In.1961,
a
Swedish
microbiologist
Carl
Gordon
Heden
redefined
biotechnology
as "the
industrial
production
of
goods
and
services
by
processing
using
biological
organisms,
and
it
is
firmly
ground
on
expertise
in
microbiology,
biochemistry
and
chemical
engineering." However
the
nature
of
biotechnology
was
changed
forever
by
the
development
of
recombinant
DNA
technology.
With
these
techniques,
the
optimization
of
any
biotechnological
process
was
achieved
more
directly.
Genetic
engineering
provided
a
means
to
create,
rather
thanmerely
isolate
highly
productive
strains.
Microorganisms
and eukaryotic
cells
could
be
used
as "biological
factories" for
the production
of
insulin,
interferon,
growth
hormone,
viral
antigens
and
a
variety
of
other
proteins.
Recombinant
DNA
technology
could
also
be
used
to
facilitate
the
biological
production
oflarge
amounts
of
useful
lower
molecular
weight
compounds
and
macromolecules
that
occur
naturally
in
minute
quantities.
This,
technology
facilitated
the
development
of
radically
new
medical
therapies
and
diagnostic
systems.
Thus,
the
union
of
recombinant DNA
technology
with
biotechnology
created
a
vibrant,
highly
competitive
field
of
study
that
has
been
called "Molecular
Biotechnology."Molecular
biotechnology
ought
to
contribute
unprecedented benefits
to
humanity.
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