Scope and Prospects of Microbial Biotechnology
Scope and Prospects of Microbial Biotechnology Introduction Microbial biotechnology is the branch of biotechnology that uses microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, yeast, algae, and viruses to develop useful products and processes. It combines microbiology, molecular biology, genetics, and biochemistry to improve human health, agriculture, industry, and the environment. Due to rapid technological advancement, microbial biotechnology has become one of the most important fields of modern science. Scope of Microbial Biotechnology 1. Medical and Pharmaceutical Applications Microorganisms are widely used to produce medicines and healthcare products. Many life-saving drugs are obtained from microbes. Examples: Production of antibiotics (Penicillin, Streptomycin) Vaccine development Insulin production using genetically modified bacteria Production of vitamins (Vitamin B12) Development of probiotics for gut health Importance: Reduces...