The areas of personal genomics and citizen science draw on – and bring together – different cultures of producing and managing knowledge and meaning. They also cross local and global boundaries, are subjects and objects of transformation and mobility of research practices, evaluation and multi-stakeholder groups. Thirdly, they draw on logics of ‘convergence’: new links between, and new kinds of, stakeholders, spaces, knowledge, practices, challenges and opportunities. This themed collection of essays from nationally and internationally leading scholars and commentators advances and widens current debates in Science and Technology Studies and in Science Policy concerning ‘converging technologies’ by complementing the customary focus on technical aspirations for convergence with the analysis of the practices and logics of scientific, social and cultural knowledge production that constitute contemporary technoscience. In case studies from across the globe, contributors discuss the ways in which science and social order are linked in areas such as direct-to consumer genetic testing and do-it-yourself biotechnologies. Organised into thematic sections, ‘Knowing New Biotechnologies’ explores: • ways of understanding the dynamics and logics of convergences in emergent biotechnologies • governance and regulatory issues around technoscientific convergences • democratic aspects of converging technologies – lay involvement in scientific research and the co-production of biotechnology and social and cultural knowledge.
Identifies important areas for Federal investment, & specific research in agriculture, environmental biotechnology, manufacturing & bioprocessing, marine biotechnology & aquaculture, & infrastructure. Includes 13 Federal agency overviews: USAID, USDA, DoC, DoD, DoE, DHHS, DoI, DoJ, DoS, DVA, EPA, NASA, & NSF. Stresses the need to research the effects that biotechnology can have on society before going ahead with new advances. Discusses the impact of biotechnology in legal, societal, & economic issues. Glossary. Photos & charts.
Understanding Biotechnology offers an introduction to biotechnology that is balanced, accurate, current, thorough, and accessible to non-specialists and professionals alike. It begins with the field's history and key principles, then reviews every area of research, including cloning, gene therapy, pharmacogenomics, molecular markers, forensic DNA, bioremediation, and biodiversity. It presents detailed coverage of biosafety and ethics, plus a full chapter on bioterrorism.
Biotechnologyâ€"the manipulation of the basic building blocks of lifeâ€"is rapidly advancing in laboratories around the world. It has become routine to refer to DNA fingerprints and genetically engineered foods. Yet the "how to" of biotechnology is only the beginning. For every report of new therapies or better ways to produce food, there is a Jurassic Park scenario to remind us of the potential pitfalls. Biotechnology raises serious issues for scientists and nonscientists alike: Who will decide what is safe? Who will have access to our personal genetic information? What are the risks when advanced science becomes big business? In Biotechnology, experts from science, law, industry, and government explore a cross-section of emerging issues. This book offers straightforward explanations of basic science and provides insight into the serious social questions raised by these findings. The discussions explore five key areas: The state of the art in biotechnology-including an overview of the genetic revolution, the development of recombinant DNA technology, and the possibilities for applying the new techniques. Potential benefits to medicine and the environment-including gene therapy, the emerging area of tissue engineering and biomaterials, and the development of therapeutic proteins. Issues in technology transfer-focusing on the sometimes controversial relationship between university research centers and industry. Ethics, behavior, and values-exploring the ethical issues that surround basic research and applications of new technology, with a discussion of scientific misconduct and a penetrating look at the social impact of genetic discoveries. Government's role-including a comparison of U.S., European, and Japanese policies on pharmaceutical and biotechnology development. Biotechnology is here to stay, and this volume adds immeasurably to understanding its multiple aspects and far-reaching implications. This book will be of interest to scientists and industry leaders involved in biotechnology issues-and it will be welcomed by the concerned lay reader. Frederick B. Rudolph, Ph.D., is a professor of biochemistry and cell biology at Rice University and is executive director of the Institute of Biosciences and Bioengineering. Larry V. McIntire, Ph.D., is the E. D. Butcher Professor of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering at Rice University and is chair of the Institute of Biosciences and Bioengineering.
Biotechnology Is Gaining In Importance In The Modern World And Is Often Quoted As The Next Big Thing After Information Technology, Owing To Its Benefits To Man. It Has Enabled The Organisms To Become More Resistant To Disease, Influenced The Rate Of Fruit Ripening And Has Increased Productivity Of Crops, Thereby Solving The Global Problem Of Food Shortages. Accordingly, The Study Of Biotechnology Is Significant And Its Scope Is Vast As New Techniques Are Being Evolved Frequently.The Present Book Introduction To Biotechnology Is An Ideal Book For The Students Interested In Pursuing A Career In Biotechnology. With The Balanced Coverage Of Basic Molecular Biology, Historical Developments And Contemporary Applications, The Book Describes In Detail The Processes And Methods Used To Manipulate Living Organisms Or The Substances And Products From These Organisms For Medical, Agricultural And Industrial Purposes. It Acquaints The Readers With Genetic Engineering, Bioinformatics, Animal And Plant Biotechnology, Environmental Biotechnology, Bioethics And Biosafety. In Addition, The Book Provides A Glossary Of Terms And Select Bibliography Which Facilitate Easy Understanding And Further Reference.It Is Hoped That The Book Would Be Highly Useful For Both Undergraduates And Graduates, Teachers Of The Subject As Well As General Readers Interested In Biotechnology And Keen To Know The Latest Developments, Methods And Applications In This Arena.
