Titre :	Microbial biodiversity and biotechnology
Type de document :	texte imprimé
Auteurs :	Rita R. Colwell, Auteur
Année de publication :	1996
Importance :	p 279-287
Langues :	Anglais (eng)
Catégories :	SCIENCES DE LA VIE
Mots-clés :	BIODIVERSITE  BIOTECHNOLOGIE  MICROORGANISME  MICROBE
Résumé :	Biodiversity and biotechnology are interrelated and interdependent. With respect to microbial diversity, microorganisms have been used in a variety of ways in the food industry. A good example is the dairy industry, in which microorganisms have been used to produce yogurt and cheese. Genetic modification of key organisms used in the manufacture of these foods has been accomplished to improve flavor, texture and taste of the final product. Thus, the enormous diversity of the Earth provides the foundation for biotechnology, not only in food production, but also in agriculture to improve soil fertility in the pharmaceutical industry as a source of antimicrobial and antitumor agents and in production of compounds of value in the chemical industry, e.g., dextran, a bacterial polymer. Despite the popular press’ view of biotechnology, it is not a field that was discovered recently. In fact, it enjoys a long history of contribution to the well-being of humans, since leavening of bread and the fermentation of grapes to make wine were activities practiced centuries ago. However, following on the steps of the Industrial Revolution, development of large scale fermentation processes, coupled with major discoveries in genetics providing an understanding of genes and chromosomes and the molecular basis of heredity, the explosive developments in modern biotechnology were made possible during the past 20 years. Faced with burgeoning human populations, many government leaders expect the biotechnology « revolution » to provide a solution for the ever-increasing global demand for food and to resolve human medical and epidemiological issues. Unfortunately, there is a significant distance between this hope and actual fulfillment. Nevertheless, without the contributions of biotechnology to agriculture and medecine, it is unlikely that these problems will be overcome. This paper provides a brief description of the biotechnology industry, reviews the biodiversity of microorganisms then examines the significance of this biodiversity for a sustainable biosphere and finally evaluates the significance of microbial biodiversity for the further development and application of biotechnology for human needs.
Numéro du document :	A/BIO
Niveau Bibliographique :	2
Bull1 (Theme principale) :	BIOLOGIE
Bull2 (Theme secondaire) :	BIOLOGIE GENERALE

Microbial biodiversity and biotechnology [texte imprimé] / Rita R. Colwell, Auteur . - 1996 . - p 279-287.
Langues : Anglais (eng)

Catégories :	SCIENCES DE LA VIE
Mots-clés :	BIODIVERSITE  BIOTECHNOLOGIE  MICROORGANISME  MICROBE
Résumé :	Biodiversity and biotechnology are interrelated and interdependent. With respect to microbial diversity, microorganisms have been used in a variety of ways in the food industry. A good example is the dairy industry, in which microorganisms have been used to produce yogurt and cheese. Genetic modification of key organisms used in the manufacture of these foods has been accomplished to improve flavor, texture and taste of the final product. Thus, the enormous diversity of the Earth provides the foundation for biotechnology, not only in food production, but also in agriculture to improve soil fertility in the pharmaceutical industry as a source of antimicrobial and antitumor agents and in production of compounds of value in the chemical industry, e.g., dextran, a bacterial polymer. Despite the popular press’ view of biotechnology, it is not a field that was discovered recently. In fact, it enjoys a long history of contribution to the well-being of humans, since leavening of bread and the fermentation of grapes to make wine were activities practiced centuries ago. However, following on the steps of the Industrial Revolution, development of large scale fermentation processes, coupled with major discoveries in genetics providing an understanding of genes and chromosomes and the molecular basis of heredity, the explosive developments in modern biotechnology were made possible during the past 20 years. Faced with burgeoning human populations, many government leaders expect the biotechnology « revolution » to provide a solution for the ever-increasing global demand for food and to resolve human medical and epidemiological issues. Unfortunately, there is a significant distance between this hope and actual fulfillment. Nevertheless, without the contributions of biotechnology to agriculture and medecine, it is unlikely that these problems will be overcome. This paper provides a brief description of the biotechnology industry, reviews the biodiversity of microorganisms then examines the significance of this biodiversity for a sustainable biosphere and finally evaluates the significance of microbial biodiversity for the further development and application of biotechnology for human needs.
Numéro du document :	A/BIO
Niveau Bibliographique :	2
Bull1 (Theme principale) :	BIOLOGIE
Bull2 (Theme secondaire) :	BIOLOGIE GENERALE