বায়োটেকনলজি

Biotechnology and the Future World

seezanurApril 23, 20139 Mins read1.9k Views

Cizanur Rahman

Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering

Islamic University, Kushtia.

If someone suddenly asks me, “So, what is biotechnology?” I automatically answer without thinking, “Biotechnology is bio-technology!” Even though this might sound laughable, I don’t really have any other definition in mind. However, if I had to provide a formal definition, there are hundreds of references to choose from. If the next question is, “In which fields does biotechnology work?” then, after a few minutes of listing them, I find myself wondering if I’ve left any out!

In reality, biotechnology has become so vast today that even if one wrote a multi-volume book just about its fields, it would not be enough; because each day, biotechnology’s scope is expanding. When Karl Ereky first used the term “biotechnology” in 1919, it referred simply to the process of producing products with the help of living things. But now, very simply put, biotechnology or bio-technology is a process that uses living organisms (plants, animals, or microorganisms) to improve a substance or process (biological processes in animal bodies) from its natural state for the wellbeing of humanity. To expand further, the following definition is often cited:‍ “All applications of natural science & engineering in the direct or indirect use of living organisms or part of organisms in natural or modified forms in an innovative manner in the production of goods & services and/or to improve existing industrial process. The market application of output is typically in the generals’ areas of human health, food production, industrial bio-processing & other public good & environmental settings.” _ (source_Ernst & Young)

But however biotechnology is defined, to me, it is the creator of a beautiful dream. Biotechnology inspires a vision of a livable, wonderful world. And not just a dream—it gives us the conviction that, yes, it really is possible. To those who are fearful when they look at the current state of the world, shudder at the thought of its future—I want to say to them, “Yes, only we, the biotechnologists, have the power to shape the future world as we wish. We can lead the world to the peak of progress. We have this capacity; it has been bestowed upon us.”

In February 2006, the member states of the OECD (The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) approved genetic discoveries for the benefit of public health. Even before that, biotechnology did not stand still. Hybridization and crossbreeding were being done for various reasons. Hybridization also occurs naturally, but it is a very slow process; what we can easily accomplish now through recombinant DNA technology. For this reason, some environmentalists will always oppose biotechnology. They fear it will destroy the uniqueness of the environment and could lead to disaster. But is that really the case? If the world continues as it is, radiation will eventually wipe out some species, others will lose their uniqueness, and only a few will survive. The result: the breakdown of food chains and further species extinction. In this way, the planet will again move toward another mass extinction (Genus extinction).

If we look at the statistics of the previous five mass extinctions in Earth’s history, it becomes clear that another mass extinction is approaching. Such extinctions have occurred roughly every 100 million years. The last mass extinction took place about 65 million years ago.

Name and time of mass extinction – Percentage of species lost – Cause

1. Precambrian (544 million years ago) – 79% (mainly marine microorganisms)

2. Ordovician (440 million years ago) – about 100 families (systematic classification)

3. Devonian (360 million years ago) – 70% of species (mostly marine)

4. Permian-Triassic (248 million years ago) – 90–95% of species

5. Cretaceous-Tertiary (65 million years ago) – 85% of species

If a sixth mass extinction occurs, humans will be entirely responsible. The major contributing factors in front of us are food scarcity, energy shortages, infectious diseases, and pollution and environmental disasters.

Looking at the current production and demand for food in the world, it is clear that future food crises are inevitable. As the global population increases, cultivable land is steadily decreasing. If we analyze the data of food demand and production, the food crisis is rising steadily. Whatever numbers appear in theory, the actual shortage is much less. The only reason for that is biotechnology. Hybridization, plant breeding, pollen culture or agriculture—whatever we call it—these are now branches of plant biotechnology. Likewise, animal husbandry and poultry farming are not fundamental branches of science but were previously considered applied branches of biology. Now, they cannot be thought of outside of biotechnology.

Today, biotechnology has spread to every branch of science. No matter how much is said about food shortages in the future world, such shortages will likely never become acute. This is already apparent. Countless stories could be told of how biotechnology can help eliminate food crises. And if I were to claim that someday the Graminae family (grasses/cereals) will yield three harvests in one planting—meaning farmers could bring in three crops from one rice sowing—it may seem far-fetched now; but in the future, who can say it won’t happen? After all, we are biotechnologists.

