Biotechnology is truly multidisciplinary in nature and it encompasses several disciplines of basic sciences and engineering. The science disciplines from which biotechnology draws heavily are; microbiology, Chemistry, biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, immunology, cell and tissue culture and physiology. On the engineering side, it leans heavily on process chemical and biochemical engineering since large scale cultivation of microorganisms and cells , their down stream processing etc. are based on them.

 Here are the some of the Key Contribution / Application of Biotechnology to the Human Welfare.

 A. Medical Biotechnology 

• Monoclaonal antibodies (used for disease eg. hepatitis B and other viral disease, cancer etc.)
• DNA probes ( used for disease diagnosis, eg Kala  azar, sleeping sickness , malaria etc)
• Recombinant Vaccine ( Human hepatitis vaccine ( the one by Shantha Biotech in India)
• Production of valuable drugs like Human insulin, human interferon, human and bovine growth hormones etc.
• Gene therapy to cure genetic diseases eg. Cystic fibrosis
• Babies of specified sex through artificial insemination   ( by separation of X/ Y Chromosomes)
• Identification of parents / Criminals using DNA or autoantibody fingerprinting( In India CDED, Hyderabad id the center where this work is going on  and the Dr. Lalji Singh is the person who had  promote these technique in India and currently is Director CCMB, Hyderabad.

 

2. Plant Biotechnology    

 

• Gene Transfers ( genetic Engineering ) for insect resistance , protection against viruses , herbicide resistance , storage protein improvements etc. ( i.e. production of Transgenic Plants through Genetic Engineering  )
• Molecular markers eg RFLPs and RAPDs for linkage mapping and mapping of quantitative trait loci.
• Germplasm conservation through storage in Liquid nitrogen or by slow growth
• Rapid clonal multiplication through meristem culture eg of many fruit and forest   trees, such as teak.
• Rapid isolation of homozygous line by chromosome doubling of haploids produced through anther culture / interspecific hybridization / ovary culture.( Very successful in variety development in China eg in rice and wheat)

 

3. Animal Biotechnology

• Hormone –induced super ovulation and / or embryo splitting in farm animals, involves embryo transfer and, in many cases in vitro fertilization. ( For rapid multiplication of animals of superior genotypes)
•  Production of transgenic animals for increased milk , growth rate, resistance , resistance to disease etc. and production of some valuable proteins in milk / urine / blood.

 

4. Environmental Biotechnology

• Efficient sewage treatment , deodorization of human excreta
• Degradation of petroleum and management of oil spills
• Detoxification of wastes and industrial effluents
• Biocontrol of plant deisese and insect pests by using viruses, bacteria, amoebae, fungi etc.

 

5. Industrial Biotechnology

• Production of useful compounds eg. Ethanol, lactic acid, glycerine , citric acid , gluconic acid , acetone etc.( produced by microorganisms , mainly bacteria , from less useful substrates)
• Production of antibiotics eg penicillin, streptomycin. Erythromycin, mitomycin, cycloheximide etc. (produced by fungi, bacteria and actinomycetes as secondary metabolites.)
• Fuel produced from cheap, less useful and abundant substrates e.g. Sugarcane biogases, wood etc.
• Mineral Extraction through leaching from low grade ores,   eg, copper , uranium etc.