Thursday, November 20, 2008

Improve Your Biotechnology Knowledge

By Glyn R Russell

Biotechnology is an industry with constant growth and such developments are more often controversial than not. It all comes attached with a heavy demand, but brings in lots of profits too. As long as the desire for more and better understanding of things around us keep increasing, biotechnology will keep up with tis ever-growing speed and be a significant component of the changing world in every way.

Biotechnology could mean a great many variety of things and each of those can hold field branches as well. Some of the examples for biotechnology categories include genetically modified organisms in agriculture, antibody technologies, biopharmaceuticals, emerging technology, gene therapy, genetic engineering, molecular biology, research and development, environment/industrial biotechnology, enzymes, genomics, informatics, biomaterials etc.

There over 90 biotechnology products in various capacities today, including in the field of medicine. Several drugs and vaccines, as approved by the relevant authorities, are now in used worldiwde because of the progress made in biotechnology. In addition, there are approximately 350 more biotechnology drugs and vaccines in the testing stage, with human clinical trials underway for most of them. Research and development of over 500 more such substances for use in other fields, such as gene therapy and agriculture, are still being considered.

Biotechnology experiments and clinical trials give hope to many who suffer from fatal illnesses and gives the world in general the possibility of an eventual treatment and perhaps even a complete cure. Some of the drugs under testing are for AIDS, cancer, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease and diabetes.

Aside from the progress in the medical field, biotechnology has also made fascinating developments in other field, such as general biology and agriculture. We are now aware how specific genes create specific problems in a child and in some instances, how to reduce the effects caused by them too. While DNA was discovered in the 1970s and recorded a major breakthrough in scientific history, there's yet to be another such milestone. However, the progress in science so far is impressive and biotechnology is a key factor in it all.

In agriculture, the introduction of biopesticides is an advancement of biotechnology. Instead of using chemicals harmful to both humans and the natural environment, biopesticides can be used to get rid of just the pests. Biotechnology is often used as a primary aspect of chemical, energy and environmental management processes as well.

The biotechnology industry in general is an exceedingly fruitful sector, since biotech companies yield over $50 billion annually. Utilised in just about every area where living organisms are involved, biotechnology will proceed to develop and present more to the society's improvement.

Are you up to date with your biotechnology knowledge? If not, research more, read more and learn more. Don't be left behind as the world goes forward. - 16752

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