The biotechnology industry, in a broad sense, uses
organisms, cells, or molecules isolated from cells to make products
or solve problems. Scientific breakthroughs in the 1970s allowed
companies to capitalize on biotechnology techniques to make products
ranging from better pharmaceutical drugs to enzymes that stonewash
blue jeans. Today, small start-up firms and multinational corporations
use biotechnology in the pharmaceutical, agriculture, chemical,
environmental remediation, and energy industries.
Agricultural biotechnology is used to modify plants and animals
to meet consumer demand for more healthful, nutritious foods, and
to produce foods in more environmentally sustainable ways. Advances
in biotechnology have made it possible to genetically enhance plants
to produce therapeutic proteins essential for the production of
a wide range of pharmaceuticals-such as monoclonal antibodies, enzymes
and blood proteins. Biotechnology has extraordinary potential to
improve the health and well-being of people in the developing world.
Environmental biotechnology is the use of living organisms for a
wide variety of applications in hazardous waste treatment and pollution
control. Marine biotechnologists are studying ways that estuarine
bacteria can detoxify materials such as chemical sea brines that
cause environmental problems in many industries.
Biotechnology in industry employs the techniques of modern molecular
biology to reduce the environmental impact of manufacturing. Industrial
biotechnology also works to make manufacturing processes more efficient
for industries such as textiles, paper and pulp, and specialty chemicals.
Biotechnology is improving the safety of raw materials by helping
food scientists discover the exact identity of the allergenic protein
in foods such as peanuts, soybeans and milk, so they can then remove
them. Biotechnology has provided law enforcement professionals with
another way of placing a suspect at the scene of a crime. This area
of study, called forensic biotechnology, uses a method called DNA
fingerprinting.
Patent lawyers who specialize in biotechnology help scientists,
companies, or universities protect their legal rights to new discoveries.
They file patent applications for their clients
The skill set
Common sense, diligence, application, a sense of purpose, the power
to concentrate and to persevere are important attributes for a career
in the sciences including biotechnology. One should thrive on constant
challenge; possess communication skills, the ability for team work
and leadership qualities. A high degree of accuracy, thoroughness
and the ability to check and recheck details are important requirements
for a career in biotechnology.
For those who will work in the public relations side of the industry,
communication skills are important. Sales and marketing people have
their fingers on the pulse of the market and possess excellent marketing
skills. Managers need business acumen, organisational and administrative
skills, leadership and decision making ability.
Training Programmes
The base for a scientific career in biotechnology is laid down when
a student pursues plus two with physics, chemistry and biology group
of subjects. Maths and English at the plus two level would also
be advisable. After plus two, graduation could be in Agriculture,
Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry, Medical Science, Life Science,
Genetics, Pharmacy, Microbiology, Botany, Zoology, Chemistry, Biotechnology,
Chemical Engineering/ Technology, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Agricultural
Engineering, Food Technology, Human Biology and allied subjects.
The next step would be 2-year MSc in Biotechnology or 2-year M Tech
for those who have completed an engineering degree.
After plus two, students with physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics
may also choose to pursue B Tech in Biotechnology or B Tech in Industrial
Biotechnology or the recently introduced 5-year Integrated M Sc
in Biotechnology or 6-year M Tech in Biotechnology courses.
For those planning on a teaching and research career, Ph D would
be useful. Those who plan to be in marketing, public relations,
law or management in the biotechnology industry, may be graduates
in biotechnology with the higher degree in the specialisation of
their choice.
There are currently more than twenty five universities offering
M Sc in Biotechnology while at least half a dozen courses in agricultural
biotechnology, a couple of marine biotechnology and sundry medical
biotechnology courses are also offered. Combined Biotechnology Entrance
Examination is conducted by Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
for admission to postgraduate programmes in Biotechnology at around
twenty universities.
Prominent Institutions
M Sc Biotechnology
- University of Allahabad, Allahabad-211002
- Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi -221005
- Calicut University, Kozhikode -673635
- Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, Indore-452001
- G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar-263145(also
M. V. Sc. Biotechnology)
- Goa University, Taleigao Plateau, Goa-403206
- Gujarat University, Ahmedabad-380009
- Gulbarga University, Gulbarga-585106
- Guru Jambheshwar University, Hisar-125001
- Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar-143005
- Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla-171005
- University of Hyderabad, P O Central University, Hyderabad
- 500046
- University of Jammu, Jammu Tawi -180006
- Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi-110067
- M. S. University of Baroda, Vadodara-390002
- Madurai Kamaraj University,Madurai-625021
- University of Mysore, Mysore-570005
- Panjab University, Chandigarh-160014
- Pondicherry University, Pondicherry- 605014
- Pune University, Pune-411007
- Punjabi University, Patiala-147002
- Tezpur University, Tezpur-784001
- Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology (Deemed University),
Patiala-147104
- All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New
Delhi-110029
M Tech Biotechnology at:
- Anna University, Chennai-6000025
- Jadavpur University, Kolkata-700032
- Dr D Y Patil Vidyanagar, Sector 7,Nerul, Navi Mumbai-400706
4-year B Tech in Biotechnology, 6 years Integrated M Tech in
Biotechnology and PhD
- Institute of Bioinformatics & Biotechnology, University of
Pune, Pune-411007
MSc Biotechnology 5-years Integrated Course/ 6 years M Tech
[Listing is indicative, not exhaustive]
Prospects
Job opportunities extend to universities, medical schools and government
laboratories and research institutions. India has the advantage
of a large reservoir of scientific talent, engineering prowess in
the process development and manufacturing and its rapidly developing
clinical research capabilities. The biotech industry is expected
to grow by 25-30 per cent in 2003-2004. The field of biotechnology
both for new innovations and applications would form a major research
and commercial endeavour for socio-economic development in this
millennium. With new vistas opening up in biotech research following
genome sequencing, the Department of Biotechnology (
www.dbtindia.nic.in)
is according high priority to functional genomics and bioinformatics.
The advantage of working within the biotechnology industry is that
your work may have real significance in the daily lives of people
everywhere.
