Application of Biotechnology 1 - 952 Words

Biotechnology is a field of applied biology that involves the use of living organisms and bioprocesses in engineering, technology, medicine and other fields requiring bioproducts. The concept encompasses a wide range of procedures for modifying living organisms according to human purposes. 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. In the early twentieth century scientists gained a greater understanding of microbiology and explored ways of†¦show more content†¦However, while increases in crop yield are the most obvious applications of modern biotechnology in agriculture, it is also the most difficult one. Current genetic engineering techniques work best for effects that are controlled by a single gene. Many of the genetic characteristics associated with yield (e.g., enhanced growth) are controlled by a large number of genes, each of which has a minimal effect on the overall yield. There is, therefore, much scientific work to be done in this area. b. Reduced vulnerability of crops to environmental stresses: Crops containing genes that will enable them to withstand biotic and abiotic stresses may be developed. For example, drought and excessively salty soil are two important limiting factors in crop productivity. Researchers have also created transgenic rice plants that are resistant to rice yellow mottle virus (RYMV). In Africa, this virus destroys majority of the rice crops and makes the surviving plants more susceptible to fungal infections. c. Reduced dependence on fertilizers, pesticides and other agrochemicals: Most of the current commercial applications of modern biotechnology in agriculture are on reducing the dependence of farmers on agrochemicals. For example, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a soil bacterium that produces a protein with insecticidal qualities. Crops have also been genetically engineered to acquire tolerance to broad-spectrum herbicide. Multiple applications of numerous herbicidesShow MoreRelatedThe Application of Biotechnological Tools1775 Words   |  7 Pagesthat the application of creative biotechnological tools are indeed a blessing in disguise for the entire humanity. As per the researchers conducted across the world there are approximately 250 healthcare products that are devised on biotechnological foundations. Apart from them the medical world is blessed with the vaccines and the precautionary medicines that are serving to help the humanity in a positive constructive manner. One cannot ass ert that the science and rationale of biotechnology is notRead More Global Positioning System: Decreasing Crop Chemical Application on with Technology1003 Words   |  5 PagesDecreasing Chemical Application with Technology Works Cited Not Included Many people may wonder why it is so important to decrease chemical application on the farm. When people go to the store they often do not think about what goes into the apple or piece of bread they eat. The more chemicals that farmers use on the crops that are sold to the general public increase the chance that those chemicals get into the food we eat. There are many ways that the government and farmers are tryingRead MoreSocial and Ethical Technology Concerns-Biotechnology723 Words   |  3 PagesSocial and Ethical Technology Concerns-Biotechnology Biotechnology is technology based on living organisms. It harnesses cellular and biomolecular processes to develop technologies or products which are immensely useful to mankind. Biotechnology modifies living organisms according to our needs. Humans have employed this tool in the fields of agriculture, food industry and medicine for more than 6000 years. We see numerous biotechnological applications in our every-day life. Preparation of food productsRead MoreThe Debated Applications of Recombinant DNA Technology Essay703 Words   |  3 Pagesâ€Å"[...] any technological application that uses biological systems, living organisms, or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or processes for specific use.† This statement is often used to describe the fundamental aim of biotechnology around the world. Karl Ereky, one of the foremost proponents of the term biotechnology foresaw that â€Å"merging biology and technology could be used to transform living substances into pr oducts that are more useful than in their natural state,† thus benefitingRead MoreAdaptations And Applications Of Physical Extremes1646 Words   |  7 Pages Extremophiles: adaptations and applications to physical extremes On the earth, millions of organisms live in various environments. They need certain temperature, pH, nutrient growth, certain range of salt, pressure, water and so on. However, some organisms can live beyond these conditions which mean they can survive in extreme environmental conditions called Extremophiles (Gupta, Khare et al., 2014). These extreme environments are: highly pressure, acidic or alkaline region, high temperatureRead MoreThe Theory Of Bacterial Transformation1417 Words   |  6 PagesPhytopathological Society, 2016; The Biotechnology Education Company, 2003). It is a process whereby bacterial cells take up and express exogenous DNA, resulting in the expression of a newly acquired genetic trait that is both stable and heritable (The Biotechnology Education Company, 2003; Bruce Roe, n.d.). For transformation to take place, the bacterial cells must enter a particular physiological state, called ‘competency’, which will accommodate transformation (The Biotech nology Education Company, 2003).Read MoreAn Experimental Study on Hydrothermal Treatment of Sweet Sorghum Bagasse for the Extraction of Hemicellulose814 Words   |  3 Pageslignocellulosic materials that are required for the biorefinery operations to produce biofuels and biomaterials. A number of low temperature long residence time pretreatment processes have been proposed and investigated for the decentralized pretreatment applications (Bals, Teymouri et al. 2012). Many studies have investigated the low severity treatment processes for the lignocellulosic materials for the production of bioethanol. Study of the ammonia fiber expansion (AFEXâ„ ¢) pretreatment of corn stover at lowRead MoreGenetic Discoveries And Intellectual Property Rights1270 Words   |  6 PagesGenetic Discoveries and Intellectual Property Rights As technology has change, grown, and evolve so has the application of the Canadian Patent Act. Which before was used to deal with inventions that could be shown with prototypes, the Act is now being used to protect more abstract innovations, such genetic material. Patents cover new inventions such as process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement to an existing invention . Patents represent a contractRead MoreBiotechnology : Genetically Modified Organisms959 Words   |  4 PagesBiotechnology refers to using technology in biology. Some of the terms in biotechnology need to be defined here, because the public perception and regulations differ depending on what type of biotechnology is used. Biotechnology includes modifying the DNA or the genetic material of an organism to achieve a desired trait. Selective breeding is when two varieties of the same species are combined to produce a desired trait: for example, food crops have been genetically modified by humans for yearsRead MoreGenetics589 Words   |  3 PagesPrint Edit in MsWord Edit in WordPerfect Edit in ClarisWorks Student Worksheet LSM 6.3-5 Additional Activity: Switched at Birth! DNA Fingerprinting: An Application Although a rare occurrence, cases of babies switched at birth in a hospital have made the news in the past. Since an individual’s DNA sequence is unique, with the exception of identical twins, DNA fingerprinting is a reliable method used to determine the parents of a given baby. DNA fingerprints can be derived from restriction fragment-length