• Question: how is nano technology different from bio technology?

    Asked by theo to Adam, Chris, Eleanor, Jessamyn, Sinead on 11 Nov 2013.
    • Photo: Adam Murphy

      Adam Murphy answered on 11 Nov 2013:

      Nano technology is all technology that exists on the nano scale, so millionths of a millimetre in size.

      Biotechnology is any and all technology used for biological purposes (Making new big surgical machines is biotech)

      The cool thing is that there is a lot of overlap between the two, so I really work in Nano-bio-technology. Uses nanoscale things for biological purposes,

      I hope that helps!

    • Photo: Sinead Cullen

      Sinead Cullen answered on 11 Nov 2013:

      Hi Theo,
      Nanotechnology is using materials at a really small scale! A nanometre is one billionth of a metre (0.000 000 001m). Really really tiny, so small you need a microscope to see!
      Biotechnology is using technology for a biological purpose such as making a stint, which is sort of like a balloon that surgeons put in your heart to prevent you having a heart attack if you have any blockages in your heart.
      Now Biotechnology and Nanotechnology and coming together and are starting to overlap. So I work with really tiny devices (nano) to look at peoples blood (bio) but I also you technology to do this!
      Pretty cool I must say!

Comments