Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Career in Patents
Human intellect is the most important resource and intellectual property rights seek to protect innovation and ensure that unventor/author reserves rights of utility of his/her product. Patents is one of the branches of IPR which confer rights over an invention.
This field offer diverse career options like a legal career in IPR. There are 3 options in the legal field concerning IPR, viz working in a law firm, a legal process outsourcing firm or a corporate house. Specialization can also be done pertaining to particular aspect of IPR like pharmaceuticals, softwares, etc.
Another option available is to start off with the Govt. as a patent agent. After gaining some experience as a patent agent one may shift to a corporate house. In the case of Indian patent agent, a degree in Science, Engg., or Technology from any university in India is a pre-requisite.
There are courses in IPR and professionals having specialization have an edge over others. Rajiv Gandhi School of Intellectual Property Law offers LLB program in IPR. Diploma courses through distance education are offered by NLSIU, NALSAR, Amity Law School, IGNOU, etc. The confederation of Indian Industries offer IPCAP (a certificate course) and Global School of Intellectual Property offers PG Diploma, a full-time certificate course and an executive PG program.
Another option available is to start off with the Govt. as a patent agent. After gaining some experience as a patent agent one may shift to a corporate house. In the case of Indian patent agent, a degree in Science, Engg., or Technology from any university in India is a pre-requisite.
There are courses in IPR and professionals having specialization have an edge over others. Rajiv Gandhi School of Intellectual Property Law offers LLB program in IPR. Diploma courses through distance education are offered by NLSIU, NALSAR, Amity Law School, IGNOU, etc. The confederation of Indian Industries offer IPCAP (a certificate course) and Global School of Intellectual Property offers PG Diploma, a full-time certificate course and an executive PG program.
Career Prospects in Biotechnology after Doctorate
Professor and readers: A full fledged doctor is usually given higher positions in the colleges and universities, this is also very respectful job and involves giving lectures to students and helping to shape their career. Source: http://biotechspectrum.blogspot.com/
Scientists: this post is present both in Govt research institutes and private companies for carrying out research and development, discovering new procedures, species drugs etc for the benefit of mankind, also to get patents for their work which gives them a right to get paid for their discovered products, many companies are also indulged in this field and offers best packages to their R and d personell eg. Ranbaxy, Biocon etc.
Scientists: this post is present both in Govt research institutes and private companies for carrying out research and development, discovering new procedures, species drugs etc for the benefit of mankind, also to get patents for their work which gives them a right to get paid for their discovered products, many companies are also indulged in this field and offers best packages to their R and d personell eg. Ranbaxy, Biocon etc.
They can work in any field from biochemical procedures to stem cell research and cancer and aids treatment research etc. There is a huge demand of India scientist worldwide.this position is present for all field including Pharma, clinical research, Bioorganics etc.
Various field include
Drug Discovery - These scientists often havea backgrounds of molecular biology, cell biology, and exposure to today's hot biotech technologies like gene therapy or antisense.
Receptor Biology – it includes post of Receptor Biochemists, Molecular Biologists with experience in receptors and their ligands, and Cell Biologists with experience in G protein-coupled receptors.
Cell Biology - New fields of research in the cell therapy and tissue engineering sectors combine with the continuing need for mammalian cells as a production system for proteins. Cells are the engines and brains of many processes, and the biologist who understands these new frontiers is on the cutting edge of the job market. Source: http://biotechspectrum.blogspot.com/
Bioinformatics – this include work in Structural biology, genome annotations like that of human genome project ,computational chemistry, mathematics used in modeling complex structures or processes, biocomputational specialists may learn to make simpler molecules that produce the same end results
Bioanalytical Chemistry – For those who develop and validate the critical assays needed by both R & D and clinical manufacturing.
Formulations and Drug Delivery - Another career for both chemists and engineers are. Having a Ph.D. Pharmaceutical Chemist or Biochemist with experience in formulation chemistry and/or drug delivery technologies (i.e. controlled release) this is relatively new and not much exploited so have more openings for deserving candidates.
Clinical Research – a very promising field where in a good job a guaranteed in any clinical research company.
Bioprocess Engineering – Like fermentation products, bioactive foods biochemicals, biopesticides, enzymes, etc. This has growing daily needs in the market.
