The cannabis industry is booming all over the world. More than 3.6 million Americans are registered to use marijuana for medical purposes and that number keeps growing.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the cannabis business has a lot of biotechnology trends. This market was hidden for years, but now it can finally grow in places where it was once against the law.
So, how does the cannabis business use biotechnology to help its product get better? Keep reading to know more.
1. Genetic Sequencing and Breeding
Genetic sequencing is the process of figuring out the exact order of the nucleotides in the DNA. It lets scientists figure out the cannabis plant’s full genetic code. This knowledge is helpful for learning about the plant’s cannabinoid and terpene profiles. It also lets us learn growth patterns, disease resistance, and other characteristics.
When breeding, scientists cross two cannabis plants that have attractive traits. This makes a new plant with a mix of those traits. Genetic sequencing can also help farmers when growing cannabis. This ensures that they produce high-quality products.
2. Tissue Culture and Micropropagation
Using tissue culture techniques, you can propagate cannabis plants in a laboratory environment. This method includes isolating and growing small pieces of plant tissue. This then makes clones that have identical genes. Tissue culture makes it possible to make a lot of disease-free plants on a big scale. This lowers the risk of contamination and makes sure that the plant’s genes are the same.
3. Metabolic Engineering
Metabolic engineering involves modifying the metabolic pathways within cannabis plants. This enhances the production of specific cannabis, cannabinoids, or other desired compounds. Scientists can increase the production of compounds like THC or CBD. They can also create novel cannabinoids with unique therapeutic properties.
4. Extraction and Purification Technologies
Biotechnology has also revolutionized the extraction and purification of cannabis. Examples of these methods are superfluid extraction (SFE) and molecular distillation. These can extract cannabinoids, terpenes, and other valuable chemicals. These technologies also make sure that the end extracts are very pure and of high quality.
5. Quality Control and Testing
Biotechnology is a key part of testing and quality control in the cannabis business as a whole. Examples include high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and mass spectrometry. These techniques measure cannabinoid and terpene profiles.
They can also find contaminants, and make sure that they meet regulatory standards. DNA barcoding can also help prove that cannabis goods come from the right strain.
Biotechnology companies have structured leadership organizations and the team involved is there to make sure that the products they put out undergo testing and are of high quality.
Look Out for These Cannabis Biotechnology Trends
Biotechnology trends in general are an essential tool for improving the cannabis industry as it provides a way for consumers to have better options when choosing their choice of cannabis product. With the aid of biotechnology tools, it will ensure that cannabis farming remains sustainable in the future.
Try out a biotechnology-backed cannabis product today. Experience the advancements in this revolutionary industry!
