From antibiotics and production of other health-care products to waste treatment and disposal, biotechnology continues to hold our attention. The breadth and scope of biotechnology continues to increase: each decade sees significant new advances across a wide range of topics. From the first edition of this book to the second edition took 14 years; from the second edition to this one has taken only five. The rapid pace of developments in molecular biology and genetics, and in their applications to biotechnology, ensures that progress in microbiology, animal and plant cell technology for the furtherance of our well-being never slackens. Biotechnology continues to be a world-driving force for the production of a whole range of products as well as being vitally important as a process technology for the care of the environment. The expectations are that biotechnology will remain as one of the leading scientific and industrially linked endeavours for at least the first half of this present century. Its contribution to our health, welfare, food and drink will, in fact, continue for as long as civilisation continues, such is the importance of biotechnology.

This new edition of Basic Biotechnology reflects these key developments in our subject but, at the same time, this new edition consolidates our knowledge of those fundamental principles of science and engineering that are vital to an understanding of the subject at its basic level. New chapters have been included on several topics both in the fundamentals and principles section as well as in the practical applications section; most of the other chapters have been extensively revised and all have been updated.