A unique resource for the next generation of biotech innovators Enabling everything from the deciphering of the human genome to environmentally friendly biofuels to lifesaving new pharmaceuticals, biotechnology has blossomed as an area of discovery and opportunity. Modern Biotechnology provides a much-needed introduction connecting the latest innovations in this area to key engineering fundamentals. With an unmatched level of coverage, this unique resource prepares a wide range of readers for the practical application of biotechnology in biopharmaceuticals, biofuels, and other bioproducts. Organized into fourteen sections, reflecting a typical semester course, Modern Biotechnology covers such key topics as: Metabolic engineering Enzymes and enzyme kinetics Biocatalysts and other new bioproducts Cell fusion Genetic engineering, DNA, RNA, and genes Genomes and genomics Production of biopharmaceuticals Fermentation modeling and process analysis Taking a practical, applications-based approach, the text presents discussions of important fundamentals in biology, biochemistry, and engineering with relevant case studies showing technology applications and manufacturing scale-up. Written for today's wider, more interdisciplinary readership, Modern Biotechnology offers a solid intellectual foundation for students and professionals entering the modern biotechnology industry.
Biotechnology harnesses cellular and biochemical systems to advance knowledge of the molecular cause of disease and to provide new diagnostic tools and more precisely targeted drugs. Within a decade, global investment in medical biotechnology has increased more than ten-fold, resulting in therapies for previously untreatable conditions. But what exactly is biotechnology and what are its origins? What further benefits to human health could it offer in the future? Written in an accessible style, contributors to this book explore the history behind different biotechnology tools, how they are used, and how they are reshaping the future of diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines. Among the technologies examined are genetic engineering, DNA sequencing, monoclonal antibodies, stem cells, gene therapy, cancer immunotherapy and the most recent newcomer - synthetic biology. Applying new biotechnologies in medicine is not without great challenges. As medicines shift from small organic molecules to large, complex structures, such as therapeutic proteins, drugs become difficult to make, administer and regulate. This book will intrigue anyone interested in medicine and how we have been, and may continue to, engineer better health for ourselves. Such changes have major implications for how and where drugs are manufactured, the cost of medicine and the ethics of how far society is prepared to go to combat disease.
A comprehensive overview of the new business context for biopharma companies, featuring numerous case studies and state-of-the-art marketing models Biotechnology has developed into a key innovation driver especially in the field of human healthcare. But as the biopharma industry continues to grow and expand its reach, development costs are colliding with aging demographics and cost-containment policies of private and public payers. Concurrently, the development and increased affordability of sophisticated digital technologies has fundamentally altered many industries including healthcare. The arrival of new information technology (infotech) companies on the healthcare scene presents both opportunities and challenges for the biopharma business model. To capitalize on new digital technologies from R&D through commercialization requires industry leaders to adopt new business models, develop new digital and data capabilities, and partner with innovators and payers worldwide. Written by two experts, both of whom have had decades of experience in the field, this book provides a comprehensive overview of the new business context and marketing models for biotech companies. Informed by extensive input by senior biotech executives and leading consultancies serving the industry, it analyzes the strategies and key success factors for the financing, development, and commercialization of novel therapeutic products, including strategies for engagement with patients, physicians and healthcare payers. Throughout case studies provide researchers, corporate marketers, senior managers, consultants, financial analysts, and other professionals involved in the biotech sector with insights, ideas, and models. JACQUALYN FOUSE, PhD, RETIRED PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, CELGENE “Biotech companies have long been innovators, using the latest technologies to enable cutting edge science to help patients with serious diseases. This book is essential to help biotech firms understand how they can–and must–apply the newest technologies including disruptive ones, alongside science, to innovate and bring new value to the healthcare system.” BRUCE DARROW, MD, PhD, CHIEF MEDICAL INFORMATION OFFICER, MOUNT SINAI HEALTH SYSTEM “Simon and Giovannetti have written an essential user’s manual explaining the complicated interplay of the patients who deserve cutting-edge medical care, the biotechnology companies (big and small) creating the breakthroughs, and the healthcare organizations and clinicians who bridge those worlds.” EMMANUEL BLIN, FORMER CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER AND SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, BRISTOL-MYERS SQUIBB “If you want to know where biopharma is going, read this book! Our industry is facing unprecedented opportunities driven by major scientific breakthroughs, while transforming itself to address accelerated landscape changes driven by digital revolutions and the emergence of value-based healthcare worldwide. In this ever-changing context, we all need to focus everything we do on the patients. They are why we exist as an industry, and this is ultimately what this insightful essay is really about.” JOHN MARAGANORE, PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, ALNYLAM PHARMACEUTICALS “Since the mapping of the human genome was completed nearly 15 years ago, the biotechnology industry has led the rapid translation of raw science to today’s innovative medicines. However, the work does not stop in the lab. Delivering these novel medicines to patients is a complex and multifaceted process, which is elegantly described in this new book.”
