Microbial biotechnology
The branch of biology that deals with the utilization of micro- organisms for the production of different products that are beneficial to humans and other forms of life is called microbial biotechnology.
Impact of microbial biotechnology:
Useful activities
There are so many benefits of microorganisms in the field of genetic engineering, recombination of genes, research, agriculture, preparation of medicine, preparation of different products in industries etc.
A. In the field of medicine:
Microbial technology (genetic engineering) has been used in the following field of medicine to control and improve human health.
1. Insulin production: Insulin is used for controlling sugar level in diabetes. microbial biotechnology is used to produce insulin in large masses. Insulin producing genes from humans are cloned into bacteria and used for synthesis of insulin.
2. Interferon production: interferons are glycoprotein in blood which produce enzymes that inhibit the multiplication of viruses. It is anti- viral agent. It can be produced by separating WBC from human blood.
3. Production of first and second generation vaccines: Vaccine is an immunizing agent. Vaccines that are produced by fermentation technology are called first generation vaccines. Eg., BCG, TT,.etc. The vaccines that are produced by microbial (recombinant DNA) technology are called second generation vaccines. Eg , vaccines like hepatitis B, Influenza, foot and mouth disease vaccines are the results of genetic engineering.
4. Production of antibiotics: Antibiotics are chemical substances produced from microorganisms for controlling bacterial disease. Different types of antibiotics like penicillin, streptomycin, terramycin, etc are developed by using the microbial technology.
5. Production of monoclonal antibodies: 100% pure antibodies are produced by hybridoma technology called monoclonal antibodies. It is used to develop effective vaccines. The process of fusion of normal antibody producing lymphocytes (B-cells) with myeloma cells (tumor cells) is called hybridoma.
6. Production of human growth hormone (somatotropin): different types of human growth hormones are commercially synthesized by using microorganisms. Growth hormone (somatotropin) is used for the treatment of dwarfism.
7. Gene therapy: The process of replacement of defective genes by normal ones is called gene therapy. It is applicable for the treatment of diseases like diabetes, cancer, and other genetic disorders.
B. In the field of agriculture:
Many crop plants like wheat, rice, tomato, potato, soybean etc. have been genetically changed to enhance their qualities and quantities.
1. Production of disease resistant varieties of plants: Microbial technology is used in the production of disease resistant, pest resistant varieties of crop plants.
2. Production of transgenic plants and animals: GMO (genetically modified organism) is an organism having foreign genes. some examples of transgenic plants and animals are: Golden rice - to increase vitamin- A Potato - to increase protein content Cow, sheep, goat - production of large amounts of protein in milk.
3. Nitrogen fixation in non leguminous cereals: the transfer of nifgenes from bacteria to the non leguminous plants help in nitrogen fixation that increases soil and then productivity of crops. This method also helps to increase protein content of the plants.
C. In the field of industries:
Microbial technology is used for making different industrial products. Many important organic compounds produced industrially by fermentation properties of microbes. Some of them are alcohols, organic compounds, lactic acid, citric acid, enzymes, antibiotics, vinegar, etc.
Harmful activities
Possible dangers due to microbial technology are:
1. It is possible to develop antibiotic resistant germs.
2. It may result in new kinds of disease.
3. It is possible to produce dangerous hybrid organisms which may cause environmental disbalance.
4. There is a risk of development of drug-resistant germs which is out of control.
5. It can cause unexpected mutations in an organism which can create new and higher levels of toxins in food.
Hope this will help you a lot.
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