Fundamentals of Biotechnology

Biotechnology is a vast area of biology involving the use of living systems and organisms to develop or make products. On the basis of the tools and applications being utilized, it often overlaps with related scientific fields. In its early years, the main achievement of biotechnology was the ability to produce naturally occurring therapeutic molecules in larger quantities than could be derived from conventional sources such as plasma, animal organs, and human cadavers. Today, biotechnology aims to discover the root molecular causes of disease and provide interventions precisely at that level. This involves producing therapeutic proteins that supplement the body's own supplies or that make up for genetic deficiencies. But the biotechnology industry has also expanded its research into the creation of traditional pharmaceuticals and monoclonal antibodies that stop the progress of a disease. Such steps are discovered through the study of genes (genomics), the proteins that they encode (proteomics) and the larger biological pathways in which they act. This book covers in detail some existent theories and innovative concepts revolving around biotechnology. Some of the diverse topics covered herein address the varied branches that fall under this category. This book will serve as a valuable source of information for those interested in this field.