The natural gas reserves in Bangladesh are not enough to properly serve even one generation. Almost every country in the world faces the same prospect. Natural gas and oil reserves are being depleted rapidly. So, will we cut down trees to meet energy demands? If that happens, the earth will become barren, even if its surface turns as red as Mars. Solar power cannot completely meet future energy demands; and if uranium is used as fuel, after a few more years, the amount of radioactive waste will be so great that the price of a glass of pure water will exceed that of a gram of uranium! But biotechnology is beginning to offer solutions for energy shortages. Significant progress has already been made in researching biofuels. Examples include the discovery of diesel from castor oil by the German scientist Matthias Hommes and the process of producing biodiesel from edible oil by American scientist Michael Haas. New Zealand researchers have demonstrated the production of biodiesel from sewage. Nilsson, through metabolic engineering (mainly genetic modification), also invented a process for generating fuel oil and necessary chemicals, and interestingly, he used glucose as the raw material. So it is clear that extensive research is underway in many countries on biofuels and biodiesel. We know that the day is not far off when biofuel production will be common commercially.

Currently, the world is being challenged by new diseases like AIDS, bird flu, and swine flu. These are often attributed to pollution, high population density, and above all, environmental catastrophes. But as these diseases emerge, immunogenetics and pharmaceutical biotechnology are jumping into action to combat them. Biotechnology and recombinant DNA technology have led to great progress in medicine. The first commercial product of recombinant DNA technology—insulin—is the main weapon against diabetes. Since then, biotechnology’s advances in medicine have only continued. Thanks to biotechnology, there has also been progress in stem cell research and the discovery of proteins like MIR-24 for skin cancer prevention. Trihin and Merkel, in 2004, developed medical methods such as microinjection, electroporation, viral production, and viral vector therapy; Sakurai further advanced these in 2007 and discussed methods to counteract unwanted immune responses. Through the discovery of various hormones, biotechnology now allows us to dream of staying young longer. With the discovery of biomarkers, diagnosis will become highly reliable, and biomedicine will become a revolutionary discovery in the field of medical science. Pharmacogenetics is changing the very concept of traditional medicine. Through plant biotechnology, various fruits are now being fortified with necessary vitamins and minerals, enhancing our immune systems. Perhaps in the future, a single fruit could act as a cure for a specific disease!

All the current anxiety and outcry about the environment could be alleviated and transformed into safety and purity with the proper use of biotechnology. Our environment is polluted mostly by chemicals. Environmentally friendly alternatives to these chemicals can be produced through biotechnology. For example, biobleaching or enzyme-based detergents could be used as alternatives to bleaching powder and phosphate detergents. In some developed countries, their use has already started. Most factories in the world currently remove waste through chemical processes or directly dump it into the environment. The entire procedure is hazardous and harmful to the planet. Biotechnologists have discovered safe and profitable ways to process these wastes. Through biotechnology, modern fertilizer factories can now turn their waste into soil within days. Harmful heavy metals, acids, petroleum wastes, and chlorine compounds can be removed from polluted areas. This whole process is possible using bacteria and certain types of fungi. Some plants can absorb toxic substances like mercury, lead, and arsenic from soil. Scientists are optimistic that such plants could also help remove chemical waste. Biotechnology has helped create plants that can survive in various environments. As a result, afforestation will be possible even in saline or desert regions, aiding environmental conservation.

If we come back to reality from our world of ideas, it is clear that the power biotechnology has to change the environment for the benefit of humanity will have a broad impact on the global market. That is why OECD member countries already count biotechnology as a key to future change. Biopharmaceuticals are bringing significant transformation to the future of medicine—this much is apparent even now. According to OECD estimates, by 2015, half of all medicines and seeds worldwide will be produced through biotechnology. By 2030, biotechnology-based GDP among OECD member countries will rise to 2.7%, up from less than 1% today. As a result, not only OECD member countries but others will benefit as well. Currently, only 6% of business in OECD member countries is based on biotechnology, primarily in agriculture. OECD’s International Future Programme (IFP) has developed a bio-economy plan through 2030, discussing the impact of biotechnology on the economy, ways economic development may be achieved through biotechnology, and providing projections for various sectors, such as _

ü World population will be 8.3 billion!

ü Annual GDP growth will be 4.6% in developed countries and about 2.3% in OECD member countries

ü China and India will start exporting bioproducts, mainly agricultural, forestry, and fisheries related.

