If you look up biotechnology, you’ll find a variety of definitions. Perhaps the simplest is the use of living things to make products. In this sense, biotechnology has been used by humans for at least 8000 years. Fermented beverages like wine and beer use yeast to convert sugars to alcohol, which acts as a preservative for the beverage’s valuable calories and nutrients. Bread, cheese, yogurt, vinegar, and chocolate also rely on microbes in their production and preservation.

Learning Objectives

- 1.1 Explain how biotechnology has positively affected humanity.