Definitions

The wide concept of "biotech" or "biotechnology" encompasses a wide range of procedures for
modifying living organisms according to human purposes, going back to domestication of
animals, cultivation of the plants, and "improvements" to these through breeding programs that
employ artificial selection and hybridization. Modern usage also includes genetic engineering as
well as cell and tissue culture technologies. The American Chemical Society defines
biotechnology as the application of biological organisms, systems, or processes by various
industries to learning about the science of life and the improvement of the value of materials and
organisms such as pharmaceuticals, crops, and livestock.[3] As per European Federation of
Biotechnology, biotechnology is the integration of natural science and organisms, cells, parts
thereof, and molecular analogues for products and services.[4] Biotechnology also writes on[clarification
needed]
the pure biological sciences (animal cell culture, biochemistry, cell
biology, embryology, genetics, microbiology, and molecular biology). In many instances, it is also
dependent on knowledge and methods from outside the sphere of biology including:

bioinformatics, a new brand of computer science

bioprocess engineering
biorobotics
chemical engineering
Conversely, modern biological sciences (including even concepts such as molecular ecology) are
intimately entwined and heavily dependent on the methods developed through biotechnology and
what is commonly thought of as the life sciences industry. Biotechnology is the research and
development in the laboratory using bioinformatics for exploration, extraction, exploitation and
production from any living organisms and any source of biomass by means of biochemical
engineering where high value-added products could be planned (reproduced by biosynthesis, for
example), forecasted, formulated, developed, manufactured, and marketed for the purpose of
sustainable operations (for the return from bottomless initial investment on R & D) and gaining
durable patents rights (for exclusives rights for sales, and prior to this to receive national and
international approval from the results on animal experiment and human experiment, especially
on the pharmaceutical branch of biotechnology to prevent any undetected side-effects or safety
concerns by using the products).[5][6][7]
By contrast, bioengineering is generally thought of as a related field that more heavily
emphasizes higher systems approaches (not necessarily the altering or using of biological
materials directly) for interfacing with and utilizing living things. Bioengineering is the application
of the principles of engineering and natural sciences to tissues, cells and molecules. This can be
considered as the use of knowledge from working with and manipulating biology to achieve a
result that can improve functions in plants and animals.[8]Relatedly, biomedical engineering is an
overlapping field that often draws upon and applies biotechnology (by various definitions),
especially in certain sub-fields of biomedical and/or chemical engineering such as tissue
engineering, biopharmaceutical engineering, and genetic engineering.
History

Brewing was an early application of biotechnology

Main article: History of biotechnology

Although not normally what first comes to mind, many forms of human-derived agriculture clearly
fit the broad definition of "'utilizing a biotechnological system to make products". Indeed, the
cultivation of plants may be viewed as the earliest biotechnological enterprise.
Agriculture has been theorized to have become the dominant way of producing food since
the Neolithic Revolution. Through early biotechnology, the earliest farmers selected and bred the
best suited crops, having the highest yields, to produce enough food to support a growing
population. As crops and fields became increasingly large and difficult to maintain, it was
discovered that specific organisms and their by-products could effectively fertilize, restore
nitrogen, and control pests. Throughout the history of agriculture, farmers have inadvertently
altered the genetics of their crops through introducing them to new environments
and breeding them with other plants one of the first forms of biotechnology.
These processes also were included in early fermentation of beer.[9] These processes were
introduced in early Mesopotamia, Egypt, China and India, and still use the same basic biological
methods. In brewing, malted grains (containing enzymes) convert starch from grains into sugar
and then adding specific yeasts to produce beer. In this process, carbohydrates in the grains
were broken down into alcohols such as ethanol. Later other cultures produced the process
of lactic acid fermentation which allowed the fermentation and preservation of other forms of
food, such as soy sauce. Fermentation was also used in this time period to produce leavened
bread. Although the process of fermentation was not fully understood until Louis Pasteur's work
in 1857, it is still the first use of biotechnology to convert a food source into another form.
Before the time of Charles Darwin's work and life, animal and plant scientists had already used
selective breeding. Darwin added to that body of work with his scientific observations about the
ability of science to change species. These accounts contributed to Darwin's theory of natural
selection.[10]
For thousands of years, humans have used selective breeding to improve production of crops
and livestock to use them for food. In selective breeding, organisms with desirable characteristics
are mated to produce offspring with the same characteristics. For example, this technique was
used with corn to produce the largest and sweetest crops.[11]
In the early twentieth century scientists gained a greater understanding of microbiology and
explored ways of manufacturing specific products. In 1917, Chaim Weizmann first used a pure
microbiological culture in an industrial process, that of manufacturing corn
starch using Clostridium acetobutylicum, to produce acetone, which the United
Kingdom desperately needed to manufacture explosives during World War I.[12]
Biotechnology has also led to the development of antibiotics. In 1928, Alexander
Fleming discovered the mold Penicillium. His work led to the purification of the antibiotic
compound formed by the mold by Howard Florey, Ernst Boris Chain and Norman Heatley to
form what we today know as penicillin. In 1940, penicillin became available for medicinal use to
treat bacterial infections in humans.[11]
The field of modern biotechnology is generally thought of as having been born in 1971 when Paul
Berg's (Stanford) experiments in gene splicing had early success. Herbert W. Boyer (Univ. Calif.
at San Francisco) and Stanley N. Cohen (Stanford) significantly advanced the new technology in
1972 by transferring genetic material into a bacterium, such that the imported material would be
reproduced. The commercial viability of a biotechnology industry was significantly expanded on
June 16, 1980, when the United States Supreme Court ruled that a genetically
modified microorganism could be patented in the case of Diamond v. Chakrabarty.[13] Indian-born
Ananda Chakrabarty, working for General Electric, had modified a bacterium (of
the Pseudomonas genus) capable of breaking down crude oil, which he proposed to use in
treating oil spills. (Chakrabarty's work did not involve gene manipulation but rather the transfer of
entire organelles between strains of the Pseudomonas bacterium.
Revenue in the industry is expected to grow by 12.9% in 2008. Another factor influencing the
biotechnology sector's success is improved intellectual property rights legislationand
enforcementworldwide, as well as strengthened demand for medical and pharmaceutical
products to cope with an ageing, and ailing, U.S. population.[14]

