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Brewing
Institutes were dedicated to learning more about the technology of brewing and wanted a better understanding of industrial fermentation. -
World War 1
Industrial needs to support the war created an expansion of zymotechnology. The potential of fermentation expanded from just beer and alcoholic beverages to actually helping humans in time of needs which resulted in zymotechnology being referred to as biotechnology. -
"Biotechnologie"
Karoly Ereky used the word biotechnology in Hungary to describe technology that could convert raw material into more useful products. He created a theme saying that biotechnology could provide solutions to societal crises like famine or nutritional shortage. -
Miracle Drug
The discovery of penicillin created enormous profits and a radical shift in the standing of the pharmaceutical industry. -
Steroid production
Biotechnology had become advanced enough to produce steroids on industry significant scales. Simplifying the synthesis of cortisone reduced the cost of the drug by 70%. This showed just one of the benefits of biotechnology. -
Asilomar Conference
Joshua Lederberg was an outspoken supporter biotechnology and accepting is as a field. -
Human Insulin
The development of human insulin proved Joshua Lederberg correct and this caused the biotechnology industry to start growing. -
Patent on a gene
The first application for a patent on a gene: the gene which produces human growth hormone. Since then almost 20% have been patented. -
Proteins
Five proteins made from genetically engineered cells had been approved as drugs by the FDA. -
More proteins
By the end of the 1990's, over 125 proteins made from genetically engineered cells had been approved as drugs by the FDA.