What is the role of enzymes in biotechnology?

Enzymes play a crucial role in biotechnology primarily by facilitating chemical reactions. They are biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions by lowering the activation energy required for those reactions to occur. This is essential in various biotechnological processes, such as fermentation, DNA replication, and protein synthesis. The ability of enzymes to increase reaction rates allows biotechnicians to carry out essential biochemical processes more efficiently, whether in industrial applications, research, or clinical settings.

In the context of biotechnology, enzymes enable specific reactions to occur under milder conditions compared to traditional chemical processes, which often require extreme temperatures or pressures. This specificity and efficiency make enzymes invaluable tools for various applications, including the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, the production of biofuels, and in genetic engineering techniques.