Biotech
Biotechnology Lives Here
We Are the Birthplace of Biotechnology
- Biotechnology has been a major component of South San Francisco’s economy since the founding of Genentech in 1976.
- South San Francisco is home to a talented & experienced workforce that draws from nearby colleges and universities, including Stanford University; the University of California, Berkeley; and the University of California, San Francisco.
- Part of vibrant Bay Area venture capital ecosystem with over $6 billion in investments raised by the top 25 life science companies.
- One of the Largest Biotech Clusters in the World.
- Over 11 million square feet of space under construction or in planning.
WHAT IS BIOTECHNOLOGY?
The impacts of biotechnology are far-reaching and serve numerous sectors. The four main industry applications include:
The impacts of biotechnology are far-reaching and serve numerous sectors. The four main industry applications include:
Medical biotechnology, also known as biopharma and biomedical engineering, is the use of living cells and cell materials to research and produce both pharmaceutical and diagnostic products to treat and prevent disease. For example, in 1978, Genentech developed synthetic humanized insulin. Insulin was previously extracted from cattle or pig pancreases. The creation of synthetic human insulin allowed for faster production times at a lower cost.
Agricultural biotechnology is a range of tools, including traditional breeding techniques, that alter living organisms, to make or modify products; improve plants or animals; or develop microorganisms for specific agricultural uses. Modern biotechnology today includes the tools of genetic engineering.
Industrial biotechnology, which is referred to as “white biotechnology” in Europe, is the practice of using cells or components of cells to generate industrially useful products in sectors such as chemicals, food and feed, detergents, paper and pulp, textiles and biofuels. A common reference to industrial biotechnology is the use of oils to produce alternative energy such as canola oil for biodiesel.
Environmental biotechnology studies are applied to and used in our natural environment. Environmental biotechnology is “the development, use, and regulation of biological systems for remediation of contaminated environments (land, air, water), and for environment-friendly processes (green manufacturing technologies and sustainable development)” (International Society for Environmental Biotechnology)
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Contact Us
Email
400 Grand Ave.
South San Francisco, CA 94080
Phone: 650-829-6620
Fax: 650-829-6623
Hours
Monday - Friday
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.