Although biotechnology is still in its early stages, and its commercial products are mostly used in agriculture, it will soon expand into the medical field and others. As bioinformatics and DNA sequencing advance, the discovery of pharmacogenetics and biomedicine will become easier. That is why OECD countries are investing in building genetic banks. According to the OECD, by 2015, Genetically Modified (GM) plants will become easily available, further driving the progress of pharmacogenetics. Pharmaceutical and biochemical production will increase by 12–20% and the production of other bio-compounds will rise by 1.8%. OECD countries believe that the production of biodiesel from bioethanol will be possible by 2015. Society, the economy, and technology have all begun new types of enterprises centered on biotechnology, and these are far-reaching in effect. Current products of biotechnology and the ability to engineer genes will soon transform the bio-economy into a joint economy. By 2030, the world economy will be based on biotechnology; even now, there are signs of this. In addition, GM crops have forced the public to consider bio-economics. Consequently, beyond government initiatives, private and business organizations are showing strong interest in biotechnology research. Only the correct application of biotechnology can truly make the world as we dream it. With the right investment, the world can reap tremendous benefits from biotechnology.

Looking back at history, on October 19, 1987, the US stock market experienced a major crash, falling by 508 points. Many large companies had to shut down, but it was biotech-related companies that stabilized the market. Later, from January to May of 1991, these biotech companies contributed 18 billion US dollars to the stock market, making their shares known as “stock bombs.” Some recent statistics are enough to illustrate the present economic impact of biotechnology.

According to a report from January 26, 2012, the gross profit of four American companies—NPS Pharmaceuticals, Halozyme Therapeutics, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, and EXACT Sciences Corporation—was over 99%. In fact, the gross profit of the top 16 companies on the list was above 90%, while the next 12 companies also had profits over 80%! Traditionally, in economics, gross profit margins are set as follows: for pharmaceutical companies, over 50%; for garments, 40–45%; and for any profitable enterprise, 20–30%. But biotechnology companies have shattered these conventions, with most enjoying gross profits above 70%! That is why developed nations are now emphasizing investment in this sector. Even leaving aside America, if we look at our neighboring country India, we can see which way the biotechnology economy is headed! India ranks fourth in the world in the pharmaceutical industry. In India, there are a total of 170 biotech companies, 5 of which are state-owned, and 60 work with modern biotechnology. India began developing its pharmaceutical industry in the early 1960s, and in 1970 the government amended the patent law to encourage such ventures. In the fiscal year 2009–10, biotechnology and biopharmaceutical companies made 17% revenue, equating to 3 billion US dollars! In 2011, the earnings of India’s leading biopharmaceutical and biotechnology companies is as follows:

Rank	Company	Revenue (crore)
1	Biocon	1483
2	Serum Institute of India	1041
3	Panacea Biotec	928.41
4	Nuziveedu Seeds Private Limited	610
5	Reliance Life Sciences	490
6	Quintiles	476.25
7	Novo Nordisk	462
8	Rasi Seeds	371.88
9	Mahyco	364.9
10	Trans Asia	350
11	Ankur Seeds	325
12	Syngene International	318
13	Bharat Biotech International	298.34
14	Indian Immunologicals Limited	283
15	Krishidhan Seeds	276.13
16	Shantha Biotechnics	272
17	Novozymes	242
18	Bharat Serums	226
19	Jubilant Lifesciences	210
20	Eli Lilly and Company	204

From these statistics, it’s easy to infer that, with just a little effort, we could stabilize the Bangladeshi stock market as well, given the right business policies and transparent investment.

Just as biotechnology could help prevent an impending mass extinction, it could also boost the world economy and make it more powerful. In the truest sense, biotechnology brings together many small dreams and turns them into reality. The history of the future world will be shaped by biotechnology. Therefore, ensuring the proper use of biotechnology is our duty.

Acknowledgment

Dr. Md. Anwarul Haque

Associate Professor

Department of Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering

Islamic University, Kushtia.

References

1. http://www.cerna.ensmp.fr/Documents/AM-JR-MHZ-BiotechReport.pdf

2. http://dallasfed.org/research/swe/2002/swe0202b.html

3. http://irows.ucr.edu/research/biotech/isa04biotech.htm

4. http://whatmatters.mckinseydigital.com/biotechnology/how-biotech-will-reshape-the-global-economy

5. http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/18/23/1855200.pdf

6. http://www.fas.org/ota/reports/9110.pdf