1.

Introduction and definition

WHAT IS BIOTECHNOLOGY?

 Biotechnology is branch of science in which living things are used to make new products
useful for mankind.
 Biotechnology is the use of living systems and organisms to develop or make useful
products, or "any technological application that uses biological systems, living organisms
or derivatives to make or modify products or processes for specific use“

2. Classical Vs Modern Biotechnology

• Biotechnology, often referred to as biotech, has existed since the beginning of
civilization with the domestication of plants, animals or modifying their genetic makeup through
selective breeding and the discovery of fermentation.

2.1.Oldest form of biotechnology

 In past people used yeast cells to ferment alcoholic drinks and the bacteria to make
cheese and yoghurt.
 Classical biotechnology- built on ancient biotechnology; Fermentation promoted food
production, and medicine.
 Term coined by a Hungarian engineer Karl Ereky Modern biotechnology started in
California in 1970’s Before 1971, the term biotechnology was used primarily in food
processing and agriculture industries.

3. Modern Biotechnology
The modern practice of biotechnology draws from various disciplines of science and
technology, including the following:

 molecular biology
 chemistry
 Biochemistry
 genetic engineering
 genomics
 nanotechnology
 informatics

This approach has resulted in innovations and breakthroughs in the following areas:

 medicines, medical diagnostics and therapeutics that prevent and treat disease;
 biofuels that are sustainable, reducing waste and pollution; and
 genetically modified organisms (GMOs) that lead to more efficient and cost-effective
agriculture.
 Thus, today many things are produced:

 Pharmaceutical compounds such as antibiotics.

 Amino Acids .
 Many chemicals, hormones, and pigments.
 Enzymes with a large variety of uses.
 Biomass for commercial and animal consumption (such as single-cell protein).

TYPES OF BIOTECHNOLOGY

I. Green biotechnology (agricultural applications)

II. White biotechnology (industrial applications)
III. Red biotechnology (medical applications)
IV. Blue biotechnology (aquatic applications)
V. Yellow biotechnology refers to processes that aid food production, the most popular application
being the fermentation of alcohol and cheese.
VI. Violet biotechnology ensures the practice of biotechnology is in compliance with laws and
ethical standards governing each field.
VII. Gold biotechnology also known as bioinformatics, is a cross between biological processes and
informatics. It refers to the methods use to gather, store and analyze biological. (bioinformatics =
collect, store, analyze and disseminate biological data and information, such as DNA and
amino acid sequences or annotations about those sequences.)
VIII. Dark biotechnology is the use of biotechnology for weapons or warfare.
I.
II. GREEN BIOTECHNOLOGY: • Use of biotechnological techniques in agriculture

Eg. Vitamin A deficiency is a serious problem and can cause blindness at a young age if left
untreated. Golden rice was genetically modified to produce beta-carotene (a precursor of vitamin
A that the body converts to vitamin A). A diet including golden rice can thus help to raise
vitamin A

III. WHITE BIOTECHNOLOGY • It is also called industrial biotechnology.

It is the designing of an organism to produce useful chemicals i.e enzymes. The use of biological
methods to optimize industrial processes. Applied by manufacturers of laundry detergents.
Includes research for new enzymes (proteins that remove oily and protein-based stains).
Enzymes that work under extreme conditions (wash temperatures of 20°C or 90°C). This often
entails modifying the enzymes of microorganisms for these processes.
RED BIOTECHNOLOGY • This term is used in medical processes

It includes: Production of medicines and pharmaceutical products for treating or diagnosing

disorders. Designing of organisms to manufacture antibiotics and vaccines. Engineering of
genetic defects through genomic manipulation. Use in forensics through DNA profiling,
Production of human insulin from non- human sources. Production of hormones like Interferons,
Cytokinins, Steroids and human growth hormones. Gene therapy for prevention and control of
diseases like hemophilia cystic fibrosis. Development of vaccines and antibodies for rabies, HIV,

IV. BLUE BIOTECHNOLOGY (aquatic applications)

It deals with marine or aquatic organisms and its relatively a new technology Marine
bioresources are used in Biological applications like molecular biological methods. Term blue
describes water in which these organisms survive.

The advantages of biotechnology?

Biotechnology production offers a variety of advantages and solutions to critical problems. The
main ones are the following:

 reducing pollution and waste to reverse terrible climate change and environmental
damage;
 creating healthier, stronger and more-sustainable food products that boost nutrition and
combat food insecurity;
 treating diseases in children before they are born by altering their genomes;
 designing medicine to boost the health and longevity of people, animals and plants; and
 cutting costs of farm supplies such as pesticides, while increasing crop yields and profits.
What are the disadvantages of biotechnology?
Biotechnology also comes with disadvantages and misuse. The main disadvantages include the
following:

 Biological warfare. The potential exists for the development of pathogens and epidemics
that could be used in a conflict zone to infect populations.
 Decrease in biodiversity. Monocropping or the farming of only a small number of
genetically engineered crops could shrink the natural gene pool of species and make them
less resilient and adaptable to sudden changes in environment.
 Loss of soil fertility. Bio-enhanced plants require more nutrients from soil and yield
more crops. This can drain soil of fertile nutrients, devastate farmland and require the use
of environmentally harmful fertilizers to make up for the nutrient shortfall.
 High costs. Biotechnology products often cost more than traditional products and have
the potential to raise pricing structures in various industries.
 Ethical considerations. Gene manipulation raises a range of ethical issues, such as the
genetic engineering of humans.
 Safety questions. Various groups have raised safety concerns about the health risks of
GMOs and biotech-related medical developments, such as mRNA vaccines.

Concerns about biotechnology's disadvantages have led to efforts to enact legislation restricting
or banning certain processes or programs, such as human cloning, GMOs and embryonic stem-
cell research.

Modern applications of biotechnology work most often through genetic engineering, which is
also known as recombinant DNA technology.