Biotechnology is a broad area of biology involving the use of living systems and organisms to develop or make products. Depending on the tools and applications, it often overlaps with related scientific fields. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, biotechnology has expanded to include new and diverse sciences, such as genomics, recombinant gene techniques, applied immunology, and development of pharmaceutical therapies and diagnostic tests.
Humans have used biotechnology for millennia, such as in the brewing of beer, fermentation of wine, and baking of bread. However, the term 'biotechnology' was first coined by Károly Ereky in 1919. The field took a massive leap in the 1970s with the development of genetic engineering techniques (recombinant DNA) by Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen, which allowed for the precise manipulation of genetic material.
Modern biotechnology is a key driver of the bioeconomy. Its applications are vast: 'Red biotechnology' refers to medical processes (producing vaccines, antibiotics); 'Green biotechnology' applies to agriculture (GMOs, bio-fertilizers); 'White biotechnology' is used in industrial processes (biofuels, biodegradable plastics). It is helping to solve global challenges related to disease, hunger, and environmental sustainability.