biotechnology

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" the branch of engineering science in which biological science is used to study the relation between workers and their environments

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� �

PCRLinks.com
The Web Guide Of Polymerase Chain Reaction Technique
http://www.pcrlinks.com/

3LAW.com - US Patent, Trademark and Technology Law Attorney
Registered US patent lawyer with a multidisciplinary background in physics, chemistry, semiconductor, computer, electronics, medical technologies and biotech, located and licensed in the United States of America, speaking both English and Chinese (Mandarin), and providing worldwide services in patent law, trademark law and technology laws with a focus in the US and Chinese-speaking regions; also providing specialized services in EB-1 and EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) for outstanding scientists and engineers immigrating to US.
http://www.3law.com/

DAB Consulting Inc.
Executive Search Firm specializing in Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology, and IT Consulting clients
http://www.dabconsulting.com/

Campus Vienna Biocenter
The Campus Vienna BioCenter, one of the most important biotechnology clusters of Austria ensures a close co-operation between the resident university institutes (bundled in the Max F. Perutz Laboratories), to the university of applied sciences, biotechnology (FH Campus Wien), non-university research institutes (IMP, IMBA, GMI) and the companies (Intercell, Biovertis, Affiris, Bender Med of system, axon Neuroscience, Genosense, VBC Genomics, PR & D, dialog><gentechnik).
http://www.viennabiocenter.com/

SWIAT NAUKI - polish edition of scientific american
Polish popular science magasine based on Scientific American
http://www.swiatnauki.pl/

ENVIS Centre on Environmental Biotechnology
Department of Environmental Science, University of Kalyani, West Bengal
http://www.kuenvbiotech.org/

Global Scientific Consulting
A firm with a wide range of expertise based on academic and industrial experience.
http://www.consult-globalsci.com/

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

Illuminato Biotechnology
Providing expertise in genomics and bioinformatics applications to the biological research community. Specializing in the quality control and functional biological analysis of gene expression information.
http://www.illuminatobiotech.com/

Fedichem
The portal site for chemistry in Belgium. The chemical industry appears as a concerned and responsible actor for the environment, which controls the risks, supports the sustainable development and practices Responsible Care.
http://www.fedichem.be

Biosystems, Inc., Biosystems America, Biosystems Atlanta
Biosystems, Inc., is a private, for profit company chartered in 1976, the oldest biotechnology company in Georgia, and perhaps the entire SE US. It specializes in providing technical services such as research, development, laboratory analyses and scientific studies for quality assurance and regulatory affairs/compliance for agricultural, biotechnology, drug, environmental health, food and pharmaceutical industries.
http://www.biosystemsamerica.com/

Northern California Nanotechnology Initiative
Northern California's preeminence in cutting edge technologies, venture capital, hi-tech industries and entrepreneurial spirit, provide the competitive advantage for the region to become a leading nanotechnology cluster. By facilitating a multidisciplinary approach to develop the biotechnology, molecular electronics, advanced materials and manufacturing technologies of Northern California, we are redefining the industries that will dominate science and the economy in the 21st century
http://www.ncnano.org/

Olson Lewis Dioli & Doktor Architects& Planners, Inc.
Located in centuries-old Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA, Olson Lewis Dioli & Doktor is a full service architectural firm whose design process is a collaborative one. We work in partnership with our clients, listening closely, so that architectural solutions that we develop fully support our client's goals and aspirations. The firm has several areas of expertise For instance, some members of our staff focus on a portfolio of university, pharmaceutical and biotechnology laboratories, and their related corporate spaces such as offices, conference and presentation spaces, dining, reception and administrative areas. Another team collaborates with educational and institutional clients such as independent primary and secondary schools, and colleges throughout New England to provide campus plans and to design specific academic, administrative, arts and athletic facilities. The firm's residential background includes construction of new single-family homes and multi-unit housing complexes and communities, for clients ranging from luxury retirees and investors to those developing affordable (40B) accommodations. OLD&D's hospitality work encompasses inns, hotels and health spas, country clubs, race tracks, restaurants, recreational and resorts.
http://www.oldarch.com/

Strategic Resources Biotechnology and Medical Group www.srbmg.com
SRBMG is a national executive search firm specializing in biotechnology, pharmaceutical and the medical industry
http://www.srbmg.com/

Art, Science & Biotechnology
In 1999, under the name ‘Meat Factory’, Jan Willem Wartena (1960) started producing art works inspired by clones and the designer organism, since when his work has evolved from abstract organic to transgenic human.
http://www.artxs.org/

National Center for Biotechnology Information
U.S. government-funded national resource for molecular biology information. Access to many public databases and other references, including the draft human genome.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/

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

National Agricultural Library
Research affiliation: Association of Research Libraries.
http://www.nal.usda.gov/

Biotechnology Industry Organization
Biotechnology information, advocacy and business support.
http://www.bio.org/