What exactly is biotechnology? There are plenty of definitions being floated around by different organizations. Using biology in order to develop technology, with regard to product development and research, is what biotechnology entails. The fields biotechnology can feasibly be used in include agriculture, medicine, food science, environment and robotics.

People have always tried to manipulate the environment, but never before have we been so close to controlling it. It started from the time when we started fermenting beer, which went to another level when bacteria were cultured. Now we have moved forward to a point where animal cloning and advanced forms of nucleotide-based organ regeneration are being attempted successfully.

Biotechnology was in practice much before the actual term was used to describe it. The basics began with very simple scientific methods such as preserving foods for winter. The first fruit juice fermentation to produce alcohol is believed to have been done in 6000 BC. Back then, it was more of an art than an actual science.

DNA and genetics played a big part in bringing biotechnology as a science to the forefront. It was recognized as a science when it was discovered that genetics were what played the major part in the synthesizing of essential proteins in any organism.

The mid 80s brought a revelation in biotechnology - genetic structures could be modified by careful combinations between animals and plants. This introduction to transgenic organisms also developed an area for further research into disease resistance and productivity rate increases. Modern biotechnology is used in a variety of ways and the medical and biological research fields have managed to get the most benefit out of it. The methods used have gone beyond ordinary genetic transfers, to include actual plant-generated pharmaceuticals and substance production for antibiotics and insulin.

There are three categories in modern biotechnology. The first is red biotechnology. This concerns the making of substances used in medicine and pharmaceuticals, like vaccines, proteins, antibiotics and vitamins. Red biotechnology also deals with genome manipulation. The other two kinds of biotechnology are green and white biotechnology.

White biotechnology, or bio-manufacturing or Grey Biotechnology is still an evolving science. In this category of biotechnology, organisms like bacteria, moulds, yeast and enzymes are manipulated to make industrial chemicals.

Green Biotechnology is also called Agricultural Biotechnology. As the name suggests, this deals with making crops and other agricultural produce of better quality, like cross-bred wheat harvests.