Various field include
Drug Discovery - These scientists often havea backgrounds of molecular biology, cell biology, and exposure to today's hot biotech technologies like gene therapy or antisense.
Receptor Biology – it includes post of Receptor Biochemists, Molecular Biologists with experience in receptors and their ligands, and Cell Biologists with experience in G protein-coupled receptors.
Cell Biology - New fields of research in the cell therapy and tissue engineering sectors combine with the continuing need for mammalian cells as a production system for proteins. Cells are the engines and brains of many processes, and the biologist who understands these new frontiers is on the cutting edge of the job market. Source: http://biotechspectrum.blogspot.com/
Bioinformatics – this include work in Structural biology, genome annotations like that of human genome project ,computational chemistry, mathematics used in modeling complex structures or processes, biocomputational specialists may learn to make simpler molecules that produce the same end results
Bioanalytical Chemistry – For those who develop and validate the critical assays needed by both R & D and clinical manufacturing.
Formulations and Drug Delivery - Another career for both chemists and engineers are. Having a Ph.D. Pharmaceutical Chemist or Biochemist with experience in formulation chemistry and/or drug delivery technologies (i.e. controlled release) this is relatively new and not much exploited so have more openings for deserving candidates.
Clinical Research – a very promising field where in a good job a guaranteed in any clinical research company.
Bioprocess Engineering – Like fermentation products, bioactive foods biochemicals, biopesticides, enzymes, etc. This has growing daily needs in the market.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Career Prospects in Biotechnology after Post-Graduation
After Post Graduation in Biotechnology students generally go for PhD through NET, GATE, JRFs or MBA for establishing themselves in business industry.
After M.Sc. in Biotechnology students are hired to work as project assistants at research institute or research fellows, they are generally paid from 8000-15,000 in govt. Institutes. Here they are required to assist and work on a particular project this makes them gain experience and move ahead in research field.
In corporate sector student with higher capabilities are selected for deserving positions e.g. Biocon .These companies also do campus recruitment where students get a better chance to demonstrate their skills.
Various positions for postgraduates are
Research assistants is responsible for carrying out the research projects ,it involves working out the plan of project carrying out experiments ,ordering research materials ,results interpretation etc .
Quality control engineer has to develop, apply, revise, and maintain quality standards for processing materials into partially finished or finished products. Helps in designing and implementing methods and procedures for inspecting, testing, and evaluating the precision and accuracy of products and prepares documentation for inspection testing procedures.
Clinical programmer: is required to coordinate and monitor the tasks in the laboratories ,implementing data management plans designed to meet project and protocol deadlines, and consults in the design and development of clinical trials, protocols, and case report forms, analyzes and evaluation of clinical data, recognizes inconsistencies, and initiates the resolution of data problems.
Biochemical Development Engineer has to carry out design and scale-up of processes, manage instruments and equipment from the laboratory through the pilot plant and manufacturing process.
Assists the manufacturing operations in problem solving with regards to equipment and systems and participates in the design and start-up of new manufacturing facilities and equipment. Develops and recommends new process formulas and technologies to achieve cost effectiveness and product quality.
Lectureships and assistant professorship ,these position grant a easy life and simple teaching job which is clean and respectful job, these position can be seen in all the major universities ,colleges and even private tuition centres ,these pay more and require less work input.
Research assistants is responsible for carrying out the research projects ,it involves working out the plan of project carrying out experiments ,ordering research materials ,results interpretation etc .
Quality control engineer has to develop, apply, revise, and maintain quality standards for processing materials into partially finished or finished products. Helps in designing and implementing methods and procedures for inspecting, testing, and evaluating the precision and accuracy of products and prepares documentation for inspection testing procedures.
Clinical programmer: is required to coordinate and monitor the tasks in the laboratories ,implementing data management plans designed to meet project and protocol deadlines, and consults in the design and development of clinical trials, protocols, and case report forms, analyzes and evaluation of clinical data, recognizes inconsistencies, and initiates the resolution of data problems.
Biochemical Development Engineer has to carry out design and scale-up of processes, manage instruments and equipment from the laboratory through the pilot plant and manufacturing process.
