Louis Pasteur (1822-1895), the French chemist and microbiologist, is considered the actual “Father of biotechnology” by most renowned scientists of the world. It is he who had established the role of microorganisms in the fermentation process for the very first time in the 19th century. Remember, the famous pasteurization process, is after his name.
Jokichi Takamine (1854-1922) from Japan developed the world’s first amylolytic enzyme in 1896, Taka-diastase and was given the honorary title of “Father of Modern Biotechnology”. He also isolated adrenaline from human in 1901.
Karoly Ereky (1878-1952) from Hungary coined the term “biotechnologie” in 1919. At that time, he was food minister in Hungary. He gave this name in his book “Biotechnologie der Fleisch-, Fett- und Milcherzeugung im landwirtschaftlichen Grossbetriebe (Biotechnology of Meat, Fat and Milk Production in an Agricultural Large-Scale Farm)”. He described “biotechnologie” through his book, and stated how raw materials can be converted to useful products. He used to raise about 1 laks pigs per year in a farm; and later on this farm became the largest meat producing farm. In his book, he also explained his views about food crisis in the society, and its solution. Therefore, some researchers call him “Father of biotechnology”.
Daniel Nathans (1928-1999), Nobel laureate in medicine-1978; is considered “Father of Modern Biotechnology” by many researchers. He introduced the method of using enzymes which act on DNA double helix. If these enzymes are known, the undiscovered secrets of DNA double helix can be known to the world further.
Father of Indian biotechnology?
Some people consider Kiran Mazumdar Shaw (born in 1953) as father/mother of biotechnology in India. She is chairman and managing director of Biocon; and chairperson of IIM-Bangalore.
Dr. Pushpa Bhargava (born in 1928); established CCMB (Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology) in Hyderabad, in 1977. He is also called “Father of Modern Biotechnology”.
