Concepts in biotechnology: history, science and business

The authors present a systematic, yet concise, overview of the field, science and application, of biotechnology and how it developed. This includes some history, with roots going back several thousand years, highlighting great achievements in the 19th and early 20th centuries. It illustrates how progress actually occurs, driven by ideas and human activity with individuals playing decisive roles. The traditional fields of biochemical engineering and industrial biotechnology, as well the most recent progress in biosystems engineering, modern pharmaceutical and plant biotechnology are covered. The recent dramatic explosion in knowledge from genetics and cell biology have revolutionized biotechnology causing fundamental changes in related medical fields: e.g., from intervention to preventive and regenerative medicine. How this occurred, the prime movers, the principle developments, the concepts, science and applications are described. As the application of biotechnology impacts on society relevant questions in the area of economics, ethics and patenting are addressed in dedicated chapters. The involvement of the authors each with some 40 years as scientists and contemporary witnesses of these events gives the text an historical authenticity which the reader may find make the more recent events come to life. The book should be an introductory guide for students as well as scientists and engineers engaged in, or intending to work in biotechnology --

History: The early period to 1850 ; The period from 1850 to 1890 ; The period from 1890 to 1950 ; Outlook, from 1950 onwards : biotechnology--science or what? -- The new paradigm based on molecular biology and genetics: Broadening of biotechnology through understanding life, genetics and evolution ; The beginnings of the new biotechnology ; Ethical aspects related to genome research, and reproductive medicine ; Elucidating protein structure : the beginnings of rational protein design ; The development of antibodies as pharmaceutical products ; Hereditary disease and human genome analysis ; Transgenic animals and plants ; Extrapolation to the future ; Biotechnology and intellectual property -- Application: Bioprocess engineering ; Industrial biotechnology ; Pharmaceutical biotechnology ; Plant biotechnology.