Biotechnology is a broad area of biology, which is used to improve the quality of life along with various other techniques applied to modify products, particularly for human use. Biotechnology is also known as biological technology.
Biotechnology is the branch of science having a wide variety of careers, including the industrial sector such as textiles industry, food and beverage industry, medicines and pharmaceuticals, chemical industries, nutrition, agriculture, animal husbandry, and environmental conservation.
Scope of Biotechnology
As discussed earlier, Biotechnology is one of the emerging career fields in today’s market. Biotechnology scope both in India and abroad is enormous because it is an innovative branch of science that has become popular among youngsters and offers opportunities in the field of both research and development.
Let us go through the scope and career prospects available for the biotechnology students at all levels.
Agricultural Biotechnology
Biotechnologists have a significant role in this sector. Here, professionals are focused on developing genetically improved crops for producing a higher yield and disease-resistant crops. Along with this, bio-fertilizers, biocontrol Agents and other organic farming techniques to avoid and replace the use of the harmful effects of chemical fertilizers on the crops.
Environmental Biotechnologist
This is an important sector as it mainly deals with finding the solutions for different environmental issues, including global warming, pollution, wastes management, and other safety measures to control these issues. Those candidates who are more passionate about environmental and ecosystem can choose this field as their career. These professionals are mainly involved in creating bio plants including, bioplastics, biofuels and other bioremediation techniques to clean up the environment from pollutants and other hazardous wastes.
Food processing industries
Biotechnology plays a vital role in this field dedicated to improving the quality of food. Here the biotechnology professionals are mainly involved in the production, maintenance and checking the quality of the product and to perform the analysis of all the ingredients to ensure everything is functioning according to the specifications. The food processing industry is one of the largest industries in India
Medical and Health Sciences
Biotechnology professionals play a strategic role in this field and are mainly dedicated to improving the quality of life of humans around the globe. Here biotechnologists are involved in improving diagnostic procedures, the discovery of different and innovative medical therapies for several disease prevention along with its cure.
The drug, pharmaceutical research, and biochemical industries
Selected aspirants are in charge of developing new tools and other advanced techniques that better the lives of patients. Here technicians are mainly involved in laboratory research, inspecting the chemical composition of the drugs, and other preliminary tests. In these industries, the candidates are selected based on their experience, their level of graduation along with good knowledge in all biochemistry techniques including protein enzyme assays, chromatography centrifugation, etc.
An education in biotechnology can set you up for a wide variety of careers, including marketing, management, laboratory science, medicals, research centres, etc.
As enzymes are distinct biological catalysts, they are the most beneficial therapeutic agents for the treatment of metabolic diseases. Apart from the medical uses, these enzymes are widely used as a catalyst in all biological processes. Therefore, an aspirant should be thorough about what are enzymes, their classification, structures, functions, Cofactors, their mechanisms and about all other biotechnology terminologies.
Apart from all these career options, aspirants can also begin their profession as the research scientists by conducting research on the theory of evolution, food processing, bio-processing industries, clinical research associate, geneticist, etc.
This was a brief introduction to the Biotechnology and top few career options. To learn more about the Biotechnology, career prospects and Biotechnology scope, and other related topics, visit us at BYJU’S BIOLOGY and also learn more by watching Biology related videos by subscribing to the BYJU’S YouTube Channel.