Biotechnology in its simplest sense would mean using the biological systems to develop technologies useful to man which in turn means process development and manufacture of valuable products employing biological systems.
Biotechnology combines the use of biology andchemistry to develop products that improve the overall quality of human life.
Biotechnology courses are presently oriented towards educating the younger generation of students in the advances made in the field of genetic engineering and recombinant DNA technology and the emphasis is largely on the details of the techniques applied in these studies.
In India, there are currently more than twenty five universities offering M Sc in Biotechnology while at least half a dozen courses inagricultural biotechnology, a couple of marine biotechnology and sundry medical biotechnology courses are also offered.
Biotechnology graduates are qualified to work in many fields within the biotechnology industry, including pharmaceutical, manufacturing, medical, industrial products, bio-instrumentation and agriculture.
Biotechnology has extraordinary potential to improve the health andwell-being of people in the developing world.
Biotechnology in industry employs the techniques of modern molecular biology to reduce theenvironmental impact of manufacturing.
It no doubt isimproving 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.
Techniques of biotechnology are used in agriculture, industrial applications, forensics, manufacturing and other industries.
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.
Environmental biotechnology is the use of living organisms for a wide variety of applications in hazardous waste treatment and pollution control.
Industrial biotechnology also works to make manufacturing processes more efficient for industries such as textiles, paper and pulp, and specialty chemicals.
Another Area of study, called forensic biotechnology, uses a method called DNA fingerprinting.
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.
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.
You can find a List ofInstitutes offering Under Graduate Courses in Biotechnology.
Combined Biotechnology Entrance Examination is conducted by Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi for admission to postgraduate programmes in Biotechnology at around twenty universities.
The professional skills acquired in Biotechnology courses are applicable to the biotechnological sector especially therapeutic, cosmetic, pharmacological, diagnostic and food sectors.
The advantage of working within the biotechnology industry is that your work may have real significance in the daily lives of people everywhere.
So go ahead, you have a bright future here