Assists the manufacturing operations in problem solving with regards to equipment and systems and participates in the design and start-up of new manufacturing facilities and equipment. Develops and recommends new process formulas and technologies to achieve cost effectiveness and product quality.
Lectureships and assistant professorship ,these position grant a easy life and simple teaching job which is clean and respectful job, these position can be seen in all the major universities ,colleges and even private tuition centres ,these pay more and require less work input.
Career Prospects in Biotechnology after Graduation
After a B.Tech or a B.Sc. in Biotechnology there are various opportunities for students in India. You can either go for higher studies like M.tech, M.Sc. or Ph.D degrees for improving your skills and up gradation of your degree or you can go for jobs in the Biotech companies, Research institutes, Pharma companies, even universities and colleges. Source: http://biotechspectrum.blogspot.com/
Media technician performs experiments as required and outlined, and develops and maintains record keeping for procedures and experiments performed.
There is a big scope in sales dept of biotech companies making tools and machines for research, these companies’ hire graduates for their marketing and sales. Here salary ranges from 5-15 thousand.
In research institutes Bachelors can go for Lab technicians, who have to keep an inventory of products and supplies, making observation, analyzing data and result interpretation.
Media technician performs experiments as required and outlined, and develops and maintains record keeping for procedures and experiments performed.
Green house assistant helps in determining optimal cultural requirements and perform tasks related to disease and pest prevention; they often are required to collect, record, and analyze data, as well as interpret result. Source: http://biotechspectrum.blogspot.com/
Plant breeders: work in labs performing mating mechanisms in plants and helps in developing new varieties.
Quality control analyst at pharma companies are used to test the diagnostic kits for their functioning checking expiry dates and quality of results of a lot of supplies test can be immunological where handling of blood serum samples is done, ELISA etc are also used
Environmental Health and Safety Specialist has to develop plan and implement industrial safety procedures within a company.
Clinical data specialist is required to design implement and test clinical data studies, making records and statistical reports etc
Clinical coordinator, one who supervises all the lab activities, and arrange meeting and prepare other schedules needed for functioning of labs. The clinical coordinator is responsible for project staffing requirements and tracking drug supply to outside vendors, as well as providing ongoing, objective updates on progress and problems with projects, tracking and following up on action items.
Various veterinary research institutes employ animal handler. Technicians and laboratory assistants for their work Eg. at India veterinary research institute, Izzatnagar UP.
Source: http://biotechspectrum.blogspot.com/
Source: http://biotechspectrum.blogspot.com/
Friday, January 27, 2012
Biotech Companies
Top Ten Biotech companies of India to work with
- Panacea Biotech
- Biocon
- Serum Institute of India
- Eli Lilly
- Avesthagen
- Dr. Reddy's
- Ranbaxy India Ltd
- Sisco Research Labs
- Reliance Life Sciences
- Monsanto Seeds
Biotech Companies
Laser Beams Detect Blood Glucose In Early Experiments !!
For millions of people with diabetes, daily finger pricking with needles in order to get a measurement of their blood glucose is an accepted, but unpleasant, part of their lifestyles. Though physicists have been trying to come up with laser beam technology that effectively substitutes for the needle, the accomplishment has evaded them for the past 20 years. Now, physicists at the University of Toronto (UT) have found a way to get around the most prickly problem with using a laser beam….
The prickly stickler is that a single beam picks up more than just blood. It also picks up elements that hang out in the blood, like water, which makes up most of blood’s volume. But water soaks up the mid-infrared light that is used, just as blood does, and the two elements cannot be separated.
The UT physicists, however, came up with the brilliant idea of using two infrared lights with slightly different wavelengths – one which is absorbed by water and glucose, the other only by water. Both beams strike the glucose, but the beams cancel out each other, and the absorbed water produces enough heat that only the glucose is spotlighted.Source: http://biotechspectrum.blogspot.com/
Though the technique has not been tested on humans, it has been successfully tested on human blood serum. and it has been found to be sensitive to very small amounts of blood. Though critics note that the laser technique still has a long way to go to prove itself as a substitute for the needle, this two beam technique is a big step.Source: http://biotechspectrum.blogspot.com/
Stem Cell treatment - Overview of Procedure
This animation describes how stem cells from the patient's abdominal fat are used to treat various diseases, such as MS, ALS, Stroke, Diabetes, Lung Disease, Heart Disease, Othropedic, etc.
