Biotechnology

How it is used

Used for the science, the industry and its companies; the short form is 'biotech', as in 'a biotech company' or 'a biotech start-up'. Branches are sometimes named by color: red (medical), green (agricultural) and white (industrial) biotechnology.

Example sentences

1. She studied biotechnology and now works on vaccine production.

2. Industrial biotechnology uses enzymes and microbes to replace some chemical processes.

Common collocations

• medical biotechnology
• agricultural biotechnology
• industrial biotechnology
• biotech company
• biotech sector

Related terms

• genetic engineeringThe deliberate changing of an organism's DNA in the lab, for example by adding, removing or altering genes, to give it new or improved characteristics.
• recombinant proteinA protein produced by putting its gene into host cells such as bacteria, yeast or mammalian cells, which then make the protein in large amounts.
• bioreactorA vessel in which cells or microorganisms are grown under carefully controlled conditions, such as temperature, pH, oxygen and mixing, to make a product.
• fermentationIn biotechnology, growing large numbers of microorganisms such as bacteria or yeast in tanks to make products like enzymes, insulin, antibiotics or biofuels.
• biosimilarA biological medicine that is highly similar to an already approved original biologic and has no meaningful differences in safety or effectiveness.

More terms: Biotech Products and Bioprocessing

• gene therapy
• monoclonal antibody
• stem cell