Biotechnology

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈbaɪəʊˌtÉ›k.nÉ’l.əʊ.dʒɪi/

Origin

- + technology

Full definition of biotechnology

Noun

1. The use of living organisms (especially microorganisms) in industrial, agricultural, medical and other technological applications.
• 1988, New Zealand Department of Trade and Industry, Biotechnology in New Zealand—A Business Perspective, page 8,Japan's strength lies in more traditional biotechnology such as fermentation.
• 2003, Mabju Sharma, Renu Swarup, The Way Ahead - The New Technology in an Old Society, T. K. Ghose, P. Ghosh (editors), Biotechnology in India I, page 5,The developments in biotechnology, particularly with the basic understanding of genetics, immunology, biochemistry, biochemical engineering and molecular biology, have paved the way for major biotechnology products and processes and have provided tools to the manufacturing and service industry.
• 2009, Sean D. Sutton, Introduction, Sean D. Sutton (editor), Biotechnology: Our Future as Human Beings and Citizens, page 6,Moreover, Arnhart points out that both the proponents and critics of biotechnology are compelled to appeal to our natural moral sense.
2. The application of the principles and practices of engineering and technology to the life sciences.
• 2002, Charles Spillane, Yvonne Pinto, 1: Biosafety in Agrcultural Biotechnology: Balancing Social and Environmental Impacts, Timothy M. Swanson (editor), The Economics of Managing Biotechnologies, page 4,Agricultural biotechnology comprises a collection of scientific techniques, including genetic engineering, that are used to modify and improve plants, animals and microorganisms for human profit. Agricultural biotechnologies are not a substitute for conventional plant and animal breeding, but can be a powerful complement to improving the efficiency and sustainability of agricultural production.
• 2008, Yutaka Tanaka, Attitude toward Bioethics and Acceptance of Biotechnology, William G. Flynne (editor), Biotechnology and Bioengineering, page 175,The result of study 3 suggests that the factor of bioethics is important not only for the acceptance of biotechnologies themselves, such as gene recombination technology and clone technology, but also the acceptance of foods and products which are produced by the use of biotechnologies.
• 2008, Wendy Harcourt, Chapter 1: Heading Blithely Down the Garden Path?: Some Entry Points into Current Debates on Women and Biotechnologies, Francesca Molfino, Flavia Zucco (editors), Women in Biotechnology: Creating Interfaces, page 38,It therefore follows that we need to ensure that the conception, development, dissemination and application of biotechnologies are held to ethical democratic standars which ensure gender equality.

Derived terms

• biotech abbreviation, informal
• biotechnological