Biotechnology is the application of biological knowledge which we apply on different living systems to modify the functionality of living systems. Nowadays we use the term biotechnology for manipulating the living systems as well as bioinformatics, bioprocess engineering and genetic engineering.
In bioinformatics we collect, gather, store and analyze different biological data which we use in the future when we need to apply it in human welfare, we study the biological data we already have and on the basis of this data we use biotechnology wisely.
In genetic engineering we alter the genetic composition of an individual for many purposes like sometimes we change the defective gene in some genetic disorders or sometimes we incorporate a desired gene into the genome of an organism to get a desired product.
In bioprocess engineering we produce different biological products on a large scale like vaccines, antibiotics and some biochemicals in certain organisms under favourite conditions so they can produce those products potentially.
Principles of Biotechnology:
Genetic Engineering:
Every trait we can feel externally of any organism is the result of expression of a certain gene on their cells so if we want specific traits in an organism we have to know about the expression of genes and the nature of genes.
Once we can understand the responsible gene for a specific desired characteristic we can manipulate the organism at the genetic level to control their characteristics. So we have to alter the genetic combination of the organism to get specific results and we can alter the genetic component of an organism with the help of recombinant DNA technology.
And in this case we also need the help of bioinformatics to identify specific traits in an organism and then we can manipulate the specific gene in any organism.
For example suppose you want to use an organism for a biochemical then you have to find the gene which is responsible for the particular biochemical then if we can insert the gene into the genome of the organism then it expresses and we get the biochemical as a product.
After the identification of the specific gene it is time to find the vector which is able to transfer the gene into the host genome. Plasmid can be used as a vector to transfer the desired gene into the genome of an organism and then the desired gene goes into the next generation and by this way we get our desired product.
The process of inserting any DNA fragments needs to cut the genome at specific sequence and different enzymes are used to cut the genome at different sequences for insertion of specific fragments of DNA.
Then with help of ligase enzymes we join the cut end of DNA and it results in the incorporation of the desired gene into the vector DNA and the vector DNA with desired DNA is called recombinant DNA.
Then the recombinant DNA is transferred into the cell of target organisms to multiply and express the desired gene with the genome of the organism.
Bioprocess Engineering:
In our earth there are many organisations who are able to produce various important produce for human welfare like vaccine, antibiotics. We create artificial environment for those beneficial microorganisms in which they grow at very high rate and can produce different products in large scale.
In bioreactors we culture them in optimum conditions to amplify their multiplication for their products which helps us to produce large amounts of Antibiotics, vaccines and enzymes within a short time span.
But before using those products directly they need to process through several steps. The products are purified and then the product is not used directly so all individuals become biological systems are very sensitive and minor mistakes in those produced can become fatal.
So before their use they are checked for quality and they pass through different clinical trials and then the products are approved by a specific authorisation body.
Read More: Behavioural Genetics General Overview
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