c 11 What is biotechnology? ● Biotechnology refers to the technology using biology, which has applications in agriculture, food processing industry, medicine diagnostics, bioremediation, waste treatment, and energy production. ● The European Federation of Biotechnology (EFB) defines biotechnology as “the integration of natural science and organisms, cells, parts thereof and molecular analogues for products and services”. Basis of Modern Biotechnology ● Genetic engineering − Introduction of foreign genetic material (DNA/RNA) into the host’s genome and altering its phenotype ● Aseptic techniques − Involves maintenance of contamination-free ambience in chemical engineering processes for manufacture of products such as antibiotics, vaccines, etc.This is done so as to enable the growth of only desired microbes responsible for a bioprocess. Genetic Engineering ● Asexual reproduction preserves the genetic information while sexual reproduction preserves variations. ● Plant and animal hy...