In recent years, the field of biotechnology has witnessed an unprecedented surge in activity within our country, driven by a convergence of scientific advancements, favorable regulatory environments, and a growing recognition of the immense potential for innovation and economic growth. This flourishing landscape can be attributed to a multitude of factors, including heightened research and development investments, increased collaboration between academia and industry, and a heightened focus on addressing pressing global challenges such as healthcare and environmental sustainability. The proactive measures taken by the government to foster a conducive ecosystem for biotechnological research and development have significantly contributed to this surge, encouraging both public and private sectors to invest in cutting-edge technologies and scientific exploration.
This heightened activity in biotechnology has particularly translated into substantial benefits for the field of biopharma. The integration of biotechnological tools and techniques has revolutionized drug discovery, development, and manufacturing processes. The advent of recombinant DNA technology, genetic engineering, and advanced bioprocessing methods has allowed for the production of biopharmaceuticals with greater efficacy and specificity. These innovations have not only accelerated the pace of drug development but have also paved the way for personalized medicine, where treatments can be tailored to individual genetic profiles. Moreover, the increased understanding of cellular and molecular processes has opened new avenues for the development of novel therapeutic modalities, fostering a dynamic and competitive biopharmaceutical industry. The synergy between biotechnology and biopharma has, therefore, ushered in a new era of medical breakthroughs, propelling our country to the forefront of global innovation in the life sciences.
Tag: Science and technology-developments and their application and effects in everyday life.
Decoding the Question:
- In the Intro, try to define Biotechnology.
- In Body,
- Discuss developments in the field of biotechnology and applications in various fields.
- Justify contribution of Biotechnology in the field of Biopharma.
- In Conclusion, try to underline the potential significance of biotechnology.
Answer:
Biotechnology refers to the application of technology to biological processes for industrial, agricultural and medical purposes. This field has seen a boom in terms of focus on immediate and long-term plans to promote it in India and active involvement of states and central government, private entities, and international players in this regard.
India has achieved immense progress in the biotechnology field which has significant contribution in many other fields such as:
- Agriculture: Biotechnology is increasingly applied in the field of agriculture for improving agricultural productivity and increasing nutrient quality of seeds and food crops. Biofortified food crops helped to fight malnutrition while GM crops like BT cotton increased resistance of cotton for pest attacks.
- Industrial Usage: Industrial activity is the biggest activity after agriculture and various technologies are developed in this sector with respect to application of biotechnology. Examples include dairy based industry for producing cheese, fermentation process in liquor industry, bread making, etc.
- Environment: Biotechnology is considered as a solution for combating environmental pollution. India has developed biodigester, bioremediation technologies to treat polluted water. Various areas have applied biotechnology-based solutions for environmental protection.
- Medicine: Correction of gene defects via gene therapy to treat diseases like adenosine deaminase (ADA) deficiency; products like genetically engineered insulin hold special significance in India which has a large diabetic population; use of biopharmaceuticals for better medicines with lesser side effects.
Contribution of Biotechnology in the field of Biopharma:
Biopharmaceuticals are medical drugs produced using biotechnology. They are proteins (including antibodies), nucleic acids (DNA, RNA, or antisense oligonucleotides) used for therapeutic or in vivo diagnostic purposes and are produced by means other than direct extraction from a native (non-engineered) biological source. Following is the contribution of Biotechnology in the field of Biopharma:
- Biopharma drugs are almost similar to that of human compounds. It helps in the absorption of drugs well and increases efficiency drug release. Structural similarity of drugs has a potential to cure disease rather than just curing symptoms.
- The biggest advantage of biopharma is Gene therapy. Conditions associated with rapid development of cells, in case of cancer, develop as a result of mutated cells. Scientists can remove defective cells with healthier ones and prevent disease from developing later.
- CRISPR-Cas9 is a revolutionary technology and the potential for its application is immense. This technology can be used for treating various genetic diseases such as sickle cell disease, Parkinson’s disease, dementia, etc. This technology is also used in the biopharma sector for producing various drugs and also in therapies.
- Biotechnology allows researchers to use cell fusion, DNA-recombinant technologies and other technologies to modify treatments for specific diseases. Biopharma allows doctors and health professionals to tailor treatment according to the specific medical problems experienced by each patient.
Conclusion
Initiatives such i3 (Innovate in India); National Biopharma Mission and establishment of Bio-incubation centre’s will provide impetus for the development of this sector. The constant research in this field will bring many innovative solutions in various other fields, particularly in the pharmaceutical industry. But certain regulatory hurdles faced by many research institutes and biopharma companies should be eased for attracting investment and new talent which will help to achieve targets under ‘Make in India’ initiative.
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