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Biotechnology
Decoding
of the human genetic map is being acknowledged as the greatest
technological feat of the 21st century. US president, Bill
Clinton while hailing the discovery, was quoted saying "Today, we are
learning the language that allowed God to create life”! The scientists
working mainly in the area of Biotechnology and its related fields made
this scientific feat attainable.
Biotechnology
is an interdisciplinary science, which encompasses the study of biology,
physics, chemistry, mathematics and engineering. It is a fast growing
field that finds application in every aspect of industrial and daily life
from chemical, pharmaceutical and textile industries to genetics and
agriculture. Its related fields are Biochemistry, Microbiology and Genetic
Engineering. The Confederation of Indian Industry in its latest report on
biotechnology in India says the market has increased five fold since 1997
and is presently estimated at Rs 11,500 crore. The report has projected
that the market would touch Rs 20,700 crore by 2010. The industry that
presently employs around 10,000 people is also estimated to double by the
end of 2001.
Government
of India set up the Department of Biotechnology under Ministry of Science
and Technology in 1986 to give impetus to the development of modern
biology and biotechnology in India. The department has done appreciable
work in the area and made significant achievements in the growth and
application of biotechnology in the broad areas of agriculture, health
care, animal sciences, environment, and industry.
Educational
Qualification:
Candidates
having a background in science at the 10+2 level are eligible for the B.Tech
course in biotechnology as well as the integrated M.Tech program at
IIT Delhi. Graduates in all sciences/engineering technology/medicine are
eligible for the post-graduate course in biotechnology. Admission to the
integrated five year M.Tech program offered by IIT Delhi and Kharagpur is
through the Joint Entrance Exam (JEE). The Jawaharlal Nehru University,
New Delhi, also offers integrated M.Tech course.
In
order to meet the long-term requirement of trained personnel in the
multidisciplinary field of biotechnology, Department of Biotechnology also
supports courses at postgraduate level in selected universities/
institutions. The courses and the number of places they are being run are:
v
M.Sc. courses in general Biotechnology
-- 19
v
M.Sc. courses in Agricultural Biotechnology
-- 03
v
M.V.Sc. course in Animal Biotechnology
-- 01
v
M.Sc. course in Medical Biotechnology
-- 01
v
M.Sc. course in Marine Biotechnology
-- 01
v
M.Tech/M.Sc. (Tech.) in Biochemical Engineering
Bioprocess
Technology and Biotechnology
--05
In
addition, DBT also supports two-year post-doctoral programs in four
leading research institutions with the objective of training young
scientists in frontier research areas of biotechnology and in advanced
research methodologies. One year post MD/MS training course in
medical biotechnology covering areas like vaccines, therapeutic hormones
and enzymes, immuno-diagnostics, gene therapy etc. is also supported
by DBT in two institutions. The total intake of students to these courses
is around 400 per year.