The word biotechnology was coined in 1919 by Karl Ereky to apply to the interaction of biology with human technology. Today, it comes to mean a broad range of technologies from genetic engineering (recombinant DNA techniques), to animal breeding and industrial fermentation. Accurately, biotechnology is defined as the integrated use of biochemistry, microbiology, and engineering sciences in order to achieve technological (industrial) application of the capabilities of microorganisms, cultured tissue cells, and parts thereof.

The nature of biotechnology has undergone a dramatic change in the last half century. Modern biotechnology is greatly based on recent developments in molecular biology, especially those in genetic engineering. Organisms from bacteria to cows are being genetically modified to produce pharmaceuticals and foods. Also, new methods of disease gene isolation, analysis, and detection, as well as gene therapy, promise to revolutionize medicine.

In theory, the steps involved in genetic engineering are relatively simple. First...