About Biotech
 discovering a world of Biotechnology

Defining Biotechnology

The word biotechnology is a cross between the Greek words 'bios' (everything to do with life) and 'technikos' (involving human knowledge and skills).  The OECD (the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development) defines biotechnology as "the application of scientific and engineering principles to the processing of materials by biological agents".  More simply, it is using living organisms to make useful products.

Production may be carried out by using intact organisms, such as yeasts and bacteria, or by using natural substances (e.g. enzymes) from organisms. Biotechnology makes use of biological systems and processes to manufacture useful products and provide services.

History

The word 'biotechnology' was coined by Karl Ereky, a Hungarian engineer in 1919. He used biotechnology as an umbrella term to describe methods and techniques that allow the production of substances from raw materials with the aid of living organisms.

The biological systems that have traditionally been used are organisms such as yeasts, fungi or bacteria. Examples of biotechnological processes "avant la lettre" include beer brewing or wine and cheese making. Our ancestors sought new ways to produce more food or new foods. It was an extremely slow process : plant breeders for example crossed plants to produce varieties with particular traits or characteristics (such as a particular petal colour or better resistance against a virus). But as each plants has tens of thousands of genes, this was very much a matter of trial and error. The ancient Egyptians developed fermentation, bread-making, brewing and cheese making. Yeasts are living organisms meaning that bread- and cheese making are biological processes.

Crossing animals, was just as difficult, which, however, did not discourage the breeders : a cow today gives many times more milk than its 19th century ancestor.

Modern Biotechnology

In recent decades biotechnology has gained considerable momentum and has developed at a fast rate in response to increasing knowledge of biological mechanisms. Some new technological developments such as the large-scale production of human proteins as medicines via biotechnology yield better forms of treatment for diseases such as multiple sclerosis and some types of cancer, and for the first time in history have made it possible to treat patients with rare genetic diseases. Other applications have found their place in the agricultural sector. Sectors such as bioinformatics have had a tremendous impact and continually drive research and development in a wide array of sectors.

DNA and Genetic Modification

The great breakthrough arrived when scientists discovered how hereditary material, DNA, is stored in cells and functions. This knowledge made it possible to change the DNA of a cell in such a way that the properties of a cell could be steered in a certain direction. Armed with this ability, scientists succeeded in using biological processes for applications that are useful to people, animals and the environment, which opened up markets to them.

The charting of the Human Genome Project is also extremely interesting to the biotechnological industry, not least from a medical perspective. This knowledge opens up possibilities for the development of new medicines, vaccines, diagnostics and the detection of hereditary abnormalities and perhaps even gene therapy.

For more information and advice on DNA and DNA research please visit explore dna: DNA Advice & Information for the Novice.

Biotechnology and the Environment

The Future of Biotechnology

The commercial success of bioproducts and processes depends on scientific, technological and environmental innovation and on a supportive regulatory framework. Nevertheless, Europe is currently well placed to develop good products for the market, building on its established strengths:

• Europe has a solid chemical, pulp and paper, woodworking and biotechnology industry infrastructure;

• Europe is the world leader in key industrial biotechnologies such as enzyme technologies, and both small- and large-scale fermentation. The key enzyme-business players are heavily concentrated in Europe;

• Europe is very strong in the development and production of biobased specialities (such as food ingredients, pharmaceuticals, and fine chemicals);

• Renewable raw materials are available in Europe, but competition is increasing;

• Europe has an education system that performs to a high standard and provides an extremely highly skilled workforce.

New developments for second and third generation biotechnoloy applications have been increasing and will shape the future markets for decades to come.