The language of Biotechnology in English

Asso. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huu Hiep

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
philosophersstone of the Middle Ages which was sought and pursued with such great labor.
1

The language of Biotechnology in English

Asso. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huu Hiep

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

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. Hin nay c khong 90 loi khng sinh c sn xut trong cng nghip.
2. Hn 20 loi acid amin cung cp cho cc ngnh cng nghip khc nhau c sn xut theo
phng php cng ngh sinh hc.
3. Ngy nay s pht trin cng ngh sinh hc lin quan mt thit n qu trnh bo v mi trng.