Introduction to Biotechnology Modern biotechnology, recognized as the technology of the next century, is regarded by industrialized countries as an immense area of new growth potential and opportunities. Biological processes provide or improve goods and services such as food and drugs. One example is the use of genes and yeast to produce the Hepatitis vaccine. Biotechnology is an applied science, aimed at harnessing the natural biological capabilities of microbial, plant and animal cells for the benefit of people. Biotechnology couples scientific and engineering principles with commercial considerations to develop and improve products and processes made from living systems.
Biotechnology is a part of our daily lives.
It is used in making the foods we eat, the medicines we take, and the plants we grow. It is used in caring for the environment. It solves problems in places as diverse as high-technology pharmaceutical facilities and the laundry room at home. Since the discovery of the structure of DNA, huge leaps have been made in understanding the mechanisms of cell function, metabolism, replication and product formation. Scientific advances in genetic engineering and molecular biology continue at a rapid pace.