What
is Plant Biotechnology?
The origin
of Biotechnology can be traced back to prehistoric times, when microorganisms
were already used for processes like fermentation. In 1920’s Clostridium
acetobutylicum was used by Chaim Weizman for converting starch into butanol and
acetone, latter was an essential component of explosive during World War- II.
This raised hopes for commercial production of useful chemicals through
biological processes, and may be considered as the first rediscovery of
biotechnology in the present century. Similarly, during World War-II ( in
1940’s) , the production of penicillin (as an antibiotic discovered by Alexaner
Flemming in 1929) on a large scale from cultures of Penicillium notatum marked
the second rediscovery of biotechnology. The third rediscovery of biotechnology
is its recent reincarnation in the form of recombinant –DNA technology, which
led to the development of a variety of gene technologies and is thus considered
to be greatest scientific revolution of this century. Biotechnologies, as world
indicate, is the product of interaction between the science and technology.
Definition
of Plant Biotechnology:
1.
Biotechnology is the application of biological organisms, system or processes
to manufacturing and service industries.
2.
Biotechnology is the integrated use of biochemistry , microbiology and
engineering science in order to achieve technological application of the
capabilities of micro-organism, cultured tissue cells and part thereof.
3.
Biotechnology is “a technology using biological phenomenon for copying and
manufacturing various kinds of useful substances.”
4.
Biotechnology is “the controlled use of biological agents such as
micro-organisms or cellular components for beneficial use. (U.S National
Science Foundation)
Broad
Categories of Biotechnology
The
new biotechnology may be classified into the following four broad categories:
1.
Techniques for cell and tissue culture likely to produce substantial impact on
agriculture.
2.
Technological development associated with fermentation processes, particularly
those in the chemical sector which include the enzyme immobilization technique.
These techniques are already creating some impact in several industrial
branches. E.g. Production of enzymes and amino acids.
3.
Techniques that apply microbiology for the screening, election and cultivation
of cells and micro-organisms.
4.
Techniques for the manupulation and transfer of genetic material.
Characteristics
of Biotechnology
Any
technological revolution usually has the following five characteristics:
1. A
drastic reduction in the cost of several products and services.
2. A
dramatic improvements in the technical properties of processes and products.
3.
Social and political acceptability in the sense that innovation is socially
accepted but it involves modification in the legislative and regulatory
patterns of society and some changes in management and labour attitude.
4.
Environment acceptability.
5.
Pervasive effects brought the economic system.
Recent
advances in biotechnology have been exploited in a variety of ways both for
production of industrial , important biochemical and for basic studies in
molecular biology.
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