biotechnology
B2/C1Formal, Technical, Academic, Business
Definition
Meaning
The use of living organisms or their biological processes to develop or make useful products, especially in industry, medicine, and agriculture.
The interdisciplinary field of study and application combining biology with technology, particularly genetic engineering, molecular biology, and bioinformatics, to manipulate biological systems for human purposes.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term can refer broadly to ancient practices (like fermentation) but is now overwhelmingly associated with modern genetic manipulation. Its scope ranges from medical (pharmaceuticals, gene therapy) to agricultural (GMO crops) and industrial (biofuels, enzymes).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in definition. The spelling and pronunciation are consistent. The clipped form 'biotech' is equally common in both business contexts.
Connotations
In both varieties, it can carry positive connotations (innovation, medical breakthroughs) or negative ones (ethical concerns, 'Frankenfoods'), depending on context.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English due to the larger biotechnology industry sector, but the term is standard in both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
N (subject) + V (revolutionise/transform) + biotechnologybiotechnology + V (enables/offers/provides) + Nbiotechnology + PREP (in/for) + N (medicine/agriculture)ADJ (medical/ethical) + biotechnologyVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “the biotechnology revolution”
- “the cutting edge of biotechnology”
- “biotech gold rush”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"The biotech start-up secured another round of venture capital funding."
Academic
"The paper explores the ethical implications of agricultural biotechnology in developing nations."
Everyday
"There's a debate about whether food produced using biotechnology should be labelled."
Technical
"The protocol utilises recombinant DNA biotechnology to express the target protein in a bacterial host."
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The firm aims to biotechnologise the production process.
- They are looking to biotechnology new solutions.
American English
- The company is seeking to biotech its way into the market.
- They plan to leverage biotech for sustainable manufacturing.
adverb
British English
- The crop was produced biotechnologically.
American English
- The drug was developed using biotech.
adjective
British English
- The biotechnological advances were remarkable.
- She works in a biotechnological research centre.
American English
- It's a major biotech breakthrough.
- He follows the biotech sector closely.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Biotechnology helps make new medicines.
- Some foods are made with biotechnology.
- Modern biotechnology is important for developing new drugs and vaccines.
- Many people have concerns about the use of biotechnology in food production.
- The government invested heavily in biotechnology to foster innovation in the healthcare sector.
- Critics argue that the rapid growth of agricultural biotechnology poses risks to biodiversity.
- The convergence of nanotechnology and biotechnology is poised to revolutionise targeted drug delivery systems.
- While proponents hail biotechnology as a panacea for global food security, its socio-economic ramifications in developing economies remain contentious.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: BIO (life) + TECHNOLOGY (tools/applied science) = using tools on living systems to make useful things.
Conceptual Metaphor
ORGANISMS AS FACTORIES (cells are 'production lines' for drugs), NATURE AS SOFTWARE (genetic code can be 'edited' or 'reprogrammed').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate as 'биология' (biology) or 'технология' (technology) separately. The correct equivalent is 'биотехнология'.
- The term 'биоинженерия' (bioengineering) is a close synonym but can have a slightly narrower, more engineering-focused connotation.
- Avoid confusing with 'биомедицина' (biomedicine), which is a related but more medically-focused field.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'bio-technology' (hyphen is outdated) or 'biotechology'.
- Using it as a countable noun (e.g., 'a biotechnology') – it is generally uncountable.
- Confusing it with 'biochemistry', which is the study of chemical processes in living organisms, not their technological application.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT a primary application of biotechnology?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Genetic engineering is a key subset of modern biotechnology. Biotechnology is the broader field that includes genetic engineering along with other techniques like fermentation and tissue culture.
'Biotech' is a common informal shortening, especially used in business and media contexts (e.g., 'the biotech industry'). 'Biotechnology' is the full, formal term used in academic and technical writing.
No. Humans have used basic biotechnology for thousands of years (e.g., baking bread, brewing beer, making cheese). However, the term now most often refers to the modern field that emerged in the late 20th century with advances in molecular biology.
Yes. Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are created using the tools of modern biotechnology, specifically genetic engineering techniques.
Collections
Part of a collection
Scientific Terminology
C1 · 44 words · Precise vocabulary used in scientific disciplines.