Biotechnology is an applied branch of science and Biotechnologists use a living organism and its systems, or its products, to improve the quality of life of people. It is a highly advanced branch in today’s world that utilizes genetic, molecular, and cellular processes to bring about significant innovation and enhancement in everyday science. It has wide applications in the food industry and agriculture, the development of medicines, medical technology, biopolymers, and environmental conservation.
Applications of Biotechnology
Biotechnology has far-reaching applications in diverse fields of science, medicine, and more. Let us take a look at five major applications of biotechnology:
Application of Biotechnology in Agriculture
Food processing is essential for the transformation of raw food ingredients into processed food that is edible and remains fresh over time. A number of biotechnological techniques can be used to grow plants free of viruses, and other diseases. Traditional techniques to remove microbes such as the use of chemical pesticides have proven to be expensive and polluting to the soil and groundwater. Hence modern biotechnology has enhanced agricultural yield through the following methods:
- Genetic Engineering: A genetically engineered plant, also known as a genetically modified organism, or GMO is one that is grown via a new genetic modification (nGM) technique. The crops grown by this method use recombinant DNA (rDNA) technology which may include techniques such as genome editing, RNA-directed DNA methylation, transgrafting, agroinfiltration, haploid induction, or others. The genetic engineering of plants is regulated by biosafety frameworks specific to a country. Examples of GMO crops include corn, potato, soybean, etc.
- Micropropagation: It is an in-vitro technique using vegetative propagation under high intensity of light and controlled nutrition and temperature. This technique helps to grow plants that are on the verge of extinction, develop disease-free plants, and also for large-scale growth of plants. For instance, banana is commonly grown via micropropagation techniques.
- Transgenic Technique: It is a genome-editing technique to develop disease-free plants. Transgenic plants are developed by editing out a gene or adding a new gene to the original chromosomal DNA to create variants that are disease-free. For example, rice and sugarcane have been grown through transgenic methods.
- Somaclonal Variation: Phenotypic or genotypic variation can be introduced in plants by using somaclonal variation techniques, particularly by regeneration through the callus. In-vitro cell cultures are used to grow plants which are then termed ‘somaclonal’ Somaclonal variation can be used to develop cultivars that are pest-resistant. For example, tobacco, sugarcane, and potato are often cultivated through somaclonal biotechnology.
- Transcriptomics: Transcriptome sequencing allows scientists to study the genome of plants. Transcriptomics utilizes transcriptome sequencing technology to grow plants that are microbe-and stress-resistant crops such as maize, tobacco, etc.
- Fortification of Plants: Fortification implies increasing the nutritive potential of crops which is very beneficial in treating malnourishment. For example, ‘protato’ is a fortified potato crop that is genetically modified to provide more protein than a traditional potato crop.
Application of Biotechnology in Food Processing
Processing of food products using biotechnological techniques offers several advantages such as:
- The shelf-life of food is increased
- Food becomes more palatable
- Food quality is sustained and losses are reduced.
- Genetically modified crops reduce pollution, soil erosion, and pesticide use.
- Environmental pollution can be decreased using biotechnology
- The nutritive value of food items is increased by techniques such as genetic engineering
- The taste of foods can be improved
- Inedible food components can be converted into palatable ones
- Food losses are reduced leading to greater food security
- Biosensors can detect early signs of crop disease
Medical Applications of Biotechnology
Medical biotechnology uses living organisms to enhance the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases. Biotechnological tools aid medical professionals to offer precise diagnoses, tailored therapy for rare diseases, and combating illness efficiently. For instance, Tissue transfection is a gene transfer technology that helps in the repair and recovery of different body tissues. CRISPR is a highly advanced biotechnological method that helps in gene editing and manipulation. It is currently being used to detect genes of bacteria and viruses. Alteration of genes outside the body is possible via biotechnological techniques called recombinant DNA technology. It is often used in insulin production for diabetes. The pharmaceutical industry has benefited from the development of new drugs and analogues via biotechnological tools. The biotechnological applications that have enhanced the pharmaceutical world include:
- Synthesis of targeted new molecules for diseases: Insulin is a key drug that is used in the treatment of diabetes. Initially, insulin derived from pigs and cows was used in the synthesis of insulin for human use. In 1982, ‘Humulin’ or the first insulin derived from humans was approved for use by the United States FDA. A biotechnological method called recombinant DNA technology was initially used to synthesize human insulin in a bacteria named Escherichia coli.
