What is Biotechnology?

[Abramov]

I have always wondered what is biotechnology. I have done some research online but there is not much info about it. Can someone explain me what is biotechnology?

[Career101]

So, you are wondering what biotechnology is? Well, it is an integration of technology and engineering to the life sciences. Biotechnologists can produce drugs, hormones, foods and convert waste products by using microorganisms or biological substances to perform specific processes. Biotechnology has a number of sub-branches which include genetic engineering, cell biology and molecular biology.

Nanotechnology is an amazing new sub-branch of biotechnology. With nanotechnology, biotechnologists are working at a molecular level and can engineer the tiniest of objects. The meaning of the word 'nano' is a billionth of a specific unit. It is incredibly to be able to work with, study and manipulate materials that are between 1 and 100 nanometers.

Just to give you an idea of how small nanometers actually are, let's do some comparisons. DNA is approximately 2.5 nanometers. Red blood cells are 1,000 times larger than DNA at 2.5 micrometers. A sheet of paper is around 100,000 nanometers thick!

Working with objects at such a molecular level can be very difficult as their minute size makes them almost impossible to move and manipulate. Imagine trying to scale and mass produce objects within the realm of nanotechnology. This seemingly impossible is now a reality when scientists and engineers teamed up to work at this level together. Those who are trained in nanotechnology will be highly sought after both now and in the future. It is believed that in the US alone, around 1 million nanotechnology researches will be needed – according to the National Science Foundation. By the year 2015 it is estimated that there will be around 2 million nanotechnology workers.

I don't know but if you are considering becoming a biotechnologist then you may want to consider going down the path of nanotechnology. As a nanotechnologist there will be many career opportunities available to you and it is such an exciting field to work in.

Whether you work in nanotechnology or any other sub-branch, biotechnologists will tend to bounce ideas of one another in the laboratory so it is usually a very happy and pleasant environment to work. It is a job where you work and share with each other to achieve your goals.

[hanbanz]

I am just wondering to myself if you are asking this probably because you want to venture into this field? I think it is actually possible to be a researcher at a biotech company and live off it.

[LastTimer]

In its purest form, the term "biotechnology" refers to the use of living organisms or their products to modify human health and the human environment. Prehistoric biotechnologists did this as they used yeast cells to raise bread dough and to ferment alcoholic beverages, and bacterial cells to make cheeses and yogurts and as they bred their strong, productive animals to make even stronger and more productive offspring.

[ejblanco]

Originally Posted by hanbanz

I am just wondering to myself if you are asking this probably because you want to venture into this field? I think it is actually possible to be a researcher at a biotech company and live off it.

Yes, you can live off and live very well off with a career as a researcher in biotechnology. Be it in pharmaceutical companies, pure research firms, analysis labs and other related research institutes, being a researcher with a leaning towards biotechnology is a challenging but fun career.

[Srjac]

Originally Posted by Abramov

I have always wondered what is biotechnology. I have done some research online but there is not much info about it. Can someone explain me what is biotechnology?

Biotechnology is the application of biological techniques. It is an ever ongoing research and development. It deals with industry of recombinant DNA, cell fusion. Earlier man disvocered that the fruit juices could be fermented into wine, the milk could be converted into cheese or yogurt and the beer could be made by fermenting solutions of malt. This proceedure perhaps is the initiative of the study of biotechnology.