Modern Biotechnology

Biotechnology is one of the "buzz" words of the decade. At its simplest, it is the commercial exploitation of living organisms or their components - such as enzymes - and thus it covers the discipline formerly known as industrial microbiology. Indeed to many people, the two terms are synonymous. However the word biotechnology could in its broadest sense also be extended to cover certain aspects of horticulture and agriculture as both practices to some extent involve the commercial exploitation of animals or plants. This broad view of what constitutes biotechnology forms the basis of this book. The overriding aim has been to combine in a single text, detailed information on recombinant DNA technology, protein engineering, industrial microbiology, monoclonal antibodies, plant and animal cell culture, new methods of plant and animal breeding and the legal, social and ethical issues which surround biotechnology. It provides a basic reference source for undergraduates taking courses in biochemistry, genetics and molecular biology and also for industrial specialists who seek further information on areas with which they are less familiar.
The book is heavily biased towards the impact of in-vitro gene manipulation, which is one of the reasons why biotechnology is currently a topic of consuming interest to a wide-ranging number of people.