Missing Sixth sense? Did you know our ancestors had it !
A study in the Oct. 11 issue of Nature Communications that caps more than 25 years of work finds that the vast majority of vertebrates – some 30,000 species of land animals (including humans) and a roughly equal number of ray-finned fishes – descended from a common ancestor that had a well-developed electroreceptive system.
Source: http://biotechspectrum.blogspot.com
This ancestor was probably a predatory marine fish with good eyesight, jaws and teeth and a lateral line system for detecting water movements, visible as a stripe along the flank of most fishes. It lived around 500 million years ago. The vast majority of the approximately 65,000 living vertebrate species are its descendants.
Source: http://biotechspectrum.blogspot.com
“This study caps questions in developmental and evolutionary biology, popularly called ‘evo-devo,’ that I’ve been interested in for 35 years,” said Willy Bemis, Cornell professor of ecology and evolutionary biology and a senior author of the paper. Melinda Modrell, a neuroscientist at the University of Cambridge who did the molecular analysis, is the paper’s lead author.
Hundreds of millions of years ago, there was a major split in the evolutionary tree of vertebrates. One lineage led to the ray-finned fishes, or actinopterygians, and the other to lobe-finned fishes, or sarcopterygians; the latter gave rise to land vertebrates, Bemis explained. Some land vertebrates, including such salamanders as the Mexican axolotl, have electroreception and, until now, offered the best-studied model for early development of this sensory system. As part of changes related to terrestrial life, the lineage leading to reptiles, birds and mammals lost electrosense as well as the lateral line.
Some ray-finned fishes – including paddlefishes and sturgeons – retained these receptors in the skin of their heads. With as many as 70,000 electroreceptors in its paddle-shaped snout and skin of the head, the North American paddlefish has the most extensive electrosensory array of any living animal, Bemis said.
Source: http://biotechspectrum.blogspot.com
Until now, it was unclear whether these organs in different groups were evolutionarily and developmentally the same.
Using the Mexican axolotl as a model to represent the evolutionary lineage leading to land animals, and paddlefish as a model for the branch leading to ray-finned fishes, the researchers found that electrosensors develop in precisely the same pattern from the same embryonic tissue in the developing skin, confirming that this is an ancient sensory system.
The researchers also found that the electrosensory organs develop immediately adjacent to the lateral line, providing compelling evidence “that these two sensory systems share a common evolutionary heritage,” said Bemis.
Researchers can now build a picture of what the common ancestor of these two lineages looked like and better link the sensory worlds of living and fossil animals, Bemis said.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Interactive 3D DNA
DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the molecule that contains the genetic code of organisms. The main role of DNA molecules is the long-term storage of information. DNA is often compared to a set of blueprints, like a recipe or a code, since it contains the instructions needed to construct other components of cells, such as proteins and RNA molecules. In this activity you will have a chance to identify the basic structures of a DNA molecule. You will also have a chance to test your memory and try to beat the clock in the labeling activity. Finally, you will be able to watch the DNA unravel and separate into single strands and then practice DNA replication, transcription and translation though a matching exercise.
The Exploding New Field
BIOINFORMATICS..... The lethal combination
Bioinformatics is the latest new discipline of Bioscience which merges Biology, Computer Science, Mathematics & Statistics with forecasting and modeling capacity. The science of Bioinformatics is essential to the use of genomic information to understand human diseases & to identify new molecular target for drug discovery.Source: http://biotechspectrum.blogspot.com
Its vertical growth is the result of vast pool of talents available in Computers as well as Bioscience in India.
Bio-informatics is the recording, annotation, storage, analysis, and searching/retrieval of nucleic acid sequence (genes and RNAs), protein sequence and structural information. This includes databases of the sequences and structural information as well methods to access, search, visualize and retrieve the information. Bio-informatics is the field of science in which biology, computer science, and information technology merge into a single discipline. The ultimate goal of the field is to enable the discovery of new biological insights as well as to create a global perspective from which unifying principles in biology can be discerned. In the last few decades, advances in molecular biology and the equipment available for research in this field have allowed the increasingly rapid sequencing of large portions of the genomes of several species. Popular sequence databases, such as GenBank and EMBL, have been growing at exponential rates. This deluge of information has necessitated the careful storage, organization and indexing of sequence information. Information science has been applied to biology to produce the field called bio-informatics.
