(1) Bioinformatics. Makes the rapid organization and analysis of
biological data possible via computational techniques.
(2) Blue biotechnology. Marine and aquatic applications of
biotechnology, used to improve cleanup of toxic spills, improve
yields of fisheries, etc.
(3) Green biotechnology. Agricultural uses of biotechnology,
such as the selection and domestication of plants via
micropropagation, designing transgenic plants to grow under
specific environmental conditions .Benefits are crops with better
taste, texture, appearance, aroma, nutrition, yield, robustness in
adverse environmental conditions, and resistance to herbs, fungi,
and pests.
(4) Red biotechnology. Application of biotechnology to medicine,
including the designing of organisms to produce antibiotics, and
the engineering of genetic cures through genomic manipulation.
Other areas:
(a) Drug production.
(b) Pharmacogenomics.
(c) Gene therapy.
(d) Genetic testing.
(e) Improved vaccines.
(f) Biopharmaceuticals.
(g) New medical therapies.
(h) Diagnostics.
(5) White biotechnology. Also known as industrial biotechnology.
Exemplified by the designing of an organism to produce a useful
chemical, the use of enzymes as industrial catalysts to either
produce valuable chemicals or destroy hazardous/polluting
chemicals, and the development of biotechnological processes that
consume fewer resources than traditional processes used to produce
industrial goods.
(4) Bioeconomics. Investment in applied biotechnologies to
increase economic output
DISADVANTAGES:
(1) Loss of privacy via loss of medical and genetic
information.
(2) Discrimination of people with genetic or medical
anomalies.
(3) Cloning. It is considered to be unethical among various
groups and can result in eugenic practises.
(4) Transformations of wild species into "super species" with
resistance to pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides.
(5) Loss of biodiversity. Development of genetically modified
crops or domestic livestock could reduce genetic variety among both
domesticated and wild species.
(6) Harmful chemicals. Although biotechnology will generate many
new and valuable chemicals, some chemicals with unknown or damaging
environmental impacts are likely to be developed.
