Biotechnology

What is Biotechnology?A combination of two words

“Biology+Technology”Biology- Science of living organismsTechnology- Practical application of scientific

knowledgeTherefore, biotechnology is the use of

technology in the manipulation of living organisms to do practical things and provide useful products.

Ultimate aim of the subject is to exploit the potential that nature provides to benefit humankind.

Scope of Study

Biotechnology

Microbiology

Biochemistry

Food Technology

Genetics and Molecular

BiologyEnvironmental

Biotechnology

Plant Biotechnolo

gy

Animal Biotechnlog

y

IPR’ s

Bioinformatics

Microbiology•Study of living organisms at microscopic level (10-6m)•Includes study of bacteria, viruses, fungi, algae, protozoa.•Earliest talk of microbes was in teachings of Jainism. •Noted scientists: Leeuwenhoek, Louis Pasteur, Beijerinck.

Biochemistry•Study of chemical processes within and relating to living organisms.•Includes study of biomolecules such as carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids.•Study of processes such as respiration, metabolism, transcription and translation, and study of enzymes and their functioning.

Food Technology•Deals with food production processes.•Importance is increasing in the present day context with people diversifying their food habits and mushrooming of food processing industries.•Most important process includes fermentation (production of beverages, bakery products etc.), pickling and food preservation.•Recent developments: Milk powder, freeze drying, decaffeination.

Genetics•Science of genes, heredity and variation in living organisms.•Study of DNA•Important scientists: Mendel, Watson and Crick.•Deals with science of inheritance, genetic disorders, mutations, recombination genetics, DNA sequencing and fingerprinting, etc.•Also helpful in evolutionary studies

Environmental Biotechnology•Application of biotechnology processes for benefit of environment.•Also used to harness biological processes for commercial uses and expolitation.•Eg: Biogas digesters, bioremediation, waste water treatment, environmental clean-up , bio-fertilizers, bio-pesticides.

Plant Biotechnology•Use of biotechnology in agriculture and to improve plant productivity.•To identify causes of plant diseases and their curative measures.•Tissue culture•Genetic engineering in plants.•Developing resistance in plants against insects, drought, etc.•Improving nutrition value- Golden rice.

Animal Biotechnology•Use of biotechnological processes in animal health and productivity.•Animal tissue culture: research and preservation.•Vaccine production.•Bio-pharming.•Identification of diseases- causes and cure.

IPRs•Exclusive rights conferred upon creations of intellect.•Patents, trade secrets, copyrights, trademarks, industrial designs.•Aim: to honor and promote creativity and innovation, financial incentives and morality.

Bioinformatics•Develops and improves on methods for storing, retrieving, organizing and analyzing biological data. A major activity in bioinformatics is to develop software tools to generate useful biological knowledge•Sequence analysis, computational and evolutionary biology, analysis of gene regulation and expression, comparative genomics, protein structure prediction, etc.

Biotechnology in India1978: First biotech company BIOCON was

established at Bangalore dealing with industrial enzymes. Later on it progressed and expanded its scope into bio-therapeutics.

1981: Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) was established at Hyderabad dealing with rDNA technology. It is one of the most prestigious research institutions today.

1986: Department of Biotechnology (DBT) was established under the MoST. Since then gradual and regular progress has been made in the field.

SignificanceBiotech industry has grown three folds in past 5 years.

Therefore, provides for employment opportunities along with a significant contribution to GDP.

Industry has increased spending in R&DAttracts FDI, especially drugs and pharma sector.Indian biotech industry is ranked third in the Asia

Pacific region after Japan and Korea.Budgetary allocation has increased.Improvement in skilled manpower, infrastructure and

regional stock markets.Contribution to improvement in agriculture sector.

Government’s initiativesBIRAC(Biotech Industry Research Assistance Council)-

to increase participation between educational research and industry. Would also enable start-ups and SMEs

Biotech SEZsPPP projects between DBT and various industriesSmall Business Innovative Research Initiative (SBIRI)-

to fund early stage research by DBT.Biotech Industry Partnership Programme.Introduction of Biotech Bill in the Parliament for

setting up a regulatory authority to oversee the progress in the field and to carry out risk assessment of all biotech products.

Issue AreasIndian companies are unable to launch new products at

regular pace in domestic markets.Multiple regulatory bodies cause delay in clearance.Funding constraints Stiff competition from other economies such as China,

Korea and Singapore.Lack of infrastructure.Research is not upto the level of global standards.Lack of opportunities.Challenges in face of GM crops.Poor coordination between educational research and

industrial needs.

Biotech at PU, Chandigarh1989: Biotech was introduced as a ‘Centre’.1994: On receiving financial aid from UGC and DBT, the ‘Centre’

was upgraded to the level of a full fledged department.1996 onwards: Many projects have been awarded to the

department by DBT, DST, UGC, ICMR, and CSIR.Current courses offered: BSc(HS), MSc(HS) and PhD.First university in NI to start with BSc(HS) course.Many students go abroad and many foreigner students come to

the campus for their higher education via the Cultural Exchange Program.

The department is served by a reputed faculty and boasts of well designed labs and state of the art equipments and infrastructure. A deaprtmental library has been establish to cater to the needs of the students as well as the teachers.

Job Opportunities

Job opportunitie

s

Teaching

Research

Pharma sectorFood

processing industry

Bioprocess industry

Agriculture sector

Setting up own project

Applications of Biotech•Diagnostics•Biomarkers•Forensics

Medical Biotechnolog

y

•Natural products as pharmaceuticals•Gene therapy•Cancer therapy•Vaccines

Therapeutics

•Crop yield•Reduced vulnerability of crops to environmental stresses•Increased nutritional qualities•Reduced dependence on fertilizers, pesticides and other agrochemicals•Production of novel substances in crop plants

Agriculture Biotechnolog

y

•Bio-remediation•Waste water treatment•Environmental clean-up•Reduced dependence on chemicals in agriculture

Environmental

Biotechnology

•Animal tissue culture•Bio-pharming•Vaccine production•Improving productivity•Cloning and regenerative medicine

Animal Biotechnolo

gy

•Improved processes of production•Decreased incidences of contamination•Better productivity of processes

Industrial Biotechnolo

gy