What is biotechnology? And why does it matter?
The simple answer is "the commercialization of cell biology.” But the U.S. Congress's Office of Technology Assessment offers a more comprehensive definition: "Any technique that uses living organisms or substances from those organisms, to make or modify a product, to improve plants or animals, or to develop microorganisms for specific uses.”
That means "biotechnology" includes not just cutting edge scientific breakthroughs, but also some of the oldest human endeavors. Beer, bread, wine and cheese are all products of biotechnology. So are penicillin and vaccines, compost and cut flowers, farm-raised shrimp and freshwater aquariums. The term "biotechnology" itself is more than a century old.
What has changed in recent years is not the basic principle of biotechnology -- harnessing the properties of living organisms for useful ends -- but the techniques used to do it. Not until the 20th century did scientists begin to unlock the secrets of DNA and embark on what we now call "genetic engineering." This has led to an astounding array of new discoveries and products that have changed how we feed the world's people, promote human health and safety, and take care of the resources of the planet.
Like most great and rapid changes, the biotech revolution has left a lot of people concerned, and ethical questions have been raised that need to be answered. Should all genetically engineered products be labeled? Is cloning OK for plants and animals but not for humans? Should DNA samples be routinely collected from newborn babies? The new world of biotech has changed the way we look at life itself, and that can be scary.
But it also promises enormous benefits. Diseases that used to kill millions have been eradicated. Food supplies that were scarce are now abundant. Criminals who used to run free are now being brought to justice. And what used to be science fiction is now science fact. The biotechnology industry today is poised to join the computer industry as a key component of the world economy.
And Austin and Central Texas -- already a recognized center of high technology -- is becoming a landmark on the biotech map. As part of the Bio-Link consortium, Austin Community College is not only developing the workforce this industry needs, but also sharing information about biotechnology with the community and with the world via the Internet. BIOTECH GATEWAY, which is funded in part by a grant from the National Science Foundation, is part of that effort.
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