Short Communication THE BIOTECH CENTURY: EXPLORING THE FRONTIERS OF BIOTECHNOLOGY

ABSTRACT Biotechnology that combines the ideas and needs of biology and medicine with engineering has emerged as one of the most successful technology of the twenty-first century. For both scientists and the general public, one of the most winning aspects of biotechnology lies in the prospect of treating human diseases. Thanks to its successes so far in making possible, for instance, the cheap and plentiful production of such disease fighting agents as insulin and interferon, numerous people have been able to live longer and healthier lives. Its promise in improved agricultural production is exciting. The moral dilemmas now enveloping biotechnology would not be so hotly debated if the technology itself were not so remarkable and effective. And even without considering the practical consequences, we have the prospect of a new world of knowledge about life itself and the essential components of our own humanity, our own individuality, as revealed in our distinctive genetic codes. The authors survey the field of genetic engineering, describe some recent developments in the field, and conclude by discussing some of the social, legal and ethical questions regarding its benefits and risks