Biotechnology
often referred to as ‘biotech’, is a broader concept of biology which develops products involving living systems and organisms. Though humankind has already been using biotechnology for more than a thousand years in agriculture, food, and medicines, the subject explored new diversities in the late 20th and early 21st century in the fields of genomics, immunology, pharmaceutical therapies, and diagnostic tests. Along with its expanding versatility in numerous fields of science, biotechnology has emerged out as one of the most sought after career options for students. As biotechnology has applications in many industries apart from biology and chemistry, students can explore their talents in a variety of organizations such as government agencies, private companies, regulatory bodies, and clinical laboratories. From small start-ups to global pharmaceutical leaders, biotechnology provides a much wider range of career options such as biomedical engineer, biochemist, medical scientist, microbiologist, biomanufacturing specialists and many more.
Proving its efficiency in many sectors biotechnology is rightfully considered as the ‘Science of Future’, as due to its increasing demand and popularity it will never go out of trend. Some of the major areas where biotechnology is proving its significance while soaring to new heights are:
- Food and Agriculture Sector: Agricultural biotechnology allows farmers to produce more in less-than-adequate growing conditions with drought and flood-resistant crops. It not only encourages farmers to use minimum pesticides by making the crop insect resistant but also reduces a significant amount of water and fuel consumption. Advances in biotechnology may come up with certain foods that are nutritionally-enriched and longer-lasting with lower levels of certain naturally occurring toxicants present in some food plants.
- Field of Medicine and Healthcare: In this field, biotechnology is benefiting over more than 350 million patients worldwide, preventing chronic illnesses as biotechnology is accounted for 20% of marketed medicines. Biotechnology also aids in the designing of drugs with greater potency, fewer side effects along with a reduction in risks of contamination. As one of its major acomplishments, it is acing in the field of genetic testing to minimize the chances of inheritable diseases by the children from parents. Biotechnology is also continuing to prove its worth in the field of metabolic engineering and synthetic biology as well, by combining the concepts of engineering along with biology. With a determination to find a cure for dreadful diseases like Cancer, Alzheimer and HIV AIDS biotechnology is getting one step closer to its success with each passing day.
- Industrial Biotechnology: It is the concept of application of biotechnology for industrial purposes like industrial fermentation in which microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi are used to manufacture products essential for human beings. The very concept is applicable to industrially manufacture different products such as chemicals, detergents, textiles, food and feed and papers. By using renewable raw materials to create a range of chemicals and fuels, industrial biotechnology is also contributing towards the environment by lowering greenhouse gas emissions.
- Environmental Biotechnology: It is a branch of biotechnology which intends to eradicate environmental problems like removal of pollution and renewable energy generation or biomass production. Environmental biotechnology is the optimal use of nature like plants, animals, bacteria, algae, and fungi to produce renewable energy, food, and nutrients. It is also being used for benefit of the environment by cleaning up a massive oil spill or hazardous chemical leak.
While these are the major sectors in which we can segregate the concept of biotechnology for a better understanding, this subject provides wide resourcefulness, which is still in the need for exploration. An amazing hybrid of biology, chemistry, and technology - biotechnology stands unique as a field of study and exponentially gaining popularity among the students as a career perspective.
