Introduction

Abstract

Biotechnology is a key factor in the development and implementation of processes for the manufacture of new food products, animal feedstuffs, pharmaceuticals, and a number of speciality products through the application of microbiology, enzyme technology, and engineering disciplines such as reaction engineering and separation technology. With the introduction of the so-called “new” biotechnologies since 1970, directed manipulation of the cell’s genetic machinery through recombinant DNA techniques and cell fusion became possible. This has fundamentally expanded the potential for biological systems to make important biological molecules that can not be produced by industrial means. Existing industrial organisms can be systematically altered to produce useful products in cost-efficient and environmentally acceptable ways.