## Module 1 Modern Biotechnology

A more modern definition of biotechnology, found in Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, is “the manipulation (as through genetic engineering) of living organisms or their components to produce useful usually commercial products (such as pest resistant crops, new bacterial strains, or novel pharmaceuticals)”.

Modern biotechnology makes use of tools that allow purposeful engineering of genetic alterations, rather than breeding selectively and hoping for desired traits in offspring. The possibilities offered by these modern technologies are staggering.

In this course, you will learn about these technologies, paying special attention to how they may affect the lives of people around the world, and the ethics of using (or not using) these technologies.

In the next assignment, you will perform some simple research on current and past uses of biotechnology that have impacted humanity positively and negatively. This is an opportunity for you to demonstrate competence at basic research and evaluation skills critical to the field of biotechnology. You will expand on these topics in your signature assignment at the end of the course. Be sure to read the following resources on assessing news articles and websites before you begin your research.

Finding News and News Evaluation

Evaluating Internet Resources