Introduction to evoulution of biotechnology

In the simplest and broadest sense, Biotechnology is a series of enabling
technologies, which involves the manipulation of living organisms or their subcellular
components to develop useful products, processes or services. Biotechnology
encompasses a wide range of fields, including the life sciences, chemistry,
agriculture, environmental science, medicine, veterinary medicine, engineering, and
computer science.

The manipulation of living organisms is one of the principal tools of modern
biotechnology. Although biotechnology in the broadest sense is not new, what
is new, however, is the level of complexity and precision involved in scientists’
current ability to manipulate living things, making such manipulation predictable,
precise, and controlled. The umbrella of biotechnology encompasses a broad array
of technologies, including recombinant DNA technology, embryo manipulation and
transfer, monoclonal antibody production, and bioprocess engineering, the principle
technology associated with the term is recombinant DNA technology or genetic
engineering. This technique can be used to enhance the ability of an organism to
produce a particular chemical product (penicillin from fungus), to prevent it from
producing a product (polygalacturanase in plant cells) or to enable an organism to
produce an entirely new product (insulin in microbes).
To date the greatest and most notable impact of biotechnology has been in the
medical and pharmaceutical arena. More than 325 million people worldwide have
been helped by the more than 155 biotechnology drugs and vaccines approved
by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Of the biotech medicines on
the market, 70 percent were approved in the last six years. There are more than
370 biotech drug products and vaccines currently in clinical trials targeting more
than 200 diseases, including various cancers, Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease,
diabetes, multiple sclerosis, AIDS and arthritis. The use of biotechnology to produce
molecules of therapeutic value constitutes an important advancement in medical
science. Medications developed through biotechnology techniques have earned the
approval of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in patients who have
cancer, diabetes, cystic fibrosis, hemophilia, multiple sclerosis, hepatitis B, and
Kaposi’s sarcoma. Biotechnology drugs are used to treat invasive fungal infections,
pulmonary embolisms, ischemic strokes, kidney transplant rejection, infertility,
growth hormone deficiency, and other serious disorders. Medications have also been
developed to improve the health of animals. Scientists are currently investigating
applications of advanced gene therapy, a technology that may one day be used to
pinpoint and rectify hereditary disorders.


Many of the products we eat, wear, and use are made using the tools of biotechnology.
Using genetic engineering, scientists are able to enhance agronomic traits
such as biotic and abiotic stress tolerance, growing season and yield, and output
traits such as processing, shelf life and the nutritional content, texture, color, flavor,
and other properties of production crops. Transgenic techniques are applied to
farmed animals to improve the growth, fitness, and other qualities of agriculturally
important mammals, poultry, and fish. Crops and animals can also be used as
production systems for the production of important pharmaceuticals and industrial
products. Enzymes produced using recombinant DNA methods are used to make
cheese, keep bread fresh, produce fruit juices, wines, treat fabric for blue jeans and
other denim clothing. Other recombinant DNA enzymes are used in laundry and
automatic dishwashing detergents.


We can also engineer microorganisms to improve the quality of our environment.
In addition to the opportunities for a variety of new products, including
biodegradable products, bioprocessing using engineered microbes and enzymes
offers new ways to treat and use wastes and to use renewable resources as feedstocks
for materials and fuel. Instead of depending on non-renewable fossil fuels we can
engineer organisms to convert maize and cereal straw, forest products and municipal
waste and other biomass to produce fuel, bioplastics and other useful commodities.
Naturally occurring microorganisms are being used to treat organic and inorganic
contaminants in soil, groundwater, and air. This application of biotechnology has
created an environmental biotechnology industry important in water treatment,
municipal waste management, hazardous waste treatment, bioremediation, and other
areas. DNA fingerprinting, a biotech technique, has dramatically improved criminal
investigation and forensic medicine, as well as afforded significant advances in
anthropology and wildlife management.
This book will aim to cover the history of biotech the tools and applications
across time and disciplines and look to future potential at the confluence of
technologies.



BIOTECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY PATENTS
The US Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) has responded to the growing demand
for patents by the biotechnology industry by increasing the number and sophistication
of biotechnology patent examiners. In FY 1988, the PTO had 67 patent
examiners. By 1998, the number of biotech examiners more than doubled to 184.
Statistics provided by BIO organization
Source: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Technology Profile Report, Patent
Examining Technology Center, Groups 1630–1650, Biotechnology 1/1977 – 1/1998,
April 1999