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biotechnology

[ bahy-oh-tek-nol-uh-jee ]

noun

  1. the use of living organisms or other biological systems in the manufacture of drugs or other products or for environmental management, as in waste recycling: includes the use of bioreactors in manufacturing, microorganisms to degrade oil slicks or organic waste, genetically engineered bacteria to produce human hormones, and monoclonal antibodies to identify antigens.


biotechnology

/ ˌbaɪəʊˌtɛknəˈlɒdʒɪkəl; ˌbaɪəʊtɛkˈnɒlədʒɪ /

noun

  1. (in industry) the technique of using microorganisms, such as bacteria, to perform chemical processing, such as waste recycling, or to produce other materials, such as beer and wine, cheese, antibiotics, and (using genetic engineering) hormones, vaccines, etc
  2. another name for ergonomics


biotechnology

/ bī′ō-tĕk-nŏlə-jē /

  1. The use of a living organism to solve an engineering problem or perform an industrial task. Using bacteria that feed on hydrocarbons to clean up an oil spill is one example of biotechnology.
  2. The use of biological substances or techniques to engineer or manufacture a product or substance, as when cells that produce antibodies are cloned in order to study their effects on cancer cells.
  3. See more at genetic engineering


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Derived Forms

  • ˌbiotechˈnologist, noun
  • ˌbioˌtechnoˈlogically, adverb
  • biotechnological, adjective

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Other Words From

  • bi·o·tech·ni·cal [bahy-oh-, tek, -ni-k, uh, l], bi·o·tech·no·log·i·cal [bahy-oh-tek-nl-, oj, -i-k, uh, l], adjective
  • bio·techno·logi·cal·ly adverb
  • bio·tech·nolo·gist noun

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Word History and Origins

Origin of biotechnology1

First recorded in 1940–45; bio- + technology

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Example Sentences

If nature offers an easy way to transfer organelles between plants, biotechnology researchers can put it to work in creating desirable new crop species.

Learning to store and manipulate data using the same language as nature could also open the door to a host of new capabilities in biotechnology.

The biotechnologies that made Covid-19 mRNA vaccines are here to stay.

Co-author Noemi Procopio has been interested in forensic science since she was 14, but initially studied biotechnology because her home country of Italy didn't have forensic science programs.

The decision follows a thumbs-up vote from a panel of experts that convened on December 17 to discuss vaccine data that the biotechnology company had collected from its ongoing clinical trial.

There have been two so far this year, including a biotechnology firm raising about $8 million.

She went on to get a Ph.D. in biotechnology from Cambridge in 2001.

Now they have their gaze fixed on biotechnology and videogames.

But other scientists counter that basic skills in microbiology and biotechnology can get you a bioweapon.

Much of our job growth will be found in high-skilled fields like health care and biotechnology.

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biotechbiotelemetry