Biotechnology is a relatively new discipline and is a branch of Biology. The simplest way to define biotechnology is that it harnesses biomolecular and cellular processes to develop technologies, ways, and means, and products to help in the improvement of our lives and the well-being of our planet. In fact, we have all used, are using, and will continue to use the biological processes of microorganisms. Biotechnology helps in making useful food products, such as bread and cheese and preserving dairy products. It utilises biological systems, living organisms, or parts of this to develop or create different products. One of the daily examples of how we use biotechnology is the process of brewing and baking bread. All this falls within the concept of biotechnology. In the earlier years, the main achievement in the field of biotechnology was the discovery of producing naturally occurring therapeutic molecules in larger quantities than those that could be derived from conventional sources such as plasma, animal organs, and human cadavers. Today, however, biotechnology researchers aim to discover the source or the root molecular causes of disease and to improve the science of healing precisely at that level. The study program combines topics that are drawn from other subjects like biology, chemistry, and mathematics. The main topics that are taught under this discipline include biochemistry, genomics, bioinformatics, and molecular biology.
Study Levels
The different study levels that are offered in this sub-discipline are:
B.Sc in Medical and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
B.Sc in Biotechnology and Food Engineering
B.Sc in Biotechnology
B.Sc in Applied Biology with Biotechnology
B.Sc in Chemical Biotechnology
B.Sc in Chemistry and Biotechnology
B.Sc in Applied Life Sciences with Biotechnology
B.Sc in Biology and Biotechnology
Bachelor of Biotechnology Industry
B.Sc in Biological Engineering
M.Sc in Biomolecular Sciences
M.Sc Biotechnology and Bioinformatics
Master of Engineering in Regulatory Biomedical Engineering
M.Sc Medical and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
M.Sc Biotechnology
M.Sc Food Biotechnology
M.Sc Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology
M.Sc in Chemistry and Biotechnology
M.Sc Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
M.Sc Biomedical Engineering
M.Sc in Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology
M.Sc Marine Biotechnology
M.Sc Plant and Forest Biotechnology
M.Sc Biomechanics
PhD
Specialisations
Biotechnology is a vast discipline and branches out into further specifications. The process of biotechnology is used in various industries.
The different specialisations that can be found are:
Students can choose to specialize in areas like:
Food Chemistry
Microbial Biotechnology
Biopolymers and Biomaterials
Analysis and Control of Microbial Systems
Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology
Medical Biotechnology
Environmental Biotechnology
Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
Plant Biotechnology
Bioinformatics
Employability
Biotechnology circles around the idea of using biological systems like animals, genes, and plants to develop or design new products. The outcome it aims for is to help in addressing many problems across many industries. It is a very broad discipline therefore; graduates with a degree in Biotechnology have access to several career options across various fields.
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- The various career choices include:
Clinical Laboratory Technician
Biological Supplier Manufacturing
Environmental Technician
Food Safety Mechanism
Pharmaceutical Research Technician
Medical Scientist
Chemical Engineer
Biological Technician
Chemical Technician
Greenhouse or Field Technician
Laboratory Assistant
Genomics Technician
Molecular Biology Technician
Plant tissue Culture Technician
Research Associate
Lecturer
Trainer
Research Investigator
Quality Manager
Food Technologist
Regulatory Affairs Officer
Technical Brewer
Nutritional Therapist
Product Development Scientist
^
- The various career choices include:
Clinical Laboratory Technician
Biological Supplier Manufacturing
Environmental Technician
Food Safety Mechanism
Pharmaceutical Research Technician
Medical Scientist
Chemical Engineer
Biological Technician
Chemical Technician
Greenhouse or Field Technician
Laboratory Assistant
Genomics Technician
Molecular Biology Technician
Plant tissue Culture Technician
Research Associate
Lecturer
Trainer
Research Investigator
Quality Manager
Food Technologist
Regulatory Affairs Officer
Technical Brewer
Nutritional Therapist
Product Development Scientist