Biotechnology in everyday life The resulting fusion of genes (DNA) from two or more

organisms is called recombinant DNA. In present times,

The application of biological concepts in order to
produce products that would benefit humans is a part
of the increasing field referred to as biotechnology.
Biotechnology in a broader sense does not only
include the study of biology, but also the applications
of chemistry and engineering combined.
In addition, biotechnology is also related to computer
science, especially information technology; and to
physics, including fields such as biophysics and
nanotechnology.
The term "biotechnology" came from the words biol-
ogy and technology. It was coined in the 1970s when
the first genetically engineered bacteria were
reported. Since then, biotechnology is often
associated with genetic engi- neering, specifically in
the development of genetically en- gineered
microorganisms. In a broader sense, biotechnol- ogy
refers to the large-scale industrial use of biological
processes from microorganisms in order to produce
substances or to provide services to mankind.
Modifications of plant and animal characteristics can
also be classified as parts of biotechnology.
re- combinant DNA technology has been exploited in the
production of a wide range of products, including
medicines, health supplements, cos- metic products,
chemicals, and many more. The success of genetic
engineering is best illustrated with the story about the
Insulin.
The human hormone insulin, which controls sugar
metabolism, is one of the first commercially available
proteins produced by genetic engineering. Persons with
diabetes cannot produce enough insulin, and so they
need to take regular injections of insulin. Prior to the
availability of insulin produced by genetic engineering,
insulin needed by diabetics was extracted and purified
from the pancreases of slaughtered pigs and cows. This
method is very laborious and produces little purified
insulin, thereby making commercially available insulin
expensive. With the advent of genetic engineering, the
gene that codes for human insulin have been isolated
and fused Into the DNA of E. coli to produce recombinant
insulin

For thousands of years, humans have been using

microorganisms for the production of bread, wine,
beer, cheese, and yoghurt. In the Philippines,
microorganisms are used in an array of fermentation
processes, including the production of rice wines,
bagoong, patis, burong isda, nata de coco, palm
vinegars, and many other products.

Today, biotechnology encompasses manufacturing Schematic diagram showing how a restriction enzyme
processes that include the advances in genetic cuts DNA to produce recombinant plasmid
engineering, such as recombinant DNA technology,
monoclonal antibodies, and bioprocess technology. It
applies to any technique that manipulates or mimics a
natural process to improve one's physical and
economic well-being.

Genetic Engineering

The first genetically engineered microorganism was re-

ported in 1973 by Stanley Cohen and Herbert Boyer.
They isolated from an African clawed frog gene
(fragment of DNA) the code for ribosomal RNA (RNA)
and then inserted it into the circular DNA of bacteria Recombinant DNA technology is not possible without
called Escherichia coll. When the bacteria underwent a restriction enzymes, Restriction enzymes are proteins
process of transcription, it pro- duced frog rRNA! Such a often isolated from bacteria used in cutting DNA
process of manipulating genes is called genetic molecules. Spe- cific restriction enzymes cut specific
engineering.
sequences of DNA. The restriction enzyme EcoRi cuts
only DNA sequences GAATTC.