Biotechnology

Biotechnology is based on the basic Biological Sciences such as Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Embryology, Genetics, Microbiology. It is the process of making desired changes in animals or plants or producing micro- organisms for a variety of purposes economically. Education and Employment opportunities in the field of Biotechnology are increasing day by day. Many products that cater to the Pharmaceutical, Diagnostic, Agricultural and Environmental sectors are being developed through Biotechnology.

Biotechnology covers Chemistry, Mathematics, Engineering as well as Health, Medicine, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Ecology, Biology, Marine Biology and many more topics. It plays an important role in developing Genetic information about Plants and Animals, for the benefit of mankind. That is why scientists are describing Biotechnology as the most important applied science of the 21st century. In this context, let us know about the opportunities in Education, Employment and Research in the field of Biotechnology...

Advantages…

✦ New immunizations are being developed with Biotechnology to reduce the number of inherited and incurable diseases in humans.

✦ Hybrid plants and animals that are resistant to various diseases are being developed using Biotechnology.

✦ Biotechnology is useful in discovering alternative Energy Sources, Conservation of Forests, Genetic Modification and the production of new Micro- organisms. These micro- organisms are useful in the fields of Agriculture and Medicine.

Increasing Demand…

There are many courses in the country to pursue education in Biotechnology. The usage of Biotechnology in various industrial fields and professions has further increased the demand of this course. Many Institutes and Universities offer various courses at Degree and PG levels with periodic changes and additions to the subject, to create awareness among the youth about the importance of the course.

Course Details:

Prestigious IITs and Universities are offering courses like B.Sc, B.Tech, etc. for the students who have completed their Intermediate Education (MPC / BPC). Integrated M.Tech and other courses are also available through entrance examinations. Some universities offer direct admissions also. Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in New Delhi conducts Combined  Entrance Examination for Biotechnology (CEEB) for admission in Biotech Programs at several leading Institutes. This test announcement is usually released in the month of March. Leading universities in the country offer admission to M.Sc Biotechnology and other affiliated courses based on this test.

Degree / PG Level Courses:

✦ B.Sc (Biotechnology)

✦ B.Sc (Biopharmaceutical)

✦ B.Tech (Biotechnology)

✦ M.Sc (Biotechnology)

✦ M.Sc (Agriculture Biotechnology)

✦ M.Sc / MVSC (Animal Biotechnology)

✦ M.Sc (Marine Biotechnology)

✦ M.Sc (Medical Biotechnology)

✦ M.Tech (Biotechnology)

✦ M.Tech (Biomedical Engineering / Biotechnology)

✦ MBA (Biotechnology)

♦ Various Universities are also offering advanced specializations in Biotechnology. For example, Goa University and Annamalai University offer M.Sc. Marine Biotechnology course. Sardar Patel University offers M.Sc. Industrial Biotechnology. M.Sc. from Tezpur University, Assam offer M.Sc. Molecular Biology and Biotechnology courses. Pune University also offers a two-year MBA course in Biotechnology. JNU and JIPMER universities offer Biopharmaceutical Courses. These specialized courses are conducted by the respective institutes keeping in view the industry needs.

♦Many universities also offer advanced Ph.D and Postdoctoral Biotechnology courses, depending on the capacity and need of the Research opportunity. India is one of the leading countries in conducting Advanced Research in Biotechnology. Extensive research is being done in our country on Human Genome project, Elemental Research, Genetically modified crops. For this purpose, a special Department of Biotechnology (DBT) has been set up under the auspices of the Central Government. The department offers a variety of fellowships for students who want to do research in the field of Biotechnology. Biotechnology- related research is also being conducted at research institutes under the auspices of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR, New Delhi).

Important Sections:

Microbiology: Currently, Microbiology course is booming with many Employment opportunities in the fields of Medicine and Pharma. As a result, more and more science students are opting for Microbiology course in Biotechnology. It studies micro- organisms such as Bacteria, Viruses, Fungi, Protozoa, etc., and their effect on the human body. This course also covers the subject of bacterial and viral diseases.

Biochemistry: This section deals mainly with the study of Biology and Chemistry. It refers to the chemical process that takes place inside living cells. It focuses on the structure, behavior, cells, tissues, etc. of complex molecules.

Pharmacology: It is the course in which pharmacological science is studied. We learn about drugs and their effects on humans. This course provides a basic understanding of medicine, its uses and effects. It also describes Cardiovascular, Neurological and Ortho functionalities. Students who choose Pharmacology have better opportunities in Labs, Forensic labs and Pharmaceutical Companies.

Agri- Tech: Agri- Tech is also known as Agricultural Engineering. It explores the possibilities of improving the Agricultural sector with new innovations and different biotechnologies. It also helps in Machinery, Biogas, New technology and other Agricultural products. Agricultural Engineers play a key role in improving Agricultural production and providing farmers with more productive crops.

Universities offering Biotechnology course at Degree / PG level:

Leading Institutions / Universities offering Degree, PG Course at National Level:

Job Opportunities:

Degree in Biotechnology, PG Graduates have ample employment opportunities in India as well as abroad. Those who have done Bio-tech courses will have job opportunities in Private biotech parks in Bangalore, Lucknow, Gurgaon, and Industrial centers like Genome Valley in Hyderabad and ICICI Knowledge Park. In addition to employment in this field, Research is also provided by many public and private organizations. Biotech candidates have the opportunity to do research as well as employment opportunities in the fields of Pharma, Agriculture, Horticulture, Dairy and so on. Leading companies in the country such as Dabir, Ranbaxy, Hindustan Unilever, Dr. Reddy's Labs, Thapar Group, Indo- American Hybrid Seeds, Bikon India Limited, IDPL, Hindustan Antibiotics, etc,. In government Research Centers, jobs are available with a monthly salary of upto Rs 15,000/.