The language of Biotechnology in English Asso. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huu Hiep

1

UNIT ONE

THE IMPORTANCE OF BIOTECHNOLOGY

Biological processes have had central importance in the foodstuffs industry, in particular,

for thousands of years, but it is only in the last hundred years that they have been applied more

intensively in chemical technology.

At the present time, modern biotechnology is capable of becoming a part of industry of

increasing economic importance.

The field of operation of biotechnology consists of three large areas:

1. Microbiology, including microbial genetics;

2. Biochemistry, physical chemistry, and technical chemistry; and

3. Process engineering and apparatus constructions.

Biotechnology is developing by close interweaving between these areas and can develop

further only by means of an interdisciplinary cooperation between them.

Many products can be manufactured only biotechnological. This applies particularly to most

of the secondary metabolic products such as, for example, antibiotics, vitamin B12, and many

others, but it is also applies to many products that are manufactured by a microbial transformation

and which cannot be produced profitably in any other way, such as, for example, steroids and

many estrogenic ovulation inhibitors that are used as “antibody pills”. At the present time about

90 antibiotics for medical use are manufactured industrially. The production of antibiotics is in the

order of more than 30,000tons per years. Even special antibiotics, such as monensin, a

coccidiostat and animal feed supplement, and validamycin, which is used in Japan for the control

of phytopathogenic bacteria, are already being manufactured on the ton scale.

More than 20 amino acids are offered by various industries as biotechnological prepared

products. Of these glutamic acid is particularly important with a current production of about

nearly 300,000 tons per year.

More than 25 enzymes are produced technically. It is impossible nowadays to imagine the

economy without their use, for example, rennet in the USA, for the manufacture of cheese, and as

proteases and amylases in many branches of industry. The situation is similar with citric acid, the

manufacture of which has assumed an important place in foodstuffs chemistry.

Millions of people in the world owe their lives to the use of antibiotics.The same applies to

other therapeutic agents, including vaccines, which are likewise largely produced

biotechnological. Many people do not realize that for us the antibiotics practically represent the

“philosophers’stone” of the Middle Ages which was sought and pursued with such great labor.

The language of Biotechnology in English Asso. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huu Hiep

2

Together with many different chemical and physical purification processes, the

biotechnological purification of sewage is the most important means of rendering sewage

harmless and clarifying it so that it can be returned to the natural water cycle.

Recent development of biotechnology in close connection with its neighboring areas make up

an increasing proportion of environmental protection. Recycling processes with biomass are

currently being intensively studied and tested in order to achieve processes for the degradation of

environmentally harmful substances with the aid of microorganisms.

Biotechnological industries often use ecologically beneficial processes. They frequently

require less energy, since many reactions are performed at low temperatures and without

substantial overpressure.

In the technical field, it has been possible in the last few years, particularly through

investigations in the field of production of biomass, to apply measuring and controlling

technology, including the use of computers, to vital processes of cells taking place in reactors.

The importance of this application of modern technologies for living systems will certainly

increase in the future.

Another highly interesting field is the use of fixed systems. By being fixed to matrices, both

living cells and also their enzymes can be used repeatedly, and at the same time the advantages of

smaller dimensions of plants are obtained, since biotechnology is usually carried out in highly

diluted aqueous solution.

Molecular biology, with its first attemps at application as genetic engineering, is certainly

capable of opening up completely new possibilities for biotechnology. It has become likely that

by manipulating cells, in combination with measuring and controlling techniques and the

technical developments of the last few years, complicated natural substances normally very

difficult to obtain can be manufactured in controlled fashion. If basic science is to understand

nature and technology is to apply what is understood, a broad field is opened up here to

biotechnology, which could possibly be a decisive factor in human society during the next few

decades.

The language of Biotechnology in English Asso. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huu Hiep

3

EXERCISES

A. Read and translate into Vietnamese

Biotechnology, molecular biology, biological process, biomass, microbiology, microorganism,

genetics, engineering, foodstuffs, construction, interweaving, interdisciplinary, transformation,

estrogen, ovulation, coccidiostat, therapeutic, rendering, matrices.

B. Answer the following questions

1. What are the large areas of operation of biotechnology?

2. Name some main care products produced biotechnological.

3. Why the glutamic acid is produced more than other amino acids every year?

4. Can you say something about biotechnology in the technical field?

5. What is molecular biology ?

C. Translate into English

1. Hiện nay có khoảng 90 loại kháng sinh được sản xuất trong công nghiệp.

2. Hơn 20 loại acid amin cung cấp cho các ngành công nghiệp khác nhau được sản xuất theo

phương pháp công nghệ sinh học.

3. Ngày nay sự phát triển công nghệ sinh học liên quan mật thiết đến quá trình bảo vệ môi trường.