Colours of Biotechnology series #1 - Introduction

“BIOTECHNOLOGY” as it says, is the field of biological sciences employed using technology. It's a science that employs the use of technology to study biology at cellular and molecular level. In today’s modern world, especially after the global pandemic of COVID-19, almost everyone has become aware of the power of Biotechnology owing to the worldwide production of vaccines for SARS-CoV-2. But did you know that biotechnology is not just a single field or a word, but a colorful amalgamation of sciences ? Well, today’s article is going to be all about what biotechnology is; following which the upcoming articles in the future will be its parts. So as a Biotechnologist myself, allow me to introduce to you, another series of ‘Colors of Biotechnology’ and in no time you too shall get fond of Biotechnology as a whole !

From ancient times of production of cheese, to modern times of production of vaccines, biotechnology is a widespread field. Right from your home’s kitchen to the nearest pharmacy you have, Biotechnology is everywhere. To elaborate, let me give you a brief of the sub fields of biotechnology in today’s article, following which I shall be posting articles in detail, about every subfield of Biotechnology.

Food for life : Talking about biotechnology in your kitchen, the fruits and vegetables you eat, the cheese or alcohol that you savor and the oil that you are conscious of, it is food and green biotechnology that has made our lives healthier. Biotechnology has improved the pest and insect resistance of crops, it has made sustainable and organic farming a possibility. Green biotechnology has supported improved crop yield, enhanced nutrient content in crops, produced foods free of allergens and improved seed and crops oil content to boost cardiovascular health.

Biotechnology as a medical savior : This one, is honestly my personal favorite. As exciting as it sounds, biotechnology with the help of genetic engineering, has helped in changing the genetic makeup to heal the world. From reducing the rate of infections, to early diagnosis of fatal diseases, congenital diseases, to combating life threatening diseases and producing vaccines amidst a global pandemic, biotechnology has not only healed, but also saved millions of lives.

Fueling the world : Yet another field of biotechnology, is the extension of green chemistry. Here, technology is used to harness biocatalysts like enzymes, microbes, yeast using fermentation processes, etc, to fuel the world. Cutting greenhouse gas emissions using biofuels, production of biofuels using plants and various other non polluting resources, decreasing water usage and waste generation, green biochemistry and biotechnology have worked hand in hand to make it sustainable enough to live in a modern world.

This is just the beginning of elaborating on how biotechnology is interestingly amazing in itself. Stay tuned for my next article of the new ‘Colours of Biotechnology’ series, where I shall be introducing you to all the sub fields of Biotechnology.

- Rachna Jadhav

@theresilientresearcher