Biotechnology, a unique field that melds science and technology, has grown by an astronomical factor over the past two decades. In some cases referred to as cell or tissue culture technology or genetic engineering, the field is composed of a wide variety of procedures designed to modify living organisms to suit the needs of humans. The field, which actually has its roots in the cultivation of plants and the domestication of animals has come a long way and now includes such concepts as hybridization and artificial selection.
Biotechnology as we know it today draws on sciences such cell biology, embryology, molecular biology and genetics as well as methods and knowledge from fields outside of the scientific sphere. These technologies, most notably information technology, chemical engineering and biorobotics, together with the sciences have allowed developers to create entire fields of biotechnology, most notably in the medical field and the fight against diseases.
Because of biotechnology, researchers have made huge inroads into the fields of genetic testing, gene therapy, pharmacogenomics and drug production. Simply put, the tools, techniques and procedures developed by biotechnologists have allowed scientists to create better medications, to understand how the human body, particularly a specific human, will respond to a particular drug therapy.
Strides have been made in the area of genetic testing as well. Today it is possible to screen for a variety of diseases, screen newborns for genetic disorders and perform identity testing, all at the gene level. While many of these tests are currently available only in developed countries, it seems apparent that with continued research, biotechnology will change the way we identify and treat diseases.
Biotechnology, like all new technologies, is not without its opponents. The ethical question raised by testing and modification alone make it a hot debate topic. As technology continues to advance it is apparent that more strides will be made in this area.