biotechnology

/ˌˈbaɪoʊˈtɛkˌnɑlədʒi/

/baɪəʊtɛkˈnɔlədʒi/

Other forms: biotechnologies

Biotechnology may sound like the stuff of science fiction, but it's a real area of science that deals with the overlap of engineering and biology.

The Greek root bio- means "life," so biotechnology is "life technology" — technology that uses living things in products or processes, or that which focuses on designing things to benefit humans (living things) biologically. Vaccines, genetically modified foods, biofuels, and DNA fingerprinting are all examples of biotechnology. Ergonomics — designing equipment that reduces workers' discomfort, stress, or fatigue — is also often considered a branch of biotechnology, as it's technology developed to make our lives better from a biological perspective.

Definitions of biotechnology

1. noun

   the process and study of using microorganisms for industrial purposes
   “biotechnology produced genetically altered bacteria that solved the problem”

   synonyms: biotech

   types:

   bioremediation

   the branch of biotechnology that uses biological process to overcome environmental problems

   gene-splicing, genetic engineering, recombinant DNA technology

   the technology of preparing recombinant DNA in vitro by cutting up DNA molecules and splicing together fragments from more than one organism

   type of:

   molecular biology

   the branch of biology that studies the structure and activity of macromolecules essential to life (and especially with their genetic role)
2. noun

   the branch of engineering science in which biological science is used to study the relation between workers and their environments
   synonyms: bioengineering, ergonomics

   type of:

   applied science, engineering, engineering science, technology

   the discipline dealing with the art or science of applying scientific knowledge to practical problems