British Biotech

Britain has recently established itself as the leading center of biotechnology research in the world, behind only the United States. The government expects the biotechnology industry in Britain to see profound growth over the next few years on top of the dramatic growth the industry has seen recently.

Modern biotech companies base research on discovering and recombining DNA technology. British biotech companies are hard at work trying to find new uses of recombinant organisms that could serve in the production of new medicines and food which could also help solve many environmental problems.

Biomedicine is the practice of breeding organisms to form new variations, introducing new genes into organism’s DNA, and testing specific compounds on organisms to find new treatments. Finding the new cure or discovering a new medicine can mean big money, and the business of producing medicine is already generating big profits for British biotech companies.

The British biotechnology industry has seen a large influx of finance capital over the past ten years due to the cutting edge technology that many British biotech companies possess regarding cloning and stem cell research. Venture capitalists have helped fund research for mapping the human genome and creating new biologic drugs because finding a way to profit from the technology could mean big profits for investors. Despite all of the funding, many British biotechnology companies are in the midst of failure because the research is so complicated and expensive. These research companies must pay scientists large sums to keep them working on the next break through. Even with all the venture capital that flowed into British biotech companies in years past, the funds have dried up, and the global economic downturn has taken its toll on many of the companies who have not produced a product to sell on the open market.

The quality of British biotech companies has never been the problem. The commercial biotechnology’s main problem seems to be that too many companies exist for them to all find funding. The UK biotech industry has always had a problem finding enough capital from investors who are willing to take risks. The industry is tough, and many companies fail from lack of funding before they ever produce a product.

There are also many very successful British Biotech Companies who are making ground-breaking discoveries in medicine, cloning, and DNA development. Here is a list of the top five British Biotech Companies:

Shire Pharmaceuticals Group – produces new prescription medicines.

Powderject Pharmaceuticals – is involved in drug-delivery technology.

SkyePharma – creates prescription pharmaceuticals for a variety of diseases.

Chiroscience Group – designs pharmaceutical and diagnostic products.

Celltech creates and produces therapeutic products.

Biotechnology means two starkly different things to polar sides in a debate. For those who sing its virtues, it is a way to genetically engineer biological organisms in a way that sustains, improves, and enhances life for all. For those who fear the intrusive hand of man into the workings of nature, it is a risky attempt to play as a deity. There has been an enormous amount of debate over biotechnology in Great Britain.

This plays out most visibly in the world of agriculture. Genetically modified foods tend to yield more bounteous products. Where issues like world hunger are concerned, this is a clear benefit. Those who are starving would care much less about the ethical framework behind the generation of the product which is sustaining their life. However, there is more theoretic debate about the safety or health of these foods. Biotechnology opponents believe that there might be adverse health risks or complications with existing organic strains. This is not specifically sourced with much research, but to be fair, there hasn’t been much time for a volume of data to grow.

Resolving these debates tends to involve some common regulatory schemes. Product regulation, licensing, and outright bans are always considered. Genetically modified food labeling seems to be the ideal compromise. Those who are interested in consuming products which have been genetically modified can make that consumer choice.

Ultimately, the scientific disaster created by genetic modification has yet to manifest itself. This gives to reasonable assumption that it is a safe field of science. Those who would seek to gain a ban on these practices need to produce real data to gain any public support. However, the idea that a commercial enterprise should fairly inform the consumer as to what product they are buying is the fair model.

Biotechnology in Great Britain has generated visible increases in sustainable food, innovative medical techniques, and other valid technologies that improve the way of life of all people. This is something that can not be discounted over the political manifestations of fears. Consumers who prefer organic foods have a right to preserve the market of their favorite product through their own consumer choice. Biotechnology in Great Britain will continue to deliver innovations that improve the health and well-being of people all over the world.