The Scope of Biotechnology in this Modern World

Imagine still depending on those bitter-sweet herbal medicines to cure your diseases or not being able to make a perfect batch of cheese - that sounds absolutely horrific! For this reason, biotechnology came in as the savior to accelerate the advancement of this mundane world.

Biotechnology integrates different fields of pharmaceutical, environmental, industrial, and agricultural industries for providing mankind with a more advanced lifestyle. That's why it emphasizes its scope in terms of the research as well as engineering departments. 

This wonderful gift of science is extremely versatile. It serves humans by helping to fight off diseases, save the environment, boost the production process, and increase crop production. 

We have gathered information from numerous scopes for you to understand how biotechnology revolutionized the world. So tag along with us!

Scope of Biotechnology

Biotechnology harnesses living organisms to facilitate our health, production, nutrition, and surroundings. It has applications in a widened scope of modern world industries including:

Medical Biotechnology 

All our daily life medications including Pepto Bismol for taming stomach bugs - are accessible thanks to medical biotechnology. This sector highly enhanced disease diagnosis as well as treatment.  

Medical biotechnology discovered some of the top-tier diagnostic equipment for treating any kind of bodily inconveniences. Highly refined surgical tools for critical surgeries can be done due to this sector. 

Blood cultures made it possible to detect almost all kinds of ailments before they become serious. Again, X-rays help to project an internal picture of the body for a more accurate diagnosis. 

Artificial limbs get people a new life with the help of bionic prosthetics. This assists amputees in running by just adjusting the limb. 

Wrinkles and fine lines can also be removed by plastic surgery using stem cells. These cells are grown in labs where they multiply and replicate for replacing damaged cells.  

This sector also became a miracle for people with fertility issues. Fertilization occurs outside the body during in vitro fertilization (IVF). It is later transferred inside the womb to give birth to a healthy baby.

Finally, antibiotics are formulated due to this sector. These shots strengthen our immune system helping us to fight off any foreign pathogens.

This is how medical biotechnology heals the world.

Agricultural  Biotechnology 

Agricultural biotechnology single-handedly improved our cultivation system. Farmers now get more work done along with a better yield with stronger crops thanks to this sector.

With the incorporation of gene editing techniques, better-quality seeds can be produced. Not only that plants can be designed with specific characteristics like greener leaves using this technology. This also leads to the production of new species of plants.

Again, depending on the quality of the soil, new genes are transferred into the plants in order to boost the overall crop production. This helps farmers obtain an increased quantity of better-quality crops.  

Pesticides mostly damage the crops upon which farmers spend a lot of their time. So plants are genetically modified to combat the effects of these poisonous pesticides. 

Biotechnologists also genetically edit plants to enhance their traits of growing resistance to harsh environmental conditions. It means that crops can now grow in soil where there is less water during droughts or even withstand harsh climates. 

Finally, better quality fruits can be obtained from this sector. Fruits get spoiled a lot less and stay intact for a longer period of time by maneuvering genes. Their tastes can also be enhanced using gene editing.

Thus agricultural biotechnology improves crop production.

Animal Biotechnology 

Animal biotechnology can be considered the best of both worlds as this sector improves animal yield as well as assists human healthcare. Animal grooming has become more advanced due to this.

Animals can also be genetically modified for achieving specific character traits. So it helps in the production of better-quality meat and skin. Plus it boosts milk production and enhances the quality of wool in sheep.

Transgenic animals are also genetically altered and used as models. They are mainly used in research for analyzing different kinds of diseases as well as developing new drugs. Transgenic animals are the models for the treatment of complex diseases like Alzheimer’s disease and cancer.

Nutritional supplements can be manufactured with the help of these animals. Medicines for treating hereditary emphysema are produced using transgenic animals. Sometimes people can develop lactose intolerance. So milk containing human genes for protein supplements could be given to them as an alternative. 

Genetic engineering can be done in aquatic animals for better quality fish with high nutrition. Genetic manipulation can also be done to improve fertility in fish. Again, androgenesis allows male fish to give birth without any female fish.

In this way animal biotechnology utilizes animals.

