The word, biotechnology, comes from the Greek ‘bios’ (life) and ‘technikos’ (use). It is the science which develops methods to make use of ‘life’ for practical objectives. From making cheese to genetic modification.
The word, biotechnology, comes from the Greek ‘bios’ (life) and ‘technikos’ (use). It is the science which develops methods to make use of ‘life’ for practical objectives. From making cheese to genetic modification.
The discovery of cheese
Biotechnology is a very broad field. It is often thought to have been developed in recent decades, but it has been around for thousands of years. Nomads discovered how to make cheese about 6,000 years ago by chance while keeping milk in pig or cow stomachs. Bacteria and enzymes produced by nature in these circumstances changed the sour milk into cheese. The microbes used today to produce cheese are similar to those which occurred naturally then.
Increasingly important role
Few people, however, realise how important a role biotechnology and its products play in our daily lives. Think of the production of food and drink, biofuel and medicine. Procedures especially those involving the use of micro-organisms are becoming increasingly important. The impact of biotechnology on our daily lives is only set to increase in the future.