Concluding Remarks and Epilogue

Abstract

During the last forty years, enthusiasm for biotechnology has fluctuated sinusoidally. Maxima were indicative of people’s “absolute confidence” that “solutions to world problems” had been found in the field. Obvious examples were the discovery of antibiotics, development of an alternative protein source (SCP), enzyme immobilization for multiple use in catalyzing various processes, ethanol production from renewable resources and, of course, the tremendous scientific achievements in molecular biology obtained through the use of genetic engineering techniques. Contrary to these, minima were indicative of realistic acknowledgement of problems in implementation of these new processes.