Definition of Biotechnology, Its Benefits and Examples

Definition of Biotechnology, Its Benefits, and Examples
Summary of definitions of biotechnology and examples is complemented. Anyone know, what is Biotechnology? For those of you who do not know it, then in this discussion, we will give the material about biotechnology that you can read below:

Definition of Biotechnology

Biotechnology is a method that involves living things or living organisms to produce new products that can be beneficial to humans. Or it can be said also biotechnology is a branch of science that learn how to use living organisms in the production process to produce goods or services that are beneficial to humans.

Biotechnology comes from two words namely the word Bio and the word Technology. The word Bio can mean life while the word Technology is defined as a scientific method that is used to achieve the goal practically. Today Biotechnology is not only based on biology but from a wide range of applied sciences as well, such as from biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, microbiology, computers, and others. Can also be defined biotechnology is applied science that combines various branches of science in processing goods or services that can be beneficial to humans.

The main features of biotechnology, including There, are biological objects such as microorganisms, plants and animals, the use of technology and in the industry and products or services produced is the result of extraction and purification.

Benefits of biotechnology

Biotechnology has many benefits for human life, what's more nowadays biotechnology is growing. Tools to help the development of biotechnology-even more and more one example is a microscope used to see small invisible organisms. Benefits from biotechnology for example:

1. Can produce medicine
Biotechnology can produce cheaper and more effective drugs such as the production of insulin hormones derived from the E. coli bacterial gene.

2. Produce antibiotics
Can produce antibiotics to kill various dangerous diseases. At this time have a lot of antibiotics contained in pharmacies that are cheap and effective for treatment.

3. Can reduce environmental pollution
Biotechnology can also help reduce pollution, for example, there are some bacteria that can help recycling to destroy organic waste and also clean up the oil spills scattered in the sea.

4. Can increase agricultural production from GMO crops
Transgenic plants have good enough resistance to various extreme environmental conditions and not easily attacked by pests.

See also an explanation: Understanding science and technology or complete science and technology.

The negative impact of biotechnology

However, biotechnology also has a negative side, this negative impact is dangerous, especially for people who do not understand the environment. There are rules or ethics that need to be done in developing biotechnology products. The following are generally negative impacts of biotechnology, including:

1. The destruction of ecosystems
Can reduce the number of plant species that exist in nature due to excessive genetic engineering technology.

2. Loss of certain types of animals and plants
If excessive engineering of genetic technology, then the animals and plants with less good quality or natural qualities will experience extinction.

3. May cause allergies
Not everyone matches the foreign gene that is inserted into his body. So be careful when going to consume products produced by biotechnology.

4. The occurrence of biological pollution
This is due to an uncontrolled spread of transgenic organisms.

Types of Biotechnology

1. Conventional or Traditional Biotechnology
What is meant by conventional biotechnology is the way of applying biotechnology science by utilizing live organisms directly to change the nutrient content contained in a product. This type of biotechnology is often done in homes because the process to do it is quite easy and the materials it needs-are easy to get. As for some examples of conventional biotechnology, such as:

2. Processing of food products 
Conventional biotechnology is a biotechnology that uses micro-organisms to perform production especially in foods such as tempeh, tape, soy sauce etc. Microorganisms can convert food ingredients or others into better and more useful foodstuffs.

3. Food products in biotechnology
That is assisted by microorganisms such as fermentation process in soybeans, which can be converted into tempeh, soy sauce, tape and others including milk that is converted into cheese and yogurt. Processes such as biotechnology are called conventional/traditional biotechnology because they are considered as biotechnology that has existed since time immemorial. The main characteristic in conventional biotechnology is the use of microorganisms directly and not yet know the use of enzymes. A clearer example, such as:

In Milk Processing:

a. Yogurt
In making yogurt first milk pasteurized, then some fat is thrown away. And the type of microorganisms that play a role in the manufacture of yogurt name is lactobacillus bulgaricus and also streptococcus thermophilus.

b. Cheese
Making cheese using lactic acid bacteria, the type of microorganisms are Lactobacillus and also Streptococcus. Bacteria or microorganisms function to ferment lactose in milk to lactic acid.

c. Butter
In making butter using the type of microorganisms are Streptococcus lactis and Lectonosto ceremonies. These microorganisms will form the acidification process. Then the milk is given a certain flavor and butterfat is separated.

On Peanut:

a. Soy sauce and taco
The soy sauce is made from soybeans added to a microorganism/fungus called Aspergillus soya and Aspergillus fumigatus. While in fermented soybean paste made from soybeans added microorganisms named Aspergillus oryzae, these microorganisms will convert the complex protein in soybeans into amino acids that can be easily digested by the human body.

b. Tape and oncom
In making the tape is done by using fermented soybean microorganism Rhizopus sp. Which can convert complex proteins in soybeans into amino acids? While oncom made by fermentation of peanut cake using a microorganism called Rhizopus oligosporus.

