Introduction

Abstract

We need to place this workshop report into a broad context, considering various aspects of biotechnology which differentiate it from more narrow descriptions of industrial microbiology (including food technology, industrial fermentations, and the pharmaceutical industry, which combined have a history of more than 100 years). The various aspects of biotechnology include a) the introduction of recombinant DNA and cloning techniques that allow a more rational and planned (that is, engineering) approach to production problems than was possible in the past. This new logical approach is in marked contrast to earlier use of genetics to isolate high production mutants in the fermentation industry, the pharmaceutical industry, and in agricultural plant and animal husbandry. b) The new genetic engineering expands beyond the possibilities of product production in the factory. It is clearly understood that it will have an enormous impact on human medicine, on animal medicine and meat production, and on agronomy and the production of useful agricultural plants. c) We need to pay attention to more than merely the technological questions. As introduced by Blöcker and Frank (this volume), we need to be concerned about how the new products of biotechnology will affect the human community; and we must be especially concerned about how this technology will affect lesser developed nations.