Biotechnology has long been a part of our daily lives and is becoming more and more significant in medicine. Without biotechnology medicines, many novel therapeutic strategies would be impossible. Despite this, many Germans are oblivious to the true scope of biotechnology. By dispelling the top five biotechnology myths, we hope to change this and clear up some misconceptions. Did you realise?
Myth 1: Biotechnology is a young field of study
The foundation of contemporary biotechnology is the understanding of the composition and operation of DNA, for which the scientists James Watson and Francis Crick shared the 1962 Nobel Prize in Medicine. However, biotechnology techniques have been employed for a very long time. The production of bread and alcoholic beverages like beer and wine is the earliest example of biotechnology in use. In the fundamental process of alcoholic fermentation, yeast, a kind of fungus, transforms sugar into ethanol (often known as "drinking alcohol") and carbon dioxide. Lactic acid bacteria have also been utilised for thousands of years to create sourdough or sour milk goods like cheese and yoghurt. By the way, biopharmaceuticals—drugs created through biotechnology—are older than you may assume. Human insulin was the first, and it was created in genetically engineered bacteria for the first time in 1982.
Myth 2: Only bacteria may cause illnesses.
There are thought to be between ten million and one billion different types of bacteria at this time. So far, only a small portion of them have been found. Furthermore, only a small number of the bacteria that are known to exist today are capable of causing disease. However, diseases and bacteria are frequently and incorrectly confused. In truth, certain bacteria are necessary for our body to survive, for instance, in the intestine and on the skin. Additionally, by applying biotechnological techniques, bacteria are being used to make bioethanol, bioplastics, enzymes for the food or textile sector, as well as novel medicines. Bacteria can therefore be beneficial and extend life in addition to doing harm.
3rd Myth: Biopharmaceuticals are only natural remedies
As the name implies, all of the ingredients in herbal medications come from plants. These are chemicals that certain plants naturally make and which benefit human health. The majority of these so-called phytopharmaceuticals are used to treat digestive issues, respiratory and cold conditions, and anxiety. On the other hand, biopharmaceuticals are not made from plants. They are either exact replicas of elements found naturally in the human body or entirely novel chemicals. Numerous cells and species have the capacity to create biopharmaceuticals. The "producer" just has to be pre-programmed with the genetic data—the active ingredient's genetic code. Biopharmaceuticals can be made in this fashion even by plants, although this does not make the active components phytopharmaceuticals.
Myth #4: It's harmful to use genetic engineering.
Biotechnological techniques are used in genetic engineering to purposefully change the genetic make-up of living things. One out of every four Germans first associates this fact negatively. This might be because genetically modified crops, such genetically modified maize or soy, are frequently the subject of unfavourable media coverage. Since their approval in 1996, these transgenic crops have grown to occupy 13% of the world's arable land. Germany, however, forbids the growing of genetically engineered crops. Although their import is legal, consumers frequently are unaware of whether the Brazilian soy that was fed to the milk cows contained genetically modified organisms. In today's medicine, genetic engineering is a necessary and essential component. Generic engineering is used, for instance, in the production of biopharmaceutical medications. Serious illnesses like diabetes, cancer, or cardiovascular conditions can all be treated with them. Genetic engineering is used in regenerative medicine to regenerate damaged tissue or organs. Genetic treatments also allow for the rapid and accurate diagnosis of genetic illnesses. Additionally, genetic engineering is crucial for the creation of vaccinations since it enables scientists to create treatments for illnesses against which there is now no vaccine.
Myth #5: Artificial joints are made by biotechnologists
The technical use of living things, such as cells or proteins, is the subject of biotechnology. Its processes and methods are distinguished by various colours and applied in a variety of fields. For instance, "green" biotechnology is applied to the management of plant diseases and pests. White is a symbol for the application of biotechnology to improving industrial processes. While "grey" biotechnology focuses on waste management, "blue" biotechnology is more concerned with the research of aquatic species. Last but not least, "red" biotechnology refers to its application in the creation of novel medications, gene treatments, and diagnostic techniques. This medical biotechnology is distinct from (bio) medical technology since it is based on biochemical processes that occur in the body. The latter refers to the creation of medical equipment, whose effects are primarily explained by physical processes, such as implants, prosthetics, medical tools, X-ray or ultrasound machines. The field of (bio) medical engineers also includes the study and creation of prosthetic joints and organs.
