Plant Biology and Bio-Technology

Biotechnology is a relatively recent term that appeared for the first time around 1960. Its origin is the Greek word Bio meaning life, and Technology, which appeared in the French language in 1656 meaning the study of tools, machines and raw materials. Although the etymology is fairly precise, its definition is a little more wide-ranging, and even subjective at times. The use of living organisms and their products for commercial purposes is a broad definition. The first wine and bread makers could have been described as biotechnologists before the term was coined. A more restricted understanding of the term biotechnology would link it to the achievements of the last sixty years, including all in vitro culture genetics, such as gene cloning, sequencing and genetic engineering.