Biotechnology is one of the innovative branches of science. Biotechnology has designed new revolutions in this era by contributing industries, medical sciences, food technologies and genetics.

“Biotechnology is basically defined as the use of living organisms, their parts and their biochemical processes for the creation of beneficial goods.”

The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity defines biotechnology as:

“Any technological application that utilizes biological systems, living organisms, or derivatives thereof, to make or modify goods or processes for distinct use.”

History of Biotechnology

This is an incorrect perception that Biotechnology is a new field. However, this is utterly wrong. The production of yogurt and cheese from the milk is an old and straightforward approach of this field. Man has been using this technique for centuries. Production of beer, leavening bread and producing of the wine from fruit juices are some strategies of biotechnology. Humans have been making use of breeding tactics to create various desirable crops and animals for numerous years. The use of distinct organisms and plants for the control of pests and nitrogen production is one more example of this field. The researches of some archeologists have revealed that some of these methods had been employed before 5,000 B.C.

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The invention of the microscope aided the progress of biotechnology, as man got the ability to observe the small organisms. Pasture’s function can also be referred as the foundation of modern biotechnology, simply because he showed the presence of microorganisms and their mechanism of working. On the other hand, the work of Gregor Mendel also gave rise to this field in that specific era.

History of Contemporary Biotechnology

Karl Ereky was the initial person, who utilised the term “biotechnology” for some certain biological techniques to produce crops, meat and milk, in 1917. He mentioned this word in his book.

In 1953, American biochemist James Watson and British biophysicist Francis Crick presented their double-helix model of DNA. This discovery is referred as the beginning of contemporary biotechnology. Werner Arber discovered the unique restriction enzymes for DNA. In 1973, American geneticist Stanley Cohen and American biochemist Herbert succeeded in the removal of a certain gene from a bacterium, and they inserted it into other by the support of the restriction enzymes. This invention began the era of DNA technology, frequently referred to as genetic engineering. In 1977, attempts were made to create insulin from bacteria by inserting human gene in it. In 1980s, The Human Genome Project was started, which is regarded as the considerable project of biotechnology.