Biotechnology : Introduction
Bio-Technology is a research oriented science, a combination of Biology
and Technology. It covers a wide variety of subjects like Genetics, Biochemistry,
Microbiology, Immunology, Virology, Chemistry and Engineering and is also
concerned with many other subjects like Health and Medicine,
Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Cropping system and Crop Management,
Ecology, Cell Biology, Soil science and Soil Conservation, Bio-statistics,
Plant Physiology, Seed Technology etc. Bio-Technology is the use of living
things, especially cells and bacteria in industrial process.
There is a great scope in this field as the demand for biotechnologist
are growing in India as well as abroad.
There are many applications of biotechnology such as
developing various medicines, vaccines and diagnostics, increasing productivity,
improving energy production and conservation. Biotechnology's intervention
in the area of animal husbandry has improved animal breeding. It also
helps to improve the quality of seeds, insecticides and fertilizers. Environmental
biotechnology helps for pollution control and waste management.
Most of the information that has led to the emergence of biotechnology
in the present form has been generated during the last five decades. The
setting up of a separate Department of Biotechnology (DBT) (www.dbtindia.nic.in
) under the Ministry of Science and Technology in 1986 gave a new impetus
to the development of the field of modern biology and biotechnology in
India. More than 6000 biotechnologists of higher skill are required
in India as per the report from the Human Resource Development Ministry.
To overcome this vast requirement the department of Biotechnology (DBT)
has highlighted the need to set up a regulatory body for the maintenance
of standard education under the name of 'All- India Board of Biotechnology
Education and Training' under the AICTE .
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