THE 5 MAIN BRANCHES OF BIOTECHNOLOGY - BIOLOGY - 2025

The branches of biotechnology are usually divided into five, these being human, animal, plant, environmental and industrial. The human being since ancient times and throughout the history of their peoples has combined and modified living elements to obtain new products that are useful for their food and benefit.

Such is the case with bread, wine or beer. However, the term biotechnology was first used by the Hungarian engineer Karl Ereky in 1919.

Advances in different disciplines of knowledge make modern biotechnology rely on genetic engineering to transfer or change genetic information (DNA) from one organism to another.

These new organisms are known as biotech, transgenic or genetically modified.

Division of the branches of biotechnology

1- Human biotechnology

It is dedicated to the research and development of new technologies applied to medicine that allow diagnosing diseases, infections or genetic disorders in humans.

By identifying diseases, a diagnostic system is created with molecular techniques that allows:

• Implement genetic manipulation, replacing or modifying abnormal genes
• Develop new vaccines, new drugs and better regenerative therapies.

One of the greatest contributions of biotechnology in humans is the development of growth hormone and insulin, which are given through genetic modifications of bacteria in a laboratory.

2- Animal biotechnology

It focuses on discovering new formulas to create stronger and more productive breeds of animals through an advanced disease diagnostic system that provides new vaccines and drugs.

In addition, it manipulates genetic information to develop new reproduction techniques such as in-vitro, while allowing the generation of new bacteria and cell cultures to produce growth hormones.

One contribution of this biotechnology is the bovine chymosin enzyme that is currently obtained with microorganisms that add a bovine gene to them and serve as rennet to make cheese.

3- Plant biotechnology

The purpose of this branch of biotechnology is to modify the DNA of plants to obtain stronger structures that generate greater production, while removing chemical agents that are used to control pests and weeds from the crops.

4- Environmental biotechnology

It uses high-tech processes in the prevention, conservation and recovery of the environment, while evaluating the state of the different ecosystems by changing pollutants into clean substances.

Applies bioremediation to recover air and water from contamination through the use of microorganisms and bacteria.

The biosensors that are organisms, bacteria or specific plants that serve in the diagnosis and detection of polluting or toxic substances, is one of the achievements of this biotechnology.

5- Industrial biotechnology

It focuses on the creation or improvement of industrial processes. To do this, they reduce the use of non-renewable resources by combining cutting-edge technology with biological systems, applying techniques such as recombinant DNA, bioprocesses and / or cell cultures, to optimize, create or modify a product.

This biotechnology forces the industrial sector to strengthen the field of research, to achieve innovation with products that replace chemical processes with biotechnological techniques, which include obtaining enzymes, amino acids, cellular proteins and additives, of important use in the food, textile sector, chemical, therapeutic and industrial.

References

1. Agro-bio association of Agricultural plant Biotechnology. (sf). Obtained from agrobio.org.
2. AMGEM. (sf). Obtained from biotechnology.amgen.
3. Biotechnology innovation organization. (sf). Retrieved from bio.org.
4. biotechnology center University of concepcion. (sf). Obtained from centrobiotecnologia.cl.
5. Eumed-com. (sf). Retrieved from 2003: eumed.net.
6. Biotechnology. (sf). Obtained from labiotecnolgia.weebly.com.