What Is Biotechnology?

Break biotechnology into its root words and you have:

---bio—the use of biological processes; and
---technology—to solve problems or make useful products.

Using biological processes is hardly a noteworthy event. We began growing crops and raising animals 10,000 years ago to provide a stable supply of food and clothing. We have used the biological processes of microorganisms for 6,000 years to make useful food products, such as bread and cheese, and to preserve dairy products. Why is biotechnology suddenly receiving so much attention?

During the 1960s and ’70s our understanding of biology reached a point where we could begin to use the smallest parts of organisms—their biological molecules—in addition to using whole organisms.

A more appropriate definition in the new sense of the word is this:

"New" Biotechnology—the use of cellular and biomolecular processes to solve problems or make useful products.

We can get a better handle on the meaning of the word biotechnology by simply changing the singular noun to its plural form, biotechnologies.

Biotechnology is a collection of technologies that capitalize on the attributes of cells, such as their manufacturing capabilities, and put biological molecules, such as DNA and proteins, to work for us.

Read more here.