Biotechnology deals with the pieces of technology that are related with the biological aspects of our world. The biotechnology mainly contributes in the food science, medicine and agriculture sector. According to the definition in more technical terms, biotechnology is the modern science which contributes in the efficient utilization of biological processes and biological organisms.
In our society, biotechnology is mostly associated with genetic engineering. It was mainly referred to the agriculture and food processing in the past.
The medicinal techniques are also included in the biotechnology. The earliest history of medicinal biotechnology dates back from 200 BC. At that period people used tiny amounts or disabled infectious agents to be immune to similar infections. The same technique is currently used in polio doses. T
he process of brewing was known to mankind since ancient times, and it is another example of biotechnology. The earlier methods of brewing beer in the countries like Iran and Egypt are still used in some of the brewers.
The fermentation process for making bakery products is also known to humans from archaic times. The conversion of one form of food product into another form is the basic of biotechnology. People from prehistoric times knew that the carbohydrates in various grains could be broken down to convert them into various other forms.
Applications
There are various applications of biotechnology. The Red biotechnology refers to the medical processes. Some of the antibiotics are prepared by designing organisms. The term Green Biotechnology is used in agricultural processes. For example, designing the trans-genetic plants is a branch of biotechnology. These plants can grow in extreme environmental conditions and withstand germs and other plagues more easily.
The White biotechnology refers to the industrial processes. This is, therefore also known as the industrial biotechnology. Under this branch specific organisms and enzymes are produced which can generate useful chemical, or act as industrial catalyst.
Finally, blue biotechnology refers to the processes on aquatic and marine life.