Jr. Medical School Advanced Reading: Biotechnology

What is Biotechnology?
 
Biotechnology is a branch of science where living things are used for the creation of products or to perform some tasks for human beings. Plants, animals and even micro-organisms like bacteria are used to produce some benefit to mankind. In the medicine and agriculture field industry, biotechnology helps in producing foods, test for diseases and to remove waste. Biotechnology can also be used to solve problems and to help in research.

The students at Kid's Talk Radio Science will be reporting on Biotechnology and they will be keeping students posted on many of the advances in this exciting field.

Biotechnology is generally divided into three sub fields - red, white and green biotechnology. Red biotechnology deals with genetically altered microorganisms that are used for producing products like insulin and vaccine for medical use. White biotechnology involves the creation of useful chemicals for the industrial sector through organisms like moulds or yeast. This form of biotechnology is also referred to as grey biotechnology. Green biotechnology, also known as agricultural biotechnology, deals with applications related to agriculture.

Jr. Medical School Students are including Biotechnology reading in all of there summer and fall reading projects for 2008 and 2009.  

It is through red biotechnology based research that antibiotics for different infections have been developed and vaccines for boosting the immune system against disease and to detect and treat any genetic disorders and disease have been produced. Red biotechnology also helps in reproductive technologies like invitro fertilization, DNA profiling, forensics and in technologies of transplantations.  If you find this area of study interesting, please contact your instructor for additional resources in this exciting area of study.

It is with the help of white biotechnology that the environment is helped in the control of pest animals and plants. Biotechnology has helped in cleaning up oil spills, protecting endangered species by storing DNA samples to be used for future research and to help remove any excess nutrients there may be in the soil and water. Research in biotechnology also aims at leaching metals from the soil to provide for clean mining, in the detection of landmines and in the cleaning of arsenic and other metal contamination.

Green biotechnology involves the manipulation of plants and animals to produce species that are more environment friendly and productive. Development of varieties of wheat that are disease resistant by cross breeding different types of wheat is an example of green biotechnology.

Your extra readings in the area of Biotechnology will earn you 2,000 points towards graduation from Jr. Medical School.


For more information contact Dr. Bob at Suprschool@aol.com