Class 12 Biology: How Biotechnology Is Transforming Different Aspects Of The World

Biotechnology In Today’s Life

Biotechnology is not limited to medicines or agriculture but has spread its wings in almost every sector. Many things that we commonly use were devised through biotechnology. In no time, biotechnology and its products will be as common as the internet in the near future. It has devised many breakthrough services like vaccination to prevent illness, secondary treatment plans for a cleaner environment, discovering new methods to increase food production and feed the hungry, the noble and efficient use of cleaner energy, and many more. We shall study each one of them briefly.

Impact Of Biotechnology On Health

The greatest and earliest impact of biotechnology has been in the health sector via medicinal biotechnology. There have been huge differences in diagnosis, treatment plans, severity, and duration of the disease as compared to previous times. Biotechnological impacts on the health sector are as follows, but are not limited to these:

• Production of desirable enzymes by modifying microorganisms. For example, insulin was extracted from pigs, but biotechnology made it possible to extract it from microorganisms, thus easing its high and quick production.
• Vaccines derived from dead or live parts of microbes are another revolutionary discovery that helps combat diverse diseases.
• Drug discoveries are made by analysing the genetic behaviour of the disease or pathogen, which has made it easier to formulate more effective medicines.
• Tissue Engineering: Organ transplantation is on the rise, but the donor lists always fall short. Bioprinting, or the production of synthetic tissues (conducting polymers), can be a promising solution that involves various techniques of biochemistry and biotechnology.
• Constant research and discoveries are being conducted to reduce the seriousness of life-threatening diseases, lower mortality rates, tailor treatments to reduce side effects, devise effective tools for easier disease detection, and more.

Impact Of Biotechnology On Agriculture

From raw materials to finished crops, biotechnology invades almost every step to produce disease-resistant crops with sustainable farming practices. The farmers faced many farming problems, like attacks by pesticides, poor nutrition, irrigation problems interfering with crop production, and many more. Biotech has improved the condition and is working to produce even better crops. It is helping the agriculture sector by:

• Enhancing the nutrient content of crops to fight various deficiencies
• Lowering the pesticide, chemical, and herbicide overload on crops by producing biotech crops. They are genetically modified and, hence, are not mostly attacked by pesticides. Since the use of chemicals is less, the run-off of these products into the environment is less. This also lessens the farmer’s work.
• Biotech crops aim to improve health by improving their oil content and freeing them from allergens and toxins.

Innovative Ideas

Biological processes are widely used in industrial processes around the world to invent sustainable alternatives. Biotech has been working to produce enzymes, catalysts, microbes, manufacturing plants, and more to fuel the world in a better and more cost-effective way. The growing concerns around the world related to the environment and mankind are targeted so that solutions can be apt and long-lasting. Some ways in which biotech is fueling the world are:

• The use of biochemicals helps to reduce the terrible impacts of chemicals on the environment.
• The processes in chemical manufacturing liberate harmful by-products. The steps involved in these are streamlined by 80% or more to lower the harmful effects.
• Waste generation and its recycling have been done in an effective way to lower the burden of waste, its longevity, and its burden on the planet.
• A wide variety of methods have been proposed to save water and decrease its usage wherever necessary.
• Sustainable fuels and biomass products are the solutions to growing climate concerns. Through biotechnology, the growing transportation industry is being supported by developing low-carbon fuels that minimally affect the climate and environment.

Other Areas of Biotechnology Intervention

• Beauty: The growing trend around skincare and makeup has pushed the youth into damaging their skin. Biotech can help create cleaner products by replacing chemicals with safer alternatives.

• Food: Other than the industrial revolutions, biotech has helped develop better foods that improve health. Probiotics are an example of what is required to enhance gut health. Biotech has also proposed techniques to increase the shelf life of foods and lower the risks associated with packaged foods.

• Legal Cases: Cases involving the identification of the criminal or suspect are possible with DNA fingerprinting, DNA testing, and DNA matching (in cases of paternity issues).

• Troublesome Areas: Bioterrorism is a real thing where a complete population can be wiped out by infecting it with dangerous pathogens. Similarly, people can innovate with existing beneficial products to use against someone, like genetic manipulation, DNA editing, and more.

Conclusively, biotechnology has made and is continuing to make an impact in almost every sector of the world, directly or indirectly. It is continuously transforming the world and making consistent advances to combat the pressing issues of society.