Why is it hot?
Its upright growth is an outcome of its vast application in the field of Genomics Proteomics and Drug design. To reduce the time expense and man power Bioinformatics can increase efficiency for solving biological problem.
Its upright growth is an outcome of its vast application in the field of Genomics Proteomics and Drug design. To reduce the time expense and man power Bioinformatics can increase efficiency for solving biological problem.
CAREER PROSPECTS Source:
http://biotechspectrum.blogspot.com
With Indian economy developing according to the world pace & Clinical Research works flowing in India, large Bioinformatics R&D divisions are set up by many Pharma, IT & Biotech companies especially in Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai & Delhi. More than 300 companies are functional in various activities such as Biodiversity & Environment, Cloning of higher animals such as Dolly & Polly. Tissue Culture, Pharmacogenomics, Pharmacology, Computational Chemistry, Plants Cloning & Simulations in Drug Discovery. IT majors such as Reliance Bioscience, Accerly's, Schrodinger, Johnson & Johnson, Astrageneca are also exploring this segment. More & more contract labs are being setup in India.
With Indian economy developing according to the world pace & Clinical Research works flowing in India, large Bioinformatics R&D divisions are set up by many Pharma, IT & Biotech companies especially in Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai & Delhi. More than 300 companies are functional in various activities such as Biodiversity & Environment, Cloning of higher animals such as Dolly & Polly. Tissue Culture, Pharmacogenomics, Pharmacology, Computational Chemistry, Plants Cloning & Simulations in Drug Discovery. IT majors such as Reliance Bioscience, Accerly's, Schrodinger, Johnson & Johnson, Astrageneca are also exploring this segment. More & more contract labs are being setup in India.
Sequence data can be used to make predictions of the functions of newly identified genes, estimate evolutionary distance in phylogeny reconstruction, determine the active sites of enzymes, construct novel mutations and characterize alleles of genetic diseases to name just a few uses. Sequence data facilitates analysis of the organization of genes and genomes and their evolution, protein sequence can be predicted from DNA sequence which further facilitates possible prediction of protein properties, structure, and function (proteins rarely sequenced in entirety today), identification of regulatory elements in genes or RNAs, identification of mutations that lead to disease, etc. The simplest tasks used in bio-informatics concern the creation and maintenance of databases of biological information. Nucleic acid sequences (and the protein sequences derived from them) comprise the majority of such databases. While the storage and organization of millions of nucleotides is far from trivial, designing a database and developing an interface whereby researchers can both access existing information and submit new entries is only the beginning.
Source: http://biotechspectrum.blogspot.com
INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS
Pharmaceutical Industries
Proteomics
Genomics
Toxicology
Database Management
Biosocial Chemical software development
Life Science Industries
Combinatorial Libraries
Enzyme Production
Toxicoinformatics
INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS
Pharmaceutical Industries
Proteomics
Genomics
Toxicology
Database Management
Biosocial Chemical software development
Life Science Industries
Combinatorial Libraries
Enzyme Production
Toxicoinformatics
Source: http://biotechspectrum.blogspot.com
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
Drug Design
Pharmacophore mapping
Homology Modeling
QSAR
Gene Mapping
Sequence Analysis
High Throughput Screening
Biostatistics
Computational biology
Micro Array Techniques
Pharmacogenetics
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
Drug Design
Pharmacophore mapping
Homology Modeling
QSAR
Gene Mapping
Sequence Analysis
High Throughput Screening
Biostatistics
Computational biology
Micro Array Techniques
Pharmacogenetics
The Engineering of God
GENETIC ENGINEERING
Genes are responsible for all the favorable or unfavorable features in all living creatures. Now we have the ability to transform genes of any organism for our welfare. Yes, man may become next to God by developing the capacity to change nature according to his requirement. If put to right use genetic engineering has marvelous career opportunities. Edible products have increased a hundred times with the devices of genetic engineering through crop plants. Agro Genetics itself is providing lakhs of prestigious jobs for scholars of this field. Source: http://biotechspectrum.blogspot.com
Genetic engineering has brought a great revolution in dairy industry, fisheries, poultry and food processing industry. It is like a dream come true when we develop a desiredcharacter in an organism successfully.
