Areas of research of biotechnology
Biotechnology does not only encompass a wide area, but many wide areas. Each of them deals with individual ”elements“ or aspects of life and in turn makes a crucial contribution to them. For only scientific advancement in the research areas of biotechnology incites the most diverse sectors to new products, processes and services.
Genome and proteome research
The so called platform technologies such as genome research (Genomics) or proteome research (Proteomics) are of paramount importance. They allow us to understand the structure and function of genetic material (genome) and proteins and to use this knowledge technically.
Glycobiotechnology
Glycobiotechnology deals with the modification of proteins or the surface structure of cells through sugar structures. Why is there a whole research area dedicated to sugar? Because sugar structures play a central role in important biological processes such as embryonic development or immunocompetence.
Health and nutrition
Like glycobiotechnology many areas of research provide knowledge about human health and nutrition. The significance of biotechnology in this area is so great that a large part of research activity is dedicated to it. In the near future there will hardly be any medications on the market where biotechnology was not involved in some stage of the development and manufacture. New active substances can be developed for human health and even their effectiveness and compatibility can be improved. Also many health promoting substances such as vitamins, which supplement our food, are mostly produced biotechnologically. As a component of ”functional food“ they can contribute to preventing nutrition related illnesses among other things.
Nanobiotechnology
Hereditary molecules, proteins and sugar chains have dimensions of just a few nanometres (a nanometre corresponds to a billionth of a metre). Due to this small scale they are also the object of research of nanotechnology. In the interface of ”nano-“ and ”biotech“ – in nanobiotechnology – both new analysis processes for the investigation of biological procedures and miniaturised technical systems are combined with biomolecules. These systems can be used in clinical diagnostics for example.
Bionics
Not only on a nano scale but also according to the example of nature, biology and technology are linked together in bionics. In order to achieve better aerodynamics, aeroplane wings are provided with surface characteristics, based on those of shark skin.
Sustainable bioproduction
Nature’s technologies are also useful for industrial biotechnological production, including the culture of living cells or the use of biological catalysts (enzymes). However so that biological manufacturing processes can proceed on a large scale, engineering sciences and process engineering make significant contributions. In a biotechnological system, micro-organisms for example grow under very controlled conditions. As for conventional production processes, indicators such as pressure, oxygen supply and temperature must be checked and controlled exactly. Such production procedures have an advantage over some chemical processes in that even complex manufacturing methods can be carried out efficiently, with a low level of raw material usage and low level of waste production, by just one single organism.
These biological abilities have been established over millions of years of evolution and today make a significant contribution to environmentally friendly, industrial production. That is the relevance of sustainable bio production.
