Contents: Preface. 1. Introduction to biotechnology. 2. Biotechniques. 3. Benefits of genetic manipulation. 4. Agricultural applications of biotechnology. 5. Biotechnology in livestock production. 6. Biotechnology for food security. 7. Applications of marine biotechnology. 8. Industrial applications of biotechnology. 9. Applications of biotechnology in health care. 10. Biotechnological applications in environment. 11. Impact of biotechnology on biodiversity. Bibliography. Index.

"Biotechnology is the culmination of more than 8,000 years of human experience using live organisms and the process of fermentation to make useful products. It can be viewed as a group of useful, enabling technologies with wide and diverse applications in the industry, commerce and environment. Historically, biotechnology evolved as an artisanal skill rather than a science, exemplified in the manufacture of beers, wines, cheese etc. Today biotechnology is applied to manufacturing processes used in health care, food and agriculture, industrial processes and environmental cleanup, among other applications.

This book offers a comprehensive description of the applications of biotechnology in various fields including agriculture, industrial processes, healthcare, food and environmental cleanup. The book will be appropriate as a guide for upper-level undergraduate courses and as a comprehensive resource for those engaged in professional practice and research in biotechnology." (jacket)