Agricultural biotechnology

1. Planting plants hydroponically
Usually, humans plant crops using soil media but in hydroponics do not use the soil as a medium, it takes water added with nutrients as a source of food for the crops grown. Can be said in planting plants with hydroponics method one proof that the land is not always the main media in the cultivation.

Hydroponics can be done with a variety of methods, it depends on what medium is used. Some methods are done in planting the plant hydroponics such as using sand culture, water culture, to use media such as gravel, broken bricks or called a porous method.

Several types of plants are grown using hydroponic methods of vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, mustard greens, kale, lettuce, spinach and others. While in fruit plants such as water guava, starfruit, melon, and others. As for some advantages if planting with hydroponic methods, including:

a. Plants can be cultivated in various places.
b. Reduce the risk of damaged plants.
c. Reduce the risk of water shortage crops.
d. Avoid erosion.
e. It does not require a lot of land or space.
f. Plants grow faster.
g. Can be free from pests.
h. Maintenance costs are quite low enough.
j. Harvested yields have good quality.

2. Planting aerobically
The aerobic method is one type of hydroponics. Water containing nutrients ejected that resemble fog will affect the roots of the plant. The roots of planted plants hang and will absorb the nutrient solution contained in sprayed water. Generally planting aerobic strand styrofoam given planting holes that are about 15 centimeters.

Then using a wedge made of foam or Rockwool, the vegetable seed is plugged into the hole for the plant. Then the roots of the plants will hang or decompose to the bottom, under the strands of styrofoam, there is a sprinkler or sprinkler that will spray the mist which contains nutrients so that the roots of plants.

Modern Biotechnology

Due to the increasing development of technology and science, many experts are developing biotechnology by utilizing scientific principles through various researchers and also efforts to produce products more effectively and efficiently which can benefit human beings. Biotechnology is not only used in food products but now biotechnology has covered various fields such as genetic engineering, the creation of new energy sources and others.

With the existence of research and the development of technology, the biotechnology more dug again the benefits to be used by humans and other purposes. It can also be said that modern biotechnology is a type of biotechnology that uses modern tools that are small and very difficult to do in homes. Examples of modern biotechnology applications, for example:

1. Genetical manipulation
Genetic engineering is a way of manipulating Genes to produce new living beings with desirable qualities. Genetic engineering is usually referred to as DNA recombination / Gen. Transplantation. In genetic engineering, DNA is used to combine the properties of living things, because the DNA of every living being has the same structure, which is why DNA can be recombined. Then the DNA will regulate the properties of living things from generation to generation. To transform cell DNA that can be done through various ways eg by means of nuclear transplantation, plasmid technology, DNA recombination and cell fusion. But only experts can do it.

2. Make Antibiotics
Antibiotics are a substance produced by certain organisms and have a function to inhibit the growth of other organisms contained in the vicinity. Antibiotics can be obtained from microorganisms that have been in the process of using certain ways.

3. In the manufacture of Vaccines
Vaccines can be used to prevent the body from attacking viruses or harmful microorganisms.

4. Making hormones
With DNA engineering, which has used microorganisms to produce hormones. The hormones that have been successful in production such as growth hormone, insulin, cortisone, and testosterone.

5. Livestock biotechnology
Biotechnology can be useful for developing various products on farms. For example like hormones for the growth of livestock. With genetic engineering can create artificial hormones for animal growth or called Bovine Somatotropin Hormone. Hormones are made from bacteria/microorganisms that have been in engineering.

6. Future fuel biotechnology
Alternative fuels of the future to replace oils such as biogas and gasohol. Biogas is made of anaerobic phase in the fermentation of living things, while in anaerobic methane gas will be produced that can be used for fuel.

Biogas can be an alternative energy for petroleum substitutes, biogas is produced through the fermentation of livestock manure and other organic materials. Through this fermentation process, the materials are converted into methane gas that can function as energy similar to LPG gas, but more environmentally friendly and safe enough. Read also: Understanding biogas and biodiesel equipped benefits.

7. Biotechnology waste treatment
Disposable and unused materials are called waste. Usually, waste is generated from activities, households, agriculture, and industry. Currently, the presence of waste is very threatening to the environment, so there must be efforts to handle it. How to handle it for example by way of burning or in recycling. But safer is by recycling, and one example of recycled waste has been tested such as Pyrolysis.

Pyrolysis is the process of decomposition of waste materials by using high temperatures in conditions without oxygen. By using this method the waste or waste can be converted into charcoal, methane gas and other organic materials. The results of these materials can be used as fuel. The fuel superiority resulting from this process is the low sulfur content so it can reduce the level of pollution.

While the compost is a result of changes of macro organic substances such as from animals and plants. Biologically and chemically altered by the use of microorganisms. In composting requires microorganisms. The types of microorganisms depend on the organic materials used and the processes that take place, such as aerobic/anaerobic processes.

So the explanation about the understanding of biotechnology that we can provide. Actually, biotechnology has been done by humans since time immemorial, but it is only now realized that humans have for years / since long ago using microorganisms to make food such as tempeh and oncom. So and hopefully this discussion can be useful.