Abstract

DEFINING BIOTECHNOLOGY: HISTORY AND FUTURE PROSPECTS

Dr. Priti Gupta*

Abstract

This article deals with the general introduction to biotechnology, its features, its history starting from making of beer to the establishment of new discipline of biotechnology, its various types, utility and the career prospects in India and abroad. Biotechnology deals with the utilization of either the living organisms or their components for production of novel compounds at commercial level for the benefit of mankind. The founding principle of this field is genetic manipulation and maintenance of sterile conditions that enable any recombination product to be formed. Biotechnology has emerged from zymotechnology, a discipline of science that deals with only beer fermentation. Today, biotechnology has not left even a single field of our life untouched and is finding applications in agriculture, industries, poultries, fisheries, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, stem cell research, designer babies, 3-D printing of organs, etc. Several biotechnological companies of pharmacy, food sector and research has already established in India and abroad and with the advent of state-of-the art technology, many more are still evolving.

Keywords: biotechnology, zymotechnology, genetic manipulation, stem cell research.