biotechnology

bio·tech·nol·o·gy

noun \ˌbī-ō-tek-ˈnä-lə-jē\

Definition of BIOTECHNOLOGY

1

: the manipulation (as through genetic engineering) of living organisms or their components to produce useful usually commercial products (as pest resistant crops, new bacterial strains, or novel pharmaceuticals); also : any of various applications of biological science used in such manipulation

2

: ergonomics 1

— bio·tech·no·log·i·cal \-ˌtek-nə-ˈlä-ji-kəl\ adjective

— bio·tech·no·log·i·cal·ly \-ji-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

— bio·tech·nol·o·gist \-ˈnä-lə-jist\ noun

First Known Use of BIOTECHNOLOGY

1941

Other Microbiology Terms

pathogen, salmonella, tetanus

bio·tech·nol·o·gy

noun \-tek-ˈnäl-ə-jē\   (Medical Dictionary)

plural bio·tech·nol·o·gies

Medical Definition of BIOTECHNOLOGY

1

: the manipulation (as through genetic engineering) of living organisms or their components to produce useful usually commercial products (as novel pharmaceuticals); also : any of various applications of biological science used in such manipulation

2

: ergonomics

—bio·tech·no·log·i·cal \-ˌtek-nə-ˈläj-i-kəl\ adjective

—bio·tech·no·log·i·cal·ly \-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

—bio·tech·nol·o·gist \-tek-ˈnäl-ə-jəst\ noun

biotechnology

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

The use of biology to solve problems and make useful products. The growth of the field is linked to the development in the 1970s of genetic engineering. Biotechnology merges biological information with computer technology to advance research in other areas, including nanotechnology and regenerative medicine. Today there are numerous commercial biotechnology firms that manufacture genetically engineered substances for a variety of mostly medical, agricultural, and ecological uses.