- Designing new and stable drugs: Biotechnology is used to create stable medicines for therapeutic use with long shelf life and high bioavailability. Antimicrobial drugs for diseases such as malaria, the EBOLA virus, and anti-cancer drugs continue to be developed via novel biotechnological drug designing techniques.
- Gene Therapy or Stem Cell Therapy: It involves the substitution of a defective gene with a healthy one to treat diseases. Gene therapy may be somatic or germline therapy and is used to treat genetic diseases such as cancer.
Biomaterials and Biopolymers Based on Biotechnology
Biopolymers and Biomaterials have several applications in medicine and therapeutics because of their biocompatibility and safety. These include:
- Drug delivery systems such as insulin delivery
- Screening tools such as the ELISA assay for the detection of antibodies or antigens
- Production of antibiotics such as penicillin
- Wound dressings and adhesives
- Skin grafting
- Implants
- Wound healing and tissue regeneration
Biotechnology and the Environment
Environmental Biotechnology integrates both bioengineering principles as well as those of science to benefit the environment and the planet at large. Take a look at some advantages and applications of biotechnological processes used to improve the environment:
- Biomonitoring is a method of environmental surveillance through which the quality of air, water, and soil can be monitored.
- Bioremediation is a technique used to decrease the contamination of soil and water. This method involves biological agents such as plants and fungi to reduce the number of heavy metals and toxins.
- Waste Management via the use of bacteria and living organisms is another application of biotechnology to decontaminate the environment safely.
- Bioproducts such as spider silk, which is biodegradable and does not contaminate the environment, can be used for construction and military purposes.
- Biofuel production such as biodiesel is less polluting than the burning of conventional fossil fuels. Biodiesel is produced by the combination of alcohol with natural oil or fat, together with a catalytic agent.
- Biosensors combine a biological agent with a transducer. These sensors detect chemical molecules such as heavy metals, and pesticides via a biochemical change in the structure of the biosensor.
Conclusion
Biotechnology has revolutionized science, and its applications are increasing day by day. No field has been left untouched by biotechnology because of the safety, and versatility it has provided to medical, health, environmental, and therapeutic systems, to name a few. The Indian government has also launched unique Biotechnology Parks and Incubators. These have been developed by the Ministry of Science and Technology. The purpose of these parks is to convert research into much-needed services and products through infrastructure and funding. Startup India is another initiative by the government of India to encourage the growth of technological endeavours such as bio incubators, national workshops, and the facilitation of innovation and startups in biotechnology.
FAQs on Application of Biotechnology
1. What are the most common 4 uses of biotechnology?
Answer:
Modern biotechnology is frequently used and commercialized in four main sectors: agriculture, industry, medicine, and the environment.
2. What are the uses of biotechnology in the medical field?
Answer:
Biotechnology is applied in ways that increase the production of drugs like antibiotics, hormones like interferon and insulin, enzymes, vitamins, and toxins. The diagnosis of hereditary diseases is another application for it in medicine.
3. What uses does biotechnology have in agriculture?
Answer:
Biotechnology techniques offer practical, affordable solutions to pest control issues. Farmers have developed a protein that effectively combats pest problems from crops like cotton, corn, and potato.
4. What is the main objective of using biotechnology?
Answer:
The main objective of using biotechnology is to advance bioenergy usage, to create methods for turning waste resources into valuable materials, to create recombinant microbes using molecular biology or genetic engineering for specialized applications in industry and agriculture.