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:
• M.Sc. courses in general Biotechnology -- 19
• M.Sc. courses in Agricultural Biotechnology -- 03
• M.V.Sc. course in Animal Biotechnology -- 01
• M.Sc. course in Medical Biotechnology -- 01
• M.Sc. course in Marine Biotechnology -- 01
• 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.
