Description

Biotechnology is now established as a major area of technology, concerned with the application of biological organisms, systems, or processes to manufacturing or service industries. Although human exploitation of organisms is not new, many of the techniques that are stimulating rapid advances in biotechnology have developed from recent scientific discoveries. Throughout history, man has, knowingly or unknowingly, been exploiting yeast in the production of alcoholic beverages and bread, and these processes still represent major biotechnological industries. The Brewers’ and bakers’ yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is, however, also a preferred organism for the production of many new biotechnological products.