biotechnology

Meanings

1. 1noununcountabletechnicalbiology

   The use of living things, such as bacteria and cells, to make products or improve how we do things.

   Grammar: No plural in general use: advances in biotechnology.

   Patterns

   • advances in biotechnology

   Biotechnology has helped farmers grow crops that resist disease.

   She studied biotechnology at university.

   Medicines such as insulin are produced using biotechnology.

2. 2noununcountablebusiness

   The industry or business sector that develops products from living organisms.

   Grammar: Often a modifier: a biotechnology company.

   Patterns

   • a biotechnology company

   He works in the biotechnology sector in Boston.

   Investors have poured money into biotechnology startups.

   The biotechnology firm announced a new vaccine.

Common combinations

biotechnology company

The biotechnology company develops new cancer drugs.

agricultural biotechnology

Agricultural biotechnology can make crops more productive.

medical biotechnology

Medical biotechnology produces treatments from living cells.

biotechnology industry

The biotechnology industry is growing rapidly.

Synonyms and how they differ

bioengineering

Bioengineering focuses on applying engineering to living systems, whereas biotechnology is broader.

genetic engineering

Genetic engineering is one kind of biotechnology that changes genes directly.

biotech

Biotech is the shorter, informal form used in business news.

Word family

biotech noun

short form of biotechnology

biotechnological adjective

relating to biotechnology

biotechnologist noun

a scientist working in biotechnology

technology noun

the use of scientific knowledge for practical purposes

Commonly confused: biotechnology or biology?

Practice

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