Biotechnology applications in animal health

摘要

Biotechnology has revolutionised advances in biology over the last forty years especially since the development of the methodologies for manipulating DNA. Advancements and improvements of the various technologies in molecular biology have acceleratedat an exponential rate. For example since the late 1970s until 2000 the Sanger method for sequencing DNA enabled complete genomes to be deciphered, initially from bacteriophages and latterly eukaryotic organisms including man, but this was expensive, time consuming and for large genomes required large sequencing facilities, new methodologies now allow a human genome to be sequenced in one hour. With respect to animal health one of the major impacts of biotechnology is in the control of infectious diseases. This has involved the development of more reliable and quicker diagnostic tests, to understanding the mechanisms of pathogenicity and the development of safer and more effective vaccines with the potential to eliminate several important diseases andto improve the health of animals and humans. With the growth and continual predicted growth in the global human population and the increase in meat based diets improvements in animal health and welfare is essential for food security; control of infectious diseases will continue to play a significant role in animal health and welfare.