Understanding the biotechnology field
Biotechnology, as the name suggests, can be thought of as the area of technological research relating to biology when it comes to living organisms or biological systems. First coined in 1919 by Karoly Ereky, the father of biotechnology, the field traditionally encompassed the applications of living organisms for commercial purposes.
Some of the earliest applications of biotechnology throughout human history include the process of fermenting beer, which dates as far back as 6,000 BC, or preparing bread using yeast in 4,000 BC, or even the development of the earliest viral vaccines in the 1700s.
In each of these examples, scientific or engineering processes utilized biological entities to produce goods. This concept was true then and had remained just as true throughout human history. Throughout the 20th century, major innovative advancements were made that changed the course of mankind for the better. In 1928, Alexander Fleming identified a mold that halted the replication of bacteria, thus leading to penicillin – the first antibiotic. Years later, in 1955, Jonas Salk developed the first polio vaccine using mammalian cells. Finally, in 1975 one of the earliest methods for the development of monoclonal antibodies was developed by George Kohler and Cesar Milstein, thus reshaping the field of medicine forever:
Figure 1.1 – A timeline of a few notable events in the history of biotechnology
Toward the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century, the field of biotechnology expanded to cover a diverse bevy of sub-fields, including genomics, immunology, pharmaceutical treatments, medical devices, diagnostic instruments, and much more, thus steering its focus away from its agricultural applications and more on human health.
Success in Biotech Health
Over the last 20 years, many life-changing treatments and products have been approved by the FDA. Some of the industry's biggest blockbusters include Enbrel® and Humira®, monoclonal antibodies for treating rheumatoid arthritis; Keytruda®, a humanized antibody for treating melanoma and lung cancer; and, finally, Rituxan®, a monoclonal antibody for treating autoimmune diseases and certain types of cancer. These blockbusters are but a sample of the many significant advances that have happened in the field over the past few decades. These developments contributed to creating an industry that's larger than many countries on Earth while changing the lives of millions of patients for the better.
The following is a representation of a monoclonal antibody:
Figure 1.2 – A 3D depiction of a monoclonal antibody
The biotechnology industry today is flourishing with many new and significant advances for treating illnesses, combatting diseases, and ensuring human health. However, with the space advancing as quickly as it is, the discovery of new and novel items is becoming more difficult. A great scientist once told me that advances in the biopharmaceutical industry were once made possible by pipettes, and then they were made possible by automated instruments. However, in the future, they will be made possible by Artificial Intelligence (AI). This brings us to our next topic: machine learning.
