Environmental Biotechnology

Continued advances in biotechnology have driven forward the harnessing of micro-organisms and plants to help protect our fragile environment from the impact of human activity in increasingly targeted yet diverse ways. Environmental Biotechnology provides a broad overview of the subject, focusing on how biotechnological techniques are applied to solve environmental problems, rather than giving detailed explanations of the techniques themselves. Opening with an overview of environmental biotechnology, and a review of the key aspects of microbiology upon which the field is based, the book goes on to explore the diverse way in which biotechnology is applied to tackle environmental problems and issues, from monitoring of the environment and treatment of waste, to the removal of pollutants and extraction of oil and minerals. The book closes with a discussion of the ways in which future advances in biotechnology are likely to be harnessed to address current and emerging issues and problems in increasingly effective and powerful ways. Capturing the current excitement in a field reinvigorated by advances in genetic manipulation, and emerging genomic and proteomic technologies, Environmental Biotechnology is the perfect resource for any student needing to develop a sound understanding of biotechnology, and the diverse ways it can be applied to address important environmental issues. Online Resource Centre - Figures from the book available to download, to facilitate lecture preparation - Library of web links cited in the book, to give students ready access to these additional resources