While traditional biotechnology have been around for thousands of years without

people even knowing about the microorganisms that helped them with brewing,
baking etc, modern biotechnology is so much more;

Microbial biotech: Manipulation of microorganisms by gene cloning to produce

enzymes, medicine, vaccines etc. Study of gene expression is also important.

Agricultural biotech: Genetically engineered plants to improve pest-resistance,

drought resistance and food yield etc.

Anibal biotech: Genetically engineered animals to produce medicine like antibodies

in milk etc. Also important for studying gene expression.

Forensic biotech: Methods like DNA fingerprinting in crime and paternity cases.

Bioremediation: The use of biotechnology to degrade human made environmental

pollution like oil spills etc. Mostly microorganisms, but also plants can be used.

Aquatic biotech: Aquaculture is a huge food source, with both fish and shellfish
production all over the world. Biotechnology like DNA analysis is important for
achieving optimal growth and to fight diseases.

Medical biotech: In addition to the examples under microbial biotech and animal
biotech, techniques like gene therapy and the use of stem cells are to important
areas in biotechnology.

Biotechnology is the application of scientific and engineering principles to the processing of

materials by biological agents to provide goods and services.[1]From its inception, biotechnology has
maintained a close relationship with society. Although now most often associated with the
development of drugs, historically biotechnology has been principally associated with food,
addressing such issues as malnutrition and famine. The history of biotechnology begins
with zymotechnology, which commenced with a focus on brewing techniques for beer. By World War
I, however, zymotechnology would expand to tackle larger industrial issues, and the potential
of industrial fermentation gave rise to biotechnology. However, both the single-cell protein and
gasohol projects failed to progress due to varying issues including public resistance, a changing
economic scene, and shifts in political power.

Yet the formation of a new field, genetic engineering, would soon bring biotechnology to the forefront
of science in society, and the intimate relationship between the scientific community, the public, and
the government would ensue. These debates gained exposure in 1975 at the Asilomar Conference,
where Joshua Lederberg was the most outspoken supporter for this emerging field in biotechnology.
By as early as 1978, with the development of synthetic human insulin, Lederberg's claims would
prove valid, and the biotechnology industry grew rapidly. Each new scientific advance became a
media event designed to capture public support, and by the 1980s, biotechnology grew into a
promising real industry. In 1988, only five proteins from genetically engineered cells had been
approved as drugs by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but this number would
skyrocket to over 125 by the end of the 1990s.
The field of genetic engineering remains a heated topic of discussion in today's society with the
advent of gene therapy, stem cell research, cloning, and genetically modified food. While it seems
only natural nowadays to link pharmaceutical drugs as solutions to health and societal problems, this
relationship of biotechnology serving social needs began centuries ago.