Ways Biotechnology Can Improve Our Everyday Life
Biotechnology is as old as humanity. Biotechnology came into existence when our ancestors started the agricultural revolution using domestic animals, livestock and artificial agriculture crops.
When anti-biotics got discovered by Alexander Fleming or when bdnf elisa got discovered by the biology researchers to study proteins in samples, they were basically harnessing the power of modern biotechnology.
Modern civilization is hard to imagine without biotechnology. We would not have been able to carry out the fermentation process to get cheese and beer if there was were no advancements in biotechnology.
Advancements of biotechnology are occurring at macroscopic and microscopic levels. The study of cellular roots and cellular membranes by the biology researchers has revolutionized the biotechnology.
In the mean future, scientists will probably use the biotechnology tools for the manipulation of cells to synthesize the whole genomes of cells from their building blocks.
These cells can then become cancer-fighting drugs and bomb-sniffing plants. In short, advancements in biotechnology can reduce the overall effect of climate change.
There are many ways in which biotechnology can improve our everyday lives in the mean future. Some of the ways are listed below:
Bio-Based Sustainable Production of Chemicals, Fuels, Energy, and Materials
From the last century to date, human activities such as fossil fuel burning and deforestation have depleted and deteriorated almost half of the earth’s fossil fuel reserves. Hence, the scarcity of fossil hydrocarbons is increasing day by day.
The reserves which took more than 600 million years to degenerate are not renewable and cannot be re-used by the humans. Furthermore, their refining and uses are significantly increasing the human emissions in the environment such as greenhouse gases. This is ultimately leading to increased global warming and depletion of the ozone layer.
For sustainable human development, an alternative that is carbon-neutral should be implemented for the re-production of fuels, energy, and chemicals.
The advancement promising factor of biotechnology is biological synthesis. This refers to the production of fuels, energy, and chemicals that can be reproduced or re-grown from the plants.
Engineering Sustainable Food Production
The affluence and ever-increasing population of the world are posing food growing challenges to provide adequate food supply to humans.
Although, modern modification and genetic annotation of crops have improved the growth of agricultural crops, a solution is needed which can feed the whole world’s population.
In the year 2011, 16.7 million cultivators and farmers grew biotech developed crops in 29 countries on a land of 400 million acres. 19 of the countries were fully developed countries.
If properly managed, the biotech developed crops and harvested fruits and vegetables have the potential to reduce tilling and the use of pesticides.
Sea Water Based Bio Processes
Although 70% of the world is covered with water, still, there are not abundant places where freshwater is available.
However, we can purify the seawater in order to fulfill the needs of the world’s population.
For instance, seawater can be grown at a faster rate to produce products like polymeric materials, fuels, and chemicals. Agriculture in Ocean is also promising biotechnology.
Non-Resource Draining Zero Waste Bioprocessing
Zero waste might seem impossible in today’s era especially when it’s a plastic era. But by biotechnology, the concept of zero waste can become a reality. Waste in the lakes, seas, and streams can be processed and refined at the biotech refineries to convert the waste into useful fuels and chemicals. Consequently, this closes of the loop of wastage and the net waste will also be zero.
The biotech advances are now offering people with more cost-effective methane and waste heat solutions by less draining inputs.
These biotech solutions are basically simplifying the purification method of streams and lakes in order to reduce the concentration of chemicals, waste, and toxicity in the lakes and streams.
Due to transformative biotechnology, the world is progressing towards its goal of 0 net waste.
Using Carbon Dioxide as A Raw Material
Advances in biotech can also mitigate the high percentage of carbon dioxide in the air. We are well aware of the fact that we consume oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide.
By harnessing the power of biotech properly and implementing solutions on natural biological systems, scientists can tailor your needs and can approach the concept of converting carbon dioxide gas into C1 molecules for new materials such as fuels and chemicals.
Regenerative Medicine
Due to the need for treatment in injury and recovery, regenerative medicine is becoming important to human health day by day. Tissue engineering, which is also a sub-branch of biotech engineering has been developed by biology researchers to speed up the production of regenerative medicine.
Recently a study has showcased that the stem cells can now be used for the production of regenerative medicine in bulk. The integration of stem cells in tissue engineering will allow humans to replace their damaged internal organic instead of artificial functional organs in the near future.
Rapid, Precise Development and Manufacturing of Vaccines and Medicines
Global pandemic is one of the most serious threats to humankind. Biotechnology has a feature to quickly identify the biological and manufacturing faults for finding out potential cures.
In leading-edge biotechnology, the main purpose is the production of vaccines. Some of these technologies are conjugated known particles, structure-based engineering, and messenger therapeutics. These technologies can substantially improve human health on a global level.
Accurate and Cheap Personalized Diagnostics and Prognostics
A combination of nanotechnology and information technology is to develop cheap, rapid and fast inexpensive and personalized prognostics and diagnostics systems.
Bio-Tech Improvements to Soil and Water
Arable land and freshwater are two of the most important resources. However, thy are limited. Misappropriation and misuse of these resources are posing a threat to their availability to humans.
Biotechnology has the power to restore the availability and the viability of these two important resources that is the soil and water.
Bio-augmentation, bio-regeneration, and bio-remediation are under the study of scientists to restore soil and water.
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