Food Biotechnology 

Better-quality enriched foods with an increased shelf life can be harnessed from food biotechnology. This is carried out by either genetically modifying the animal itself or by just using advanced equipment for better preservation.  

Modern-day cheese-making is usually achieved using biotechnology. Transgenic cows secrete more proteins in their milk for better cheese quality. Fermentation is used in cheese-making where microorganisms contribute to the texture and overall flavor of the cheese.

Recombinant DNA has also improved the bioprocessing of foods for accelerating food production. Microorganisms used in this process reduced contamination. They are also maneuvered in a way that increased shelf life with a longer preservation period.

Different enzymes are responsible for stimulating different aspects of food production. Alpha amylase used in flour causes bread volume to increase once prepared from scratch. Enzymes applied to meat refinement increase added value as well as reduce the pungent smell. The pH level of different beverages is also maintained with the application of enzymes.

Food biotechnology also ensures food safety by rapidly detecting airborne pathogens saving manufactured food from getting contaminated. Nucleic acid amplification techniques enhance food safety by early detection and in turn save humans from developing stomach problems.

So food biotechnology successfully feeds the world.

Industrial Biotechnology

Industrial biotechnology involves rapid processes to manufacture good-quality products. The food and pharmaceutical industries highly benefit from it. This industry manipulates bio-based raw materials to ensure safety.

This sector cuts down the usage of fossil fuels that subjects our environment to numerous potential hazards. Instead, they use biomass which can be reused for being renewable as well as carbon neutral meaning they do not contribute to greenhouse gases.

It requires fewer materials and resources like water and chemicals as well as contributes to less power consumption. It also produces less waste for the proper efficacy of raw materials.

Moreover, our daily food and beverage supply is boosted by incorporating enzymes in this sector. Similarly, skincare and other cosmetics can be manufactured without the risk of contamination. Improved production of pharmaceutical drugs is successfully also supplied in this industry. 

Feedstocks are made from organic materials like corn stalks which modify petrochemicals. It eliminates the production of biodegradable plastics that cuts down the usage of harmful plastics by a significant amount. 

Industrial researchers genetically edit enzymes to boost their activity. They examine pathogens and microbes to pinpoint enzymes with specific abilities like bleaching or breaking down of products. 

Therefore industrial biotechnology fuels the world.

Environmental Biotechnology

Our environment is slowly deteriorating which is where environmental biotechnology comes in as the savior. It helps to reduce all kinds of pollution.

Plastic-eating bacteria are invented which dissolve plastic disposals on land or in oceans. This prevented choking hazards in numerous sea animals, especially turtles. This assisted in restoring our marine ecosystem. 

Farmers can plant seeds without having to dig up their lands using conservation tillage. This restores soil nutrients as well as saves it from being destroyed by harmful chemicals.

Biomarkers can detect any kind of hazardous contamination from waste disposal. So they can be treated right away. 

Using biofuels significantly helps in reducing global warming as no greenhouse gas are emitted from the burning of fossil fuels. Plus they are renewable which adds to the benefits. 

Microbes are often used in the process of bioremediation. Contaminants like metals, insecticides, and pathogens are filtered out using this process from our groundwater. Bioremediation can also be used for wastewater treatment from sewage systems. Enzymes can also be used for refining water. This treated water can be later used in our irrigation system. 

Hence environmental biotechnology saves the world.

Bottom Line 

The unsung hero that stirred up the composition of modern technology is none other than biotechnology. Its scope is eminent in almost every possible industry to ever exist. If you're still with us you now know about its applications in different industrial scopes. 

To summarize, biotechnology serves humans by looking after us, our environment, and even our manufacturing systems. Firstly medical biotechnology treats our diseases. We get better quality meals from our agricultural sector. 

Food biotechnology ensures our food supply doesn't get rotten. Similarly, animal biotechnology boosts our system by providing nutritional supplements. A sterile environment is ensured in our industrial production. Finally, environmental biotechnology reduces global warming. 

That means it is safe to say that biotechnological revolutions are completely intertwined with our lives. All in all, biotechnology cures, boosts and nourishes our environment.