Biotechnology Breakthroughs: How Tech is Transforming the Life Sciences

Improving medical treatments: technology has allowed scientists to identify diseases and recommend proper treatment much faster and more accurately than before, changing survival odds for life-threatening diseases and expanding doctors’ reach when sharing research and treatment options.

Improving the environment: to better the environment and create more sustainable practices, technology has helped decrease waste and streamline operations, using up less valuable resources, in addition to raising awareness about the environmental problems the world is facing. 

Improving food production: with the help of technology, food production has become more effective and sustainable, allowing farmers to have higher crop yields with fewer inputs, removing the need for pesticides, and producing more allergen and toxic-free foods.

Producing energy from renewable biomasses: finding sources of energy in new and unexpected places is a key pillar of industrial biotechnology and scientists have been able to find biomasses that create energy, also known as biopower technologies. By using these kinds of renewable energy sources, we are both using the earth more efficiently and using up less non-renewable resources.

Producing biodegradable plastics: our use of plastic is arguably one of the most common talking points when it comes to sustainability and there’s a reason why: we use a lot of plastic and it does have a large impact on the environment. Industrial biotechnology has focused on finding alternatives to one use plastics that just end up in wastelands and finding biodegradable plastics has had a tremendous effect. 

Producing bio-based fuel and energy: energy usage, especially at the rates we use it, sucks up lots of the world’s resources fast and scientists were tasked with finding an environmentally and renewable solution for energy that produces sustainable fuel sources and alternative energy sources. 

Protecting resources and controlling pests: pesticides play a crucial role in controlling the growth of organisms that are not good for humans, but finding ones that don’t damage the overall ecosystem has been a responsibility taken on by industrial biotechnology. 

Vaccine creation and release: vaccines transformed human life at their first introduction in the past, but more recent advancements, such as mRNA-based vaccines like those released to combat 2020’s COVID-19 pandemic, helped us combat widespread illnesses rapidly and tackle global health crises faster. 

Gene editing: recent breakthroughs in scientists’ understanding of genes and genetic diseases have allowed gene editing to become a possibility, which quite literally edits the genetic sequence of a person to treat genetic diseases and better understand where they come from. 

Personalized treatments: many biotechnology advances allow doctors to know more about a person’s specific genetic makeup, leading to personalized treatments that are suited for their exact situation. In addition, sharing information, research, and patient files confidentially has become more widespread thanks to technology, and doctors can use previous cases to recommend the appropriate steps for treatment. 

The introduction of antibodies: the introduction of antibodies in the late 1990s absolutely transformed modern medicine, allowing doctors to specifically treat specific diseases and providing increasingly personalized treatment for each patient. Today, antibody treatments are used to treat autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases, and neurological disorders. 

Genetically-modified crops: through the ability to alter the genes of crops, scientists are able to make them disease-resistant and healthier, which in addition to helping farmers avoid the use of potentially damaging fertilizers or pesticides, helps produce high-quality products with less waste. This GMO technology has also led to a better quality of life for farmers, lower costs, and increased efficiency.

Biofuels: similarly to their application in industrial biotechnology, the introduction of biofuels to the agricultural industry reduces greenhouse gas emissions through using natural resources like sugarcane or algae to create fuel, instead of harmful and scarce petroleum sources. In addition, this provides more fuel options which diversifies the market, leading to the potential for lower prices. 

Better plant growth: farmers have long been working with their plants to get a richer flavor, eliminate diseases, or yield more crops and thanks to biotechnology, this is becoming a possibility. Sustainable plant growth has led to many developments in this field, modifying the genetic makeup of plants in labs to quickly create the optimized product for farmers. 

Better animal breeding: similarly to how plants are being bred for a richer taste and resistance to disease, scientists have made significant advances in livestock production, both improving the quality of meat and the health of the animal. As this study continues to advance, we can expect this to increase the amount of food production and improve animal resistance to disease. 

Algae: algae was recently discovered to be a possible renewable energy source and one that scientists are exploring to see its potential. It also serves as a source for food additives or cosmetic products, which could reduce waste in other areas. 

Studying fish genes: just like with animals and farmland, scientists are studying different kinds of fish to improve the quality of the fish, their growth, and resistance to disease or other threats. Marine biotechnology has also focused on making fish farming more sustainable and humane. 

Wellness: lots of cosmetic and beauty companies have discovered the use of marine elements for wellness, sustainably using these resources to deliver certain molecules or oils that have a positive effect on people’s health or skin. Collagen, algae, and sea sponges are common examples of marine biotechnology in our daily lives.