Biotech (biotechnology) usually refers to the technical process that people use advanced scientific and technological means to produce necessary products for humans or achieve a particular purpose. It is based on the modern life sciences, combining scientific principles of other basic sciences. In terms of the production process, it is in accordance with some pre-designed modified organisms or processing biological materials. In recent years, modern biotechnology has developed rapidly, especially in genetic engineering, enzyme engineering and cytology, which has largely influenced and changed people’s life.
1. The Second Generation Sequencing
The second generation sequencing or massive-parallel sequencing have affected almost every aspect in the field of biology. This technology allows scientists to sequence the genome, assess genetic variation, fix gene expression, study epigenetic research, explore the microscopic life, as well as upgrade all kinds of analysis and filtering easily. Technological innovations make the quantity and quality of sequencing data increased constantly. Constructed sequencing library is in progress too. Now people can detect restricted materials or degradation samples, label cells in a wide variety of molecules, capture the molecular interactions and genome structure, etc.
2. Genome Editing and Genetic Engineering
Genome engineering can realize customized modifications in the cells cultured in vitro, model or non-model organisms which has brought great convenience for related research. Researchers are able to cut the gene, introduce mutation or construct gene fusion, with the help of these tools. For example, people can use enzyme to cleavage special genome sequence, start the repair process of cells, and thereby make wanted sequence changes. Recently, CRISPR-Cas9 system has become the new core of the field. The system uses RNA to navigate for nuclease, so it is easy to design and can virtually rewrite any genomic sequence.
3. Single-molecule Technologies
Studying the behaviors of single molecules (such as proteins or DNA) can reveal important biological mechanism, which is the average of the molecular studies can not match. Over the past decade, a number of single-molecule technologies have become mature gradually. For example, force spectroscopy technique can detect the mechanical behavior of molecules while fluorescence microscope is capable of in vitro and in vivo tracking of single molecules. Emerging single-molecule technologies include nanopore technology to single-molecule sequencing, optics and plasmonic devices without detection, and the like. The emergence of these tools enables people an unprecedented depth exploration in the varying functions of single-molecules.
Actually, significant application of biotechnology is not only in the health industry but also in some other research and development investments. Rely on current biotechnology, agriculture production on less land can generate more healthy food, manufacturing can reduce environmental pollution and save energy, renewable resources can use raw materials to protect the environment, etc.