The origins of biotechnology
Biotechnology began with zymotechnology, which is concerned with different brewing techniques used to brew beer. However, biotechnology has historically been associated with the concern of foods dealing with problems like malnutrition and famine.
Generic engineering brought biotechnology to the front of science resulting in it being more acceptable to the public and various areas of government concerned with its potential value to society.
Karl Ereky of Hungary was the individual who began using the term biotechnology in 1919 as a way of describing an expertise to convert raw resources into products that are more useful.
Because of learning how fermentation processes could be used, advances in the production of many pharmaceutical medicines such as penicillin and cortisone could be increased.
In the 1960s, biotechnology reached greater expectations when “single-cell protein” was developed. The potential of growing bacteria on oil caught the attention of many people working in the field of science and commerce. The phrase “single-cell protein” came about in 1966 so that it would be more acceptable than calling it bacterial or microbial.
Due to the rise of oil prices in the 1970s, interest in biotechnology began to slow. However, the increase in oil prices did lead to the development of gasohol which is 10 percent alcohol being mixed with gasoline.