biotech

the branch of molecular biology that studies the use of microorganisms to perform specific industrial processes

"biotechnology produced genetically altered bacteria that solved the problem"

Biotechnology is technology based on biology, especially when used in agriculture, food science, and medicine.Of the many different definitions available, the one formulated by the UN Convention on Biological Diversity is one of the broadest::"Biotechnology is any technological application that uses biological systems, living organisms, or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or processes for specific use."One section of biotechnology is the directed use of organisms for the manufacture of organic products (examples include beer, milk products, and skin). Naturally present bacteriumbacteria are utilized by the mining industry in bioleaching. Biotechnology is also used to recycle, treat waste, clean up sites contaminated by industrial activities (bioremediation), and produce biological warfarebiological weapons.There are also applications of biotechnology that do not use living organisms. Examples are DNA microarrays used in genetics and radioactive tracers used in medicine.Modern biotechnology is often associated with the use of genetically altered microorganisms such as ''E. coli'' or yeast for the production of substances like insulin or antibiotics. It can also refer to transgenic animals or transgenic plants, such as Bt corn. Genetically altered mammalian cells, such as Chinese Hamster ovarian cells, are also widely used to manufacture pharmaceuticals. Another promising new biotechnology application is the development of plant-made pharmaceuticals.Biotechnology is also commonly associated with breakthroughs in new medical therapies and diagnostic devices.

Sub-fields of biotechnology - There are a number of jargon terms for sub-fields of biotechnology. Red biotechnology is biotechnology applied to medical processes. Some examples are the designing of organisms to produce antibiotics, and the engineering of genetic cures to diseases through genomegenomic manipulation.White biotechnology, also known as grey biotechnology, is biotechnology applied to Industryindustrial processes. An example is the designing of an organism to produce a useful chemical. White biotechnology tends to consume less in resources than traditional processes when used to produce industrial goods.Green biotechnology is biotechnology applied to agricultural processes. An example is the designing of an organism to grow under specific environmental conditions or in the presence (or absence) of certain agricultural chemicals. One hope is that green biotechnology might produce environmentally more friendly solutions than traditional industrial agriculture. An example of this is the engineering of a plant to express a pesticide, thereby eliminating the need for external application of pesticides. Whether or not green biotechnology products such as this are ultimately more environmentally friendly is a topic of considerable debate.Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary field which addresses biological problems using computational techniques. The field is also often referred to as computational biology. It plays a key role in various areas like functional genomics, structural genomics, and proteomics amongst others, and forms a key component in biotechnology and pharmaceutical sector.The term blue biotechnology has also been used to describe the marine and aquatic applications of biotechnology, but its use is relatively rare.

Biotechnology timeline -

8000 BC Collecting of seeds for replanting. Evidence that Babylonians, Ancient EgyptEgyptians and Ancient RomeRomans used selective breeding (artificial selection) practices to improve livestock.

6000 BC Brewing beer, fermenting wine, baking bread with help of yeast

4000 BC Chinese made yoghurtyogurt and cheese with lactic acidlactic-acid-producing bacteria

1500 Plant collecting around the world

1675 Microorganisms discovered (using first microscope)

1856 Gregor Mendel discovered the laws of inheritance

1919 Karl Ereky, a Hungarian engineer, first used the word biotechnology

1953 James D. Watson and Francis Crick describe the structure of DNA

1975 Method for producing monoclonal antibody developed by Kohler and Milstein

1980 Modern biotech is characterized by recombinant DNA technology. The prokaryote model, ''E. coli'', is used to produce insulin and other medicine, in human form. (About 5% of diabetics are allergic to animal insulins available before)

1994 FDA approves of the first GM food from Calgene: "Flavr Savr" tomato

2000 Completion of the Human Genome Project

Biotechnology firms - The top 10 publicly-traded biotechnology companies, ranked by 2003 sales, !are:#Amgen#Genentech#Serono#Bi ogen? !Idec#Chiron#Genzyme#MedImmune# Pfizer#Millennium? Pharmaceuticals#Applied Biosystems

Key visionaries and personalities in biotechnology sector - USA:David Botstein, Craig Venter, Sidney Brenner, Eric Lander, Leroy Hood, Robert Langer, Henry I. Miller, Roger Beachy, William Rutter, George Rathmann, Robert Swanson...Canada:To be updated...Europe:Paul D Kemp...Asia Pacific

