Ans Human began using microorganisms as early as 4000 BC for making wine, vinegar, cheese, yogurt etc. Some of these processes have become a part of every home that we may even hesitate to referthem as biotechnology.
Modern Biotechnology( Genetic Engineering)
Genetic engineering i.e. the artificial synthesis, modification, removal, addition and repair of the genetic material (DMA) is considered as modern biotechnology. It is done to alter the characteristics of organisms.
The work on genetic engineering started in 1944 when it was proved that DNA carries the genetic information. Scientists isolated the enzymes of DNA synthesis and then prepared DNA outside cells. In 1970s, they were able to cut and paste the DNA of organisms. In 1978, scientists prepared human insulin by inserting the insulin gene in bacteria. Human growth hormone was also synthesized in bacteria. In 1990, the Human Genome Project was launched to map all the genes in human cell. The complete map of human genome was published in 2002.