Give examples of products of Biotechnology?

Answer 1

The world has witnessed extraordinary advances in science over the last few decades. Biotechnology - one such area of growth - is an umbrella term covering a broad spectrum of scientific applications used in many sectors, such as health and agriculture. It involves the use of living organisms, or parts of living organisms, to provide new methods of production and make new products. From new vaccines to prevent disease to genetically modified plants with resistance to pests; from replacement heart valves that are better accepted by the body to treatments for human infertility; and from bacteria capable of cleaning up oil spills to environmentally friendly biofuels - biotechnology (sometimes also referred to as life sciences, genetic modification, or genomics), like any new technology, offers us potential benefits and potential risks.

•Leather

In the past, the process of tanning hides into useable leather involved the use of many harmful chemicals. Enzyme technology has advanced such that some of these chemicals can be replaced and the process is actually faster and more efficient. There are enzymes that can be applied to the first steps of the process where fat and hair are removed from the hides. Enzymes are also used during cleaning, and keratin and pigment removal, and to enhance the softness of the hide. They also help stabilize the leather during the tanning process to prevent it from rotting.

•Bioethanol

Bioethanol is a http://wiki.answers.com/b/a/000021.htmthat has already met with widespread public acceptance. You might already be using bioethanol when you add fuel to your vehicle. Bioethanol can be produced from starchy plant materials using enzymes capable of efficiently making the conversion. At present, corn is a widely used source of starch, however increasing interest in bioethanol is raising concerns as corn prices rise and corn as a food supply is being threatened. Other plants including wheat, bamboo, or other grasses are possible candidate sources of starch for bioethanol production.

It is debatable whether the cost of making bioethanol is less than for the consumption of fossil fuels, in terms of greenhouse emissions. Bioethanol production (growing crops, shipping, manufacturing) still requires a large input of non-renewable resources. Technological research and manipulation of enzymes to make the process more efficient, thus requiring less plant material or consuming less fossil fuels, are in the works, to improve on this area of biotechnology.

•