Intro to Biotechnology

This article provides a summary or overview of biotechnology or biotech with a description of the start of biotechnology, development of commercial biotechnology, and an overview of the biotech industry. It includes brief summaries of the methods that comprise biotechnology and genetic engineering, biotechnology companies, the medical biotech...

Over a decade ago, Drs. Hanahan and Weinberg described the unique traits cells must acquire to transform from normal body cells to malignant tumor cells. These hallmarks define the range of capabilities cancer cells require to survive and proliferate in the body. While different cancer cells may use different approaches, all malignant cells...

After the death of several patients during gene therapy trials at the start of the century, there have been several promising trials indicating this approach may be ready for general medical use.

As the first gene therapy approaches are nearing FDA approval, it is important to make the distinction between somatic cell and germ line genetic manipulation. Therapies on sperm and egg cells has tremendous potential but require a lot better understanding than our current science possesses. Will germ line gene therapy ever be an option?

A discussion of the pros and cons in the ethical debate over stem cell research.

Definition of biotechnology and a description of the various aspects of the biotech industry.

A collection of "general knowledge" biotechnology terms that everyone should be familiar with to understand information you might find in the news.

Biotechnology is often considered synonymous with biomedical research, but there are many other industries which take advantage of modern developments in biotech and the new methods for studying, cloning and altering genes. One of these is the agricultural industry.

Developments in food biotechnology have had numerous impacts on how food is produced, packaged, tested and preserved. Many of the changes have meant undisputable improvements to our safety and health, while others are more controversial.

Find out how biotechnology research is aiding space programs.

Biotechnology is part of our everyday lives, Christmas included. In addition to the more familiar products of biotechnology, some of the more traditional Christmas foods, some dating back centuries, incorporate the use of microorganisms and a knowledge of how to control them. These include Christmas cake (plum pudding), wassail, jellies, cheeses, and stollen.

Biomass plastics are not petroleum products but are made from polymers during fermentation of sugars obtained from plants, but they are not always biodegradable.

Like biomass plastics, bioplastics are made by fermentation of sugars obtained from plants, but bioplastics are biodegradable because their polymers are different from petroleum-derived plastics.

A list of common products of enzyme biotechnology that are used every day in and around the home, such as paper products, detergents, textiles and foods and beverages. These household items are the result of commercialization of natural and recombinant enzymes produced by genetic protein engineering.