Biotechnology is a field that uses biological systems, organisms or their derivatives to develop and improve products and processes in a variety of applications, from medicine to agriculture to environmental management. It harnesses the capabilities of living organisms, such as bacteria and enzymes, to make valuable advances in a wide range of industries.

In this course addressed to first-year undergraduates in the Matter Sciences, we will present the fundamental concepts and major technological advances in the field of biotechnology. The course is divided into three chapters. The first chapter serves as an introduction to biotechnology, where we will briefly explore its historical development, its various fields of application, and the tools and materials commonly used. The second chapter, entitled "Chemical Biotechnology", examines the role of biotechnology in the chemical sciences, focusing on biocatalysts, the regulation of DNA structure, biomanufacturing and the use of plant cells. The final chapter is devoted to environmental biology, focusing on the use of biotechnological processes in the context of bioremediation.