Definitions [2]
Define.
Biotechnology
The technique of bringing about improvements in living organisms by genetic modifications and hybridization, for the welfare of human beings is known as ‘Biotechnology’.
A transgenic animal is an animal whose genome has been artificially modified to contain one or more genes from another species.
Key Points
- Biotechnology, a term coined by Karl Ereky in 1919, is the use of biological systems and genetic modifications to develop products and services for human welfare.
- Traditional biotechnology relies on small-scale, natural processes like fermentation (e.g., producing curd and wine), whereas modern biotechnology operates on a large scale.
- Modern biotechnology is fundamentally driven by two core techniques: genetic engineering (the targeted alteration of DNA and RNA) and bioprocess engineering.
- The field experienced a major breakthrough with the development of recombinant DNA technology by Cohen and Boyer in 1973.
- By integrating disciplines such as molecular biology and biochemistry, biotechnology enables crucial applications in both medicine (antibiotics, vaccines, insulin) and agriculture (high-yield, disease-resistant crops).
- Transgenic animals have artificially modified genomes containing specific foreign genes from other species.
- They are produced by isolating a desired gene, inserting it into a host embryo, and growing it into a complete animal expressing the new trait.
- They serve as essential living models for studying normal physiology, understanding complex diseases, and testing the safety of vaccines and chemicals.
- They function as biological factories for therapeutic products, such as "Rosie", the first transgenic cow that produced human protein-enriched milk.
- Mice are the most widely used models in disease research, while other animals such as sheep, pigs, and fish are utilised for medical and agricultural advancements.
Traditional Recognition: Society has historically provided informal rewards to inventors, as novel and innovative goods naturally generate higher returns and value.
Need for Formal Protection: In today’s highly globalised society, informal recognition is no longer sufficient; a formal legal system is required to protect an inventor's work.
Significance of Protection: Assuring formal protection for innovations is essential to the following:
- Encourage continuous advancements in science & technology (S&T).
- Promote fair trade practices.
- Foster healthy market competition.
Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs): This is the formal, overarching legal term used for the rights that protect inventors and their scientific innovations or discoveries from unauthorised commercial use.
