Explanation should include that biotechnology consists of
- techniques that use living organisms or substances from those organisms
- making or modifying a product to improve plants or animals
- developing microorganisms for specific uses.
Process/Skill Questions:
- What is the definition of biotechnology?
- How is biotechnology used in careers other than health care (e.g., engineering, agriculture, environmental sciences, production of chemicals and cleaning products, industry, food production, clothing production)?
- How has the field of biotechnology reduced the need for pesticides in agriculture?
- What concerns the opponents of biotechnology in relation to genetically modified crops?
- What is the role of the federal government in regulating biotechnology as it relates to the fields of agriculture, food production, and pharmacology?