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The biotechnology market is an ever-expanding, demanding, controversial and lucrative market. As long as the need for something better and the hunger for knowledge exist, biotechnology will be the crux for much crucial development and enhancement.

The biotechnology market covers a large area, and has vast and crucial branches among them. Some of these areas are agriculture GMO, antibody technologies, antisense technology, biomaterials, biopharmaceuticals, drug discovery, emerging technology, environmental/industrial biotechnology, enzymes, gene therapy, general biotechnology, genetic engineering, genomics, informatics, instrumentation and equipment, molecular biology, pharmaceuticals, proteomics, regulation and bioethics, research and development, tissue engineering and wound care.

There are more than 90 biotechnology products in existence in the world today, including drugs and vaccines which have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Apart from these, the research and development is still going strong, with over 350 biotechnology drug products and vaccines still in human clinical trials. They give hope to the sufferers of many incurable and unstoppable diseases ravaging the population, such as cancer, AIDS, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, multiple sclerosis and other grave conditions.

We can see major improvements in the advancement of medicine; however, we should also keep in mind the notable advancements in the field of agriculture, the use of biopesticides to reduce the hazardous effects of pesticides to the environment and to the crops, and the many ways biotechnology has helped the fields of pharmaceuticals and chemicals, energy and environmental management.

Biotechnology is also a lucrative market, as the biotech companies and the biotech industry generate revenue in the region of $50 billion a year.

Biotechnology provides detailed information on Biotechnology, Biotechnology Market, Biotechnology Careers, Biotechnology Schools and more. Biotechnology is affiliated with Forensic Science Colleges.

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A common mortal from a developed country would be hard to convince that in Southeast Asia and Africa, diarrhea is responsible for as much as 8.5% and 7.7%, respectively. Yet this is the stark reality. Diarrhea is mostly caused by gastrointestinal infections. About 2.2 million people globally die of gastrointestinal-induced diarrhea. The bulk of these are children from developing countries. These are countries that lack clean drinking water- the major cause of gastrointestinal infections.

What is the role of science in ameliorating this grave situation? Many would rightly argue that provision of clean drinking water is the surest way of eradicating diarrhea. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 1.1 billion people lack access to improved water sources with another 2.4 billion out of reach of basic sanitation.

The world may exude optimism about providing clean drinking water to the poorest of the poor. But this remains a milieu. In the meantime, diarrhea will continue to claim the lives of millions of children, mainly from poor countries.

How can science prevent these unnecessary deaths? Can it be through provision of drugs? Oh no! They are unaffordable to the poor. The poor live on less than a dollar a day.

Modern biotechnology could offer a solution. Biotechnologists have discovered a rice variety, which would produce proteins found in human milk, saliva and tears. When these proteins are converted into powder form, they can be used in granola bars and drinks to help infants in developing countries avoid death from diarrhea. This is the best way to curb runaway diarrhea in developing world such as Africa. These drinks or granola bars would be considerably cheap compared to drugs.

African farmers can also be encouraged to grow this variety of rice. First, it will boost their household income and effectively improve their living standards. It will also make the accompanying protein-rich drinks and granola bars cheaper making them accessible and affordable to all.

The biotech industry has a role to play in hastening technology diffusion. With regard to this new rice variety, for instance, they should consider domesticating its production in Africa for this is where the action is!

Rice is an important crop in most African countries. In West Africa, for instance, rice is considered a staple food. It contributes more calories and protein than any other cereal in humid West Africa. Despite the integral place that rice occupies in the diet of African consumers, its production remains pathetically poor.

Compared to other crops such as corn or soybean, improvement of rice varieties has been regrettably slow. Only one genetically transformed rice trait - tolerance to the herbicide glufosinate -is currently available in the market. It has not reached Africa yet.

“Golden rice” genetically transformed to produce pro-vitamin A is still under discussion. It is touted as a cure for Vitamin A deficiency in developing countries. It is, however, yet to be commercialized.

James Wachai is a communication specialist who uses his expertise to increase public understanding of science and technology, specifically biotechnology. Read more from James at http://www.gmoafrica.org

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They met in a club and even though he was not her “type”, she agreed to a date because he was nice and she didn’t know how to say “no.” They made plans for tonight to have dinner and see a movie. However, as the appointed time draws nearer, she is frantically thinking of how she can get out of this date. She just isn’t interested in him and never would have said yes if there had been an easy way out. She is dreading an awkward evening of wishing she were home and glancing at the clock. What can she do? Then it hits her, “I Know, I’ll send a message to the Alibi and Excuse Club. They will help me find a way out.”

Advances in technology have changed the way we relate and communicate in all aspects of our lives. Dating related industries have capitalized on this and have come up with ways that singles can handle (among other things) awkward situations like breaking a date or rejecting a potential suitor- with only a few strokes of the keys and clicks of a mouse. Take the “Alibi and Excuse Club,” available on sms.ac. A member of this group can send a message to the gang and someone will provide them with- or help them fake- an excuse. Whatever happened to good old communication, where we faced our uncomfortable feelings- however difficult this was to do- and told the person that we were just not interested? Not only was this a more honest and respectful approach, it built communication skills that would be critical in all of out relationships, throughout our lives.

There are other digital services available to speak for us and help us to avoid dealing with uncomfortable feelings-which, by the way, we must know how to deal with in order to have true intimacy with another. Here is a sampling of what is out there:

Tags: dating advice, dating technologies, relationship communicationdating advice, dating technologies, relationship communication

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