What is Biotechnology?
At its simplest, biotechnology is technology based on biology - biotechnology
harnesses cellular and biomolecular processes to develop technologies and
products that help improve our lives and the health of our planet. We have used the
biological processes of microorganisms for more than 6,000 years to make useful
food products, such as bread and cheese, and to preserve dairy products.

Modern biotechnology provides breakthrough products and technologies to combat

debilitating and rare diseases, reduce our environmental footprint, feed the hungry,
use less and cleaner energy, and have safer, cleaner and more efficient industrial
manufacturing processes.

Currently, there are more than 250 biotechnology health care products and vaccines
available to patients, many for previously untreatable diseases. More than 13.3
 million farmers around the world use agricultural biotechnology to increase yields,
prevent damage from insects and pests and reduce farming's impact on the
environment. And more than 50 biorefineries are being built across North America to
test and refine technologies to produce biofuels and chemicals from renewable
biomass, which can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Recent advances in biotechnology are helping us prepare for and meet societys
most pressing challenges. Here's how:

HEAL THE WORLD

Biotech is helping to heal the world by harnessing nature's own toolbox and using
our own genetic makeup to heal and guide lines of research by:

Reducing rates of infectious disease;

Saving millions of children's lives;
Changing the odds of serious, life-threatening conditions affecting millions around the world;
Tailoring treatments to individuals to minimize health risks and side effects;
Creating more precise tools for disease detection; and
Combating serious illnesses and everyday threats confronting the developing world.

FUEL THE WORLD

Biotech uses biological processes such as fermentation and harnesses biocatalysts
such as enzymes, yeast, and other microbes to become microscopic manufacturing
plants. Biotech is helping to fuel the world by:

Streamlining the steps in chemical manufacturing processes by 80% or more;

Lowering the temperature for cleaning clothes and potentially saving $4.1 billion annually;
Improving manufacturing process efficiency to save 50% or more on operating costs;
Reducing use of and reliance on petrochemicals;
Using biofuels to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 52% or more;
Decreasing water usage and waste generation; and
Tapping into the full potential of traditional biomass waste products.
 FEED THE WORLD
Biotech improves crop insect resistance, enhances crop herbicide tolerance and
facilitates the use of more environmentally sustainable farming practices. Biotech is
helping to feed the world by:

Generating higher crop yields with fewer inputs;

Lowering volumes of agricultural chemicals required by crops-limiting the run-off of these
products into the environment;
Using biotech crops that need fewer applications of pesticides and that allow farmers to
reduce tilling farmland;
Developing crops with enhanced nutrition profiles that solve vitamin and nutrient
deficiencies;
Producing foods free of allergens and toxins such as mycotoxin; and
Improving food and crop oil content to help improve cardiovascular health.

Regulation
Main articles: Regulation of genetic engineering and Regulation of the release of genetic
modified organisms

The regulation of genetic engineering concerns approaches taken by governments to assess and
manage the risks associated with the use of genetic engineering technology, and the
development and release of genetically modified organisms (GMO), including genetically
modified crops and genetically modified fish. There are differences in the regulation of GMOs
between countries, with some of the most marked differences occurring between the USA and
Europe.[66] Regulation varies in a given country depending on the intended use of the products of
the genetic engineering. For example, a crop not intended for food use is generally not reviewed
by authorities responsible for food safety.[67]The European Union differentiates between approval
for cultivation within the EU and approval for import and processing. While only a few GMOs
have been approved for cultivation in the EU a number of GMOs have been approved for import
and processing.[68] The cultivation of GMOs has triggered a debate about coexistence of GM and
non GM crops. Depending on the coexistence regulations incentives for cultivation of GM crops
differ.[69]