See also -

Biochemistry

Bioengineering

Biomedical Engineering

Bioreactor

Biorobotics

Directive on the patentability of biotechnological inventionsEU Directive on the patentability of biotechnological inventions

Eugenics

Expression vector

Genetic engineering

Genetically modified food

Industrial biotechnology

Intein

List of environment topics

List of publications in biology#biotechnology

Molecular biology

Tissue Engineering

Substantial equivalence

Compare with -

Biomimetics

External links -

biotecnologia.co.cr - Costa Rican Biotechnology Society

bioquimica.cl - Chile's Biotechnology Society

fda.gov - FDA Website

kriger.com - Biotech Research Training

groups.yahoo.com - Biotech News

biorole.com - Careers in Biotechnology

clinqua.com - Clinical Research Services

ibpassociation.com - Biotechnology Companies Listings

kriger.com - International Clinical Research Services and Corporate Trainings

krctraining.com - Biotechnology Abbreviations and Acronyms

krctraining.com - Biotechnology Glossary / Definitions

kriger.com - List of Food and Drugs Regulatory Agencies

krctraining.com - Biotechnology: Frequently asked questions

arizonabiotech.com - Arizona Biotech

biologynews.net - Biotechnology News - Biology News Net

gene-watch.org - Council for Responsible Genetics

www-esbs.u-strasbg.fr - Trinational Biotechnology Degree: Ecole Supérieure de Biotechnologie de Strasbourg (ESBS)Technology Category:Biotechnology!*Category:pharmacologyCategory :clinical? !researchCategory:pharmaceutica l? !industryCategory:Environmentbn :জৈবপ্রযুক� �তিca:Biotecnologiacs:Biot echnologiede:Biotechnologiees: Biotecnologíaeo:Bioteknikofr: Biotechnologieid:Bioteknologii t:Biotecnologiahe:ביוטכנ ולוגיהla:Biotechnologiah u:Biotechnológianl:Biotechnol ogieja:バイオテクノロ� �ーpl:Biotechnologiasl:Bioteh nologijasu:Biotéhnologita:உ யிரித்? !தொழில்நுட் பம்th:เทคโนโ ลยีชีวภาพtr: Biyoteknolojizh:生物工程� � DEBUG REDIRECT (biotechnology)

www.lawgp.com
Green & Pagano, LLP is a full service law firm with offices in central and northern New Jersey. The Firm offers legal services in a range of legal disciplines. These areas include: Class Actions, Life Science and Biotech Intellectual Property and Patent Law, Matrimonial Matters (Divorce/Alimony), Criminal Defense, Pharmaceutical Mass Torts (VioxxAction.com) and Qui Tam or Whistleblower Cases.
http://www.lawmsg.com/

MVS Solutions
Management, enterprise and technology consulting firm- also providing business plans, operational plans, marketing plans, funding documents and strategy for new enterprise development, continuing enterprise development and startups in the high tech, biotech, life sciences, medical device, medical technology, pharmaceutical, natural products, personal healthcare, chemistry, environmental, homeland security, nanotechnology, materials sciences and related industries.
http://www.mvssolutions.biz/

IIT Biotech
biotech services - sequencing - cloning - libraries
http://www.iit-biotech.de/

StockFortune.de - Das Investor-Portal für Kapitalanleger
StockFortune.de - Das Investor-Portal für Kapitalanleger
http://www.stockfortune.de/

LifeSciencesWorld
Your online resource for biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical devices and life sciences industries.
http://www.lifesciencesworld.com/

BRESLIN
PRIVATE EQUITY - LIFE SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSACTIONS
http://www.breslin.ch/

Vision Passion Ideas
Drydock Center - Epicenter of Emerging High Tech on Boston's Waterfront
http://www.drydockcenter.com/

BioTech
Includes a searchable dictionary and chemical acronym database. Features information on bioinformatics, plant derivative applications, glycolysis, and profession resources. Written by the University of Texas and the University of Indiana.
http://biotech.icmb.utexas.edu/

Nature
Nature, International weekly journal of science.
http://www.nature.com/

Cato Research
A full-service, privately held contract research organization provides expertise in the development of drugs, biologics, medical devices, and nutrition products across a variety of therapeutic areas.
http://www.cato.com