Current excitement of Biotechnology and Genetic engineering
Each and every organism performs its function within its optimum limits naturally. The excitement about the modern Biotechnology is that like a miracle! The Biotechnology and Genetic engineering has enabled to enhance the natural capabilities of natural production of organisms by gene manipulation.
Bacteria like E. Coli are producing human insulin and other life saving drugs. Yeast cells have been genetically manipulated to produce vaccine against Hepatitis B virus. Now the hybrid cells (hybridomas) are being used for production of monoclonal antibodies (mAb) to prevent life threatening diseases like cancer, heart attack etc. Interferon is being produced by genetically engineered E. Coli cells.
Techniques have been developed to produce rare and medicinally valuable molecules to change hereditary traits of plants and animals, to diagnose diseases, to produce useful chemicals and to clean up and restore the environment. In this way biotechnology has great impact in the fields of health, food and agriculture and environmental protection. In agriculture, invention of genome sequence of jute by our local scientist is really ray of hope and blessing as well for the country by which we would get back our lost glory of golden fiber in coming days.
The tremendous benefits of Biotechnology have been utilised by health care globally. Biotechnology derived proteins and polypeptides form the new class of potential drugs. Many countries are playing pivotal role in this field including our neighboring country like India. But in Bangladesh does not have any visible actions (basic research) yet.
Recently some pharmaceutical companies in Bangladesh have started manufacturing different Biotech (rDNA) products like Insulin, Interferon, Streptokinase, Urokinase, Filgrastim, Erythropoietin etc. using its intermediate materials (imported) to finished products. There is a hope that the country people will get these life saving products at an affordable price.
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