each other, so today's biotechnology is perhaps best described simply as, specific, precise and very predictable. Some interesting facts about biotechnology in the industry * Biotech drugs are helping us strive towards the better understanding of illnesses and how to cure them, there are currently over 300 drug products and vaccines currently running in clinical trials aimed at various types of cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer's disease, aids and arthritis. * Food supplies are being enhanced and dependence on chemical pesticides is being reduced with consumers already enjoying the benefits from foods such as soya beans, corn and papaya. * Pollution eating microbes are being used to ensure it is possible to clean up hazardous waste more efficiently without the use of caustic chemicals. * There have been drastic improvements in criminal investigation techniques and forensic medicine where DNA fingerprinting which is a biological process was introduced. |
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