Nanoconvergence: The Unity of Nanoscience, Biotechnology, Information Technology, and Cognitive Science

Chapter 4. Biotechnology

Probably the most visible and active convergence occurring in the borderland between two major fields is that uniting biotechnology with nanotechnology: bio-nano or nano-bio convergence. Arguably, biotechnology is the oldest of the four NBIC fields, dating back to prehistoric days when plants and animals were first domesticated, when techniques such as fermenting wine and culturing cheese were originally invented, and when a variety of more or less effective medical techniques were first systematized. Perhaps the very first application of biotechnology was the cooking of food, which may have begun as early as a half million years ago. By contrast, the debate regarding nanotechnology and cognitive technology takes a vastly ...