These days vaccines produced from genetically modified bacteria have become the fastest growing industry.
Production of cheese with delicious flavors, wine of different tastes, everything requires genetically engineered microbes.
Genetic engineering is an ocean of opportunities.
Source: http://biotechspectrum.blogspot.com
INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION
Pharmaceutical Industries
Food Industries
Agriculture Industries
Seed Technologies
Medical Industries
Cloning Higher Animals
INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION
Pharmaceutical Industries
Food Industries
Agriculture Industries
Seed Technologies
Medical Industries
Cloning Higher Animals
Source: http://biotechspectrum.blogspot.com
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
Recombinant DNA Technology
Genetic Engineering
Cloning
Genetic Erosion
Human Genetic Engineering
Genetically Engineered Organism (GEO)
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
Recombinant DNA Technology
Genetic Engineering
Cloning
Genetic Erosion
Human Genetic Engineering
Genetically Engineered Organism (GEO)
M.Sc Biotechnology Universities
DBT Sponsored Universities for M.Sc Biotechnology
M.Sc. (Biotechnology) Programme:
1. University of Allahabad, Allahabad
2. Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu (M.Sc. in Marine Biotechnology)
3. Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University, Rajouri (J&K) (M.Sc. in Bioresources Biotechnology)
4. Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi
5. University of Burdwan, Burdwan
6. University of Calicut, Kerala
7. Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, Indore
8. Goa University, Goa (M.Sc. in Marine Biotechnology)
9. Gulbarga University, Gulbarga
10. Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology, Hisar
11. Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar
12. Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla
13. HNB Garhwal University, Garhwal
14. University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad
15. University of Jammu, Jammu
16. Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
17. Kumaun University, Nainital
18. University of Lucknow, Lucknow
19. Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai
20. Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak (M.Sc. in Medical Biotechnology)
21. M.S. University of Baroda, Vadodara
22. University of Mysore, Mysore
23. University of North Bengal, Siliguri
24. Pondicherry University, Pondicherry
25. University of Pune, Pune
26. R.T.M. Nagpur University, Nagpur
27. Sardar Patel University, Gujarat (M.Sc. in Industrial Biotechnology)
28. Tezpur University, Tezpur (Assam) (M.Sc. in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology)
29. T.M. Bhagalpur University, Bhagalpur
30. Utkal University, Bhubaneswar
31. Veer Bahadur Singh Purvanchal University, Jaunpur
32. Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan
Biotechnology is a multidisciplinary area on the educational scene and programmes have been developed to meet the growing demand for trained manpower for any meaningful BIOTECHNOLOGY activity in the country. The programmes are designed to expose the students to recent exciting developments in the area of genetic engineering and biotechnology and their exploitation in industry, agriculture and medicine.
Jawaharlal Nehru University will hold a Combined Entrance Examination for admission to 2-Year M.Sc. Programme in BIOTECHNOLOGY on behalf of following participating Universities:
M.Sc. (Biotechnology) Programme:
2. Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu (M.Sc. in Marine Biotechnology)
3. Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University, Rajouri (J&K) (M.Sc. in Bioresources Biotechnology)
4. Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi
5. University of Burdwan, Burdwan
6. University of Calicut, Kerala
7. Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, Indore
8. Goa University, Goa (M.Sc. in Marine Biotechnology)
9. Gulbarga University, Gulbarga
10. Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology, Hisar
11. Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar
12. Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla
13. HNB Garhwal University, Garhwal
14. University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad
15. University of Jammu, Jammu
16. Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
17. Kumaun University, Nainital
18. University of Lucknow, Lucknow
19. Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai
20. Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak (M.Sc. in Medical Biotechnology)
21. M.S. University of Baroda, Vadodara
22. University of Mysore, Mysore
23. University of North Bengal, Siliguri
24. Pondicherry University, Pondicherry
25. University of Pune, Pune
26. R.T.M. Nagpur University, Nagpur
27. Sardar Patel University, Gujarat (M.Sc. in Industrial Biotechnology)
28. Tezpur University, Tezpur (Assam) (M.Sc. in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology)
29. T.M. Bhagalpur University, Bhagalpur
30. Utkal University, Bhubaneswar
31. Veer Bahadur Singh Purvanchal University, Jaunpur
32. Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan
Eligibility:
Bachelor's degree under 10+2+3 pattern of education in
Physical, Biological, Agricultural, Veterinary & Fishery Sciences, Pharmacy, Engineering/Technology, 4-Years B.S. (Physician Assistant Course); OR Medicine (MBBS) OR BDS with at least 55% marks.
Physical, Biological, Agricultural, Veterinary & Fishery Sciences, Pharmacy, Engineering/Technology, 4-Years B.S. (Physician Assistant Course); OR Medicine (MBBS) OR BDS with at least 55% marks.
Application Areas of Biotechnology
MEDICAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
Technology coupled with Biology has acted as a catalyst in research breakthroughs.
Drugs Design
Most Complex prime Research on diseases can be cured with the help of early warning system by decoding the DNA. Recent diseases such as Cancer, Alzheimer, AIDS or Diabetes are curable only with the use of Biotechnology.
Nanobiotechnology
Most Complex prime Research on diseases can be cured with the help of early warning system by decoding the DNA. Recent diseases such as Cancer, Alzheimer, AIDS or Diabetes are curable only with the use of Biotechnology.
Nanobiotechnology
An advance application of Biotechnology that aims to develop nanodrugs for targeted attack on diseases like Cancer, Alzheimer, etc.
Gene Therapy
Gene Therapy
Treatment of complex diseases at the molecular level enables its cure with the help of decoding the genomes and DNA patterns.
Stem Cell Research
Stem Cell Research
Stem cell is the hope for humanity to produce what till now only God had the power. It has led to successful cloning of animals and developed the technique for programming of cultured cells.
Biotechnology is used for treatment and pollution prevention from waste; using various techniques such as Bioremediation and using enzyme bioreactors. Oil Spills in oceans and waste of water in lakes and rivers is cleaned with the help of this technology.
INDUSTRIAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
Modern molecular biology is applied to improve the efficiency and reduce impacts of industries and breweries on the environment.
Source: http://biotechspectrum.blogspot.com
Modern molecular biology is applied to improve the efficiency and reduce impacts of industries and breweries on the environment.
Source: http://biotechspectrum.blogspot.com
AGRICULTURE & DAIRY BIOTECHNOLOGY
Biotechnology has brought green revolution and white revolution to India. BT cotton, BT Crops give better yield per acre with more nutritional value. Biotechnologists have achieved higher dairy productions. Tissue culture has given better plant quality.
Source: http://biotechspectrum.blogspot.com
Biotechnology has brought green revolution and white revolution to India. BT cotton, BT Crops give better yield per acre with more nutritional value. Biotechnologists have achieved higher dairy productions. Tissue culture has given better plant quality.
Source: http://biotechspectrum.blogspot.com
HUMAN GENOME PROJECT
It is an initiative of US Dept of Energy that aims to generate a high quality reference with sequence for the entire human genome and identify all the human genes, by decoding the genome.
It is an initiative of US Dept of Energy that aims to generate a high quality reference with sequence for the entire human genome and identify all the human genes, by decoding the genome.
UGC-CSIR National Eligibility Test (NET) for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) & Lecturer-ship (LS)
SYLLABUS FOR LIFE SCIENCE
The Joint CSIR-UGC JRF/LS (NET) Examination shall comprise 2 papers:
Part -A: 40 General Science questions, attempt any 25 questions.
Part -B: 100 questions, attempt any 75 questions.
LIFE SCIENCES
1. Molecules and their Interaction Relevant to Biology
2. Cellular Organization
3. Fundamental Processes
4. Cell Communication and Cell Signaling
5. Developmental Biology
6. System Physiology – Plant
7. System Physiology – Animal
8. Inheritance Biology
9. Diversity of Life Forms
10. Ecological Principles
11. Evolution and Behavior
12. Applied Biology
13. Methods in Biology
1. MOLECULES AND THEIR INTERACTION RELAVENT TO BIOLOGY
A. Structure of atoms, molecules and chemical bonds.
B Composition, structure and function of biomolecules (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids and vitamins).
C. Stablizing interactions (Van der Waals, electrostatic, hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic interaction, etc.).
D Principles of biophysical chemistry (pH, buffer, reaction kinetics, thermodynamics, colligative properties).
E. Bioenergetics, glycolysis, oxidative phosphorylation, coupled reaction, group transfer, biological energy transducers.
F. Principles of catalysis, enzymes and enzyme kinetics, enzyme regulation, mechanism of enzyme catalysis, isozymes
G. Conformation of proteins (Ramachandran plot, secondary structure, domains, motif and folds).
H. Conformation of nucleic acids (helix (A, B, Z), t-RNA, micro-RNA).
I. Stability of proteins and nucleic acids.
J. Metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids nucleotides and vitamins.
2. CELLULAR ORGANIZATION
A) Membrane structure and function (Structure of model membrane, lipid bilayer and membrane protein diffusion, osmosis, ion channels, active transport, membrane pumps, mechanism of sorting and regulation of intracellular transport,electrical properties of membranes).
B) Structural organization and function of intracellular organelles (Cell wall, nucleus, mitochondria, Golgi bodies, lysosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, peroxisomes, plastids, vacuoles, chloroplast, structure & function of cytoskeleton and its role in motility).
C) Organization of genes and chromosomes (Operon, unique and repetitive DNA, interrupted genes, gene families, structure of chromatin and chromosomes, heterochromatin, euchromatin, transposons).
D) Cell division and cell cycle (Mitosis and meiosis, their regulation, steps in cell cycle, regulation and control of cell cycle).
E) Microbial Physiology (Growth yield and characteristics, strategies of cell division, stress response)
3. FUNDAMENTAL PROCESSES
A) DNA replication, repair and recombination (Unit of replication, enzymes involved, replication origin and replication fork, fidelity of replication, extrachromosomal replicons, DNA damage and repair mechanisms, homologous and site-specific recombination).
B) RNA synthesis and processing (transcription factors and machinery, formation of initiation complex, transcription activator and repressor, RNA polymerases, capping, elongation, and termination, RNA processing, RNA editing, splicing, and polyadenylation, structure and function of different types of RNA, RNA transport).
C) Protein synthesis and processing (Ribosome, formation of initiation complex, initiation factors and their regulation, elongation and elongation factors, termination, genetic code, aminoacylation of tRNA, tRNA-identity, aminoacyl tRNA synthetase, and translational proof-reading, translational inhibitors, Post- translational modification of proteins).
D) Control of gene expression at transcription and translation level (regulating the expression of phages, viruses, prokaryotic and eukaryotic genes, role of chromatin in gene expression and gene silencing).
4. Cell communication and cell signaling
Part -A: 40 General Science questions, attempt any 25 questions.
Part -B: 100 questions, attempt any 75 questions.
LIFE SCIENCES
1. Molecules and their Interaction Relevant to Biology
2. Cellular Organization
3. Fundamental Processes
4. Cell Communication and Cell Signaling
5. Developmental Biology
6. System Physiology – Plant
7. System Physiology – Animal
8. Inheritance Biology
9. Diversity of Life Forms
10. Ecological Principles
11. Evolution and Behavior
12. Applied Biology
13. Methods in Biology
1. MOLECULES AND THEIR INTERACTION RELAVENT TO BIOLOGY
A. Structure of atoms, molecules and chemical bonds.
B Composition, structure and function of biomolecules (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids and vitamins).
C. Stablizing interactions (Van der Waals, electrostatic, hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic interaction, etc.).
D Principles of biophysical chemistry (pH, buffer, reaction kinetics, thermodynamics, colligative properties).
E. Bioenergetics, glycolysis, oxidative phosphorylation, coupled reaction, group transfer, biological energy transducers.
F. Principles of catalysis, enzymes and enzyme kinetics, enzyme regulation, mechanism of enzyme catalysis, isozymes
G. Conformation of proteins (Ramachandran plot, secondary structure, domains, motif and folds).
H. Conformation of nucleic acids (helix (A, B, Z), t-RNA, micro-RNA).
I. Stability of proteins and nucleic acids.
J. Metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids nucleotides and vitamins.
2. CELLULAR ORGANIZATION
A) