And Calvin College wants to equip its students to be leaders in the field. Recently, the school approved a new major in biotechnology. This semester Calvin is offering its first course, Introduction to Biotechnology. But, despite its youth, biotechnology has made a significant impact on both the world of science and the world of the everyday consumer.
Human insulin is seen as one of the first products of biotechnology.
In fact, Genentech developed a method for producing human insulin in genetically altered organisms, often yeast or E coli. It was biotechnology of a very positive sort. Such positive developments continue. For example, in the works now is a vaccine-filled banana. Targeted for use in Third World countries such a banana may include in its genetic make-up a vaccine against cholera or hepatitis B. Health care workers could then transport the bananas to the people for painless ingestion which, unlike present vaccines, would need no special handling, equipment or refrigeration.