Biotechnology is
technology based on biology, wherein it 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. Biotechnology is the third
wave in biological science and represents such an interface of basic and
applied sciences, where gradual and subtle transformation of science into
technology can be witnessed.
Biotechnology is
defined as the application of scientific and engineering principals to the
processing of material by biological agents to provide goods and services.
Biotechnology comprises a number of technologies based upon increasing
understanding of biology at the cellular and molecular level. The science of
biotechnology can be broken down into sub disciplines called red, white, green,
and blue.
• Red biotechnology involves medical processes such as getting organisms to
produce new drugs, or using stem cells to regenerate damaged human tissues and
perhaps re-grow entire organs.
•
White (or gray) biotechnology involves industrial processes such as the production
of new chemicals or the development of new fuels for vehicles.
•
Green biotechnology applies to agriculture and involves such processes as the
development of pest-resistant grains or the accelerated evolution of
disease-resistant animals.
• Blue biotechnology, rarely mentioned, encompasses processes in marine and
aquatic environments, such as controlling the proliferation of noxious
water-borne organisms.
Industrial
biotechnology is one of the most promising new approaches to pollution
prevention, resource conservation, and cost reduction. It is often referred to
as the third wave in biotechnology. If developed to its full potential,
industrial biotechnology may have a larger impact on the world than health care
and agricultural biotechnology. The application of biotechnology to industrial
processes is not only transforming how we manufacture products but is also
providing us with new products that could not even be imagined a few years ago.
Industrial biotechnology
has produced enzymes for use in our daily lives and for the manufacturing
sector. For instance, meat tenderizer is an enzyme and some contact lens
cleaning fluids contain enzymes to remove sticky protein deposits. In the main,
industrial biotechnology involves the microbial production of enzymes, which
are specialized proteins. These enzymes have evolved in nature to be
super-performing biocatalysts that facilitate and speed-up complex biochemical
reactions.
Industrial
biotechnology involves working with nature to maximize and optimize existing
biochemical pathways that can be used in manufacturing. The industrial
biotechnology revolution rides on a series of related developments in three
fields of study of detailed information derived from the cell: genomics,
proteomics, and bioinformatics.
Industrial
biotechnology companies use many specialized techniques to find and improve
nature's enzymes. Information from genomic studies on microorganisms is helping
researchers capitalize on the wealth of genetic diversity in microbial
populations.
Researchers first
search for enzyme-producing microorganisms in the natural environment and then
use DNA probes to search at the molecular level for genes that produce enzymes
with specific biocatalytic capabilities. Once isolated, such enzymes can be
identified and characterized for their ability to function in specific
industrial processes. If necessary, they can be improved with biotechnology
techniques
Industrial or White
Biotechnology is the application of biotechnology for the processing and
production of chemicals, materials and energy. White biotechnology uses enzymes
and micro-organisms to make products in sectors such as chemistry, food and
feed, paper and pulp, textiles and energy. White Biotechnology could provide
new chances to the chemical industry by allowing easy access to building blocks
and materials that were only accessible before via intricate routes or not at
all.
AnilaRani,
a professor in biotechnology educates various industrial processes that have contributed
to biotechnology’s attractiveness. She conducts various seminars and lectures
in all major aspects of economic activity, including agriculture, environmental
protection and industry, which are being challenged to demonstrate their sustainability.
Industrial Biotechnology can make a major contribution. It can, for example:
•
Make agriculture, including the forestry, wherein more
competitive and sustainable by creating new non-food markets
•
Improve the quality of life of European citizens while
reducing environmental impact by developing innovative products at affordable
costs
• Help industry increase its economic and environmental
efficiency and sustainability, while maintaining or improving its competitive
advantage and ability to generate growth
According
to Anila Rani, the White Biotechnology can make a positive impact across all
three dimensions of inability: Society, the Environment and the Economy. In
short, Industrial Biotechnology is a cornerstone of the knowledge-based
bio-economy. It adds value to agricultural products and builds new industrial production
schemes targeted towards an overall greater degree of sustainability.
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