What is Biotechnology?

Biotechnology is the combination of the two most interesting domains, i.e. Biology and Technology. It is the field of study where we use organisms, living or dead, and parts of organisms for specific purposes such as drug discovery, enzyme production, Bioprocessing, etc. It combines principles from biology, chemistry, genetics, and other disciplines to manipulate biological systems for various applications.

Biotechnology can encompass areas, such as genetic engineering, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, environmental science, and industrial processes.

Examples of biotechnological applications include producing genetically modified crops, developing vaccines and medicines, creating biofuels, and cleaning up environmental pollutants.

Genetically modified tomato variety!

Now, you might be wondering about the applications of biotechnology and what are its domains-

• Medical Biotechnology: Focuses on using biological systems and living organisms to develop products and technologies for healthcare purposes such as drug discovery, drug formulations, gene therapy, regenerative medicine, etc.

• Biopharmaceuticals: Involved in deriving pharmaceutical products from biological sources, such as proteins, antibodies, and nucleic acids. This domain focuses on the development and production of biologically-based drugs for treating various diseases, including cancer, autoimmune disorders, and infectious diseases.
  

• Industrial Biotechnology: Industrial biotechnology involves using biological systems or organisms to produce industrial products and processes. This includes bio-based manufacturing of chemicals, enzymes, biofuels, and materials, as well as bioremediation for environmental cleanup.

• Food Biotechnology: Food biotechnology involves applying biotechnological tools to improve the quality, safety, and nutritional value of food products. This includes genetic modification of crops for enhanced yield or nutritional content, as well as the development of enzymes and microorganisms for food processing and preservation.

• Bioinformatics: Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary field that combines biology, computer science, and information technology to analyze and interpret biological data. It involves the development of software tools and databases for storing, retrieving, and analyzing biological information, such as DNA sequences, protein structures, and gene expression data. I Hope you got a basic idea about biotechnology and its applications!!
  

Picture from our lab sessions.