You might think of viruses escaping from dinosaur rampage laboratories or amusement parks. Yet the truth is that biotechnology is one of the ways in which technological development and environmental protection go hand in hand. That is the purpose of at least some of the biological scientific breakthroughs discussed in this article.
But first, let’s look at the basic concepts of biotechnology and the color codes for each of its categories ( biotechnology rainbowTherefore, in this article we will address the following questions:
What is biotechnology or biotechnology?
In the broadest sense Biotechnology is the deliberate control and manipulation of biological systems, primarily cells or cell components, to produce or process products or raw materials.Biotechnology combines various disciplines, from physics to chemistry and mathematics, to understand cell function at the molecular scale, Reproduce the production and reaction of substances by living organisms.
A basic example of biotechnology is the use of bacteria to generate an electric current. These types of microorganisms are known as electrogenic and are potential sources of renewable energy.
Perhaps our microflora, that is, Intestinal bacteria produce electricityThis kind of electricity, using soil bacteria, is being used to power fishing villages in Brazil. You can read the article here.
What are the main types of biotechnology?
Biotechnology is a vast field that covers a wide range of fields such as agriculture and medicine. Officially, there are up to 10 different color codes to represent each subcategory. In the adjacent table you can see a comprehensive classification, The main types of biotechnology are summarized in four:
Red Biotechnology: Medicine
A new generation of vaccines has taken medical biotechnology to the podium. biological scientific breakthroughBut it is also known as medical biotechnology. red biotechnology, is revolutionizing fields such as growing organs from stem cells, regenerative medicine, and gene therapy. Medical biotechnology also promises to be one of the powerful weapons against dementia.
White Biotechnology: Industry
One of the key keys to achieving more sustainable production models is the use of microorganisms such as bacteria to create new biodegradable materials such as bioplastics or to improve the efficiency of existing processes. It is to
therefore, white biotechnology It consists of using different cells to develop new industrial production methods.
Green biotechnology: agriculture and the environment
If you want to protect the environment, reduce the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers while achieving tolerant and productive plants to feed a growing population. green biotechnology One of the few viable options. This type of biotechnology can be divided into his two main areas:
1. Agriculture, mainly crops:
- Changes in nutritional function.
- Development of pesticide and fertilizer capacity
- Improving climate resilience
2. Environment:
- Bioenergy and biofuels: Use of microorganisms to generate energy or fuel. Bioethanol from biomass.
- Bioremediation: The use of microorganisms to remove waste and toxins, as already done in wastewater treatment plants.
- Biofertilizer: Applications include regenerating soil using nitrogen-fixing bacteria or fungi.
Blue Biotechnology: Sea
The ocean contains some of the most important resources for the 21st century. Taking care not to repeat the mistakes made on land is one of the key tasks. However, if used judiciously, raw materials such as microalgae can contribute to the development of new biofuels and protein sources that are vital to our survival as a species.
The use of algae as raw materials for construction materials and bio-packaging is another promising blue biotechnology application. This potential has not gone unnoticed by supranational organizations such as the European Union. Dedicate 2022 to the Blue Economy.
Some examples of biological scientific breakthroughs
Biotechnology, along with nanotechnology and new materials, is one of the most radical and fast-paced areas of scientific breakthroughs. So choosing the most important one is not easy. Some of the most innovative lines of research in biotechnology are::
- Development of new vaccines and synthetic DNA
- 3D printing of organic tissue with bioreactors
- A biosensor that can detect viruses
- algae-based biofuel
- Use of Microorganisms to Produce Proteins
- bioplastics from waste
- Biological computing systems such as DNA hard drives
Nonetheless, we will focus on four key examples that demonstrate the potential of these technologies.
Bacteria and solar panels for food production
If someone said that microbes could produce 10 times more food than plants, you might find it hard to believe. In theory, you’d think it would be crazy if this process was done solely with solar energy and carbon dioxide.But that is the researcher’s suggestion Max Planck Institute for Plant Molecular Physiology in Potsdam, Germany.
The system uses solar panels that convert water and carbon dioxide into molecules that donate electrons to microbes (bacteria in this case). Microorganisms metabolize these molecules to produce fatty acids, carbohydrates, proteins, and more.
The results may not be palatable, but they can serve as food for livestock or produce protein compounds for human consumption.
bioplastics from waste
Plastics and microplastics are truly an environmental problem. As a rule, these materials take decades or centuries to degrade.
Fortunately, the properties of bacteria that can metabolize plastic have already been studied. Not only that, but the Fraunhofer Institute in Germany has come up with another approach that uses waste to create a new type of biodegradable bioplastic.
Waste products include industrial fats with a high percentage of minerals. German scientists have chosen to use genetically modified bacteria to metabolize waste. The result is a biopolymer called polyhydroxybutyric acid (PHB) that is extracted from bacteria and mixed with other additives. The final product has the peculiarity of being polyester. Degrades in up to 1 year when exposed to the elements.
oil-eating bacteria
Ten years after the tragic Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, researchers have come to some interesting conclusions about the fate of the oil. Half of the effluent was removed by physical and chemical means. But what happened to the other half?
The development of new genome sequencing systems has made it possible to advance our knowledge of the microbes of this region. Bacteria that can metabolize oils and even devour chemical dispersants have been found in the environment.
Research published in scientific journals in 2021 American Society for Microbiology Bacteria such as Paraperlucidibaca, Cycloclasticus, Oleispira and Thalassolituus Zhongshania have been shown to be able to kill oil spill contaminants.
This test was performed with bacteria from the Canadian Arctic.Still, scientific teams around the world, such as National Institute of Ocean Technology India’s (NIOT) has demonstrated the feasibility of this type of approach. bioremediation.
Biosensors: use proteins to detect viruses
In addition to bacteria and other microorganisms, biomolecules such as proteins play an important role in the progress of biological sciences.and protein design laboratory At the University of Washington, they demonstrated the potential to detect coronavirus protein-based biosensorThis new technology reveals the presence of viruses and their antibodies by luminescence.
The advantage of using these biosensors is that they eliminate the complex equipment required to perform PCR and similar tests. These computer-designed proteins have also been applied to biosensors for breast cancer detection.
In short, these advances in biological science Biotechnology’s Potential to Solve Some of the 21st Century’s Most Important ChallengesAs we have seen, waste disposal, new renewable energy or biotherapeutics, and vaccines against new viruses are eloquent examples of areas where this field makes a difference.
sauce: biotechnology health, Guardian, new atlas, ASM, down to earth, eureka alert,
table: The Colors of Biotechnology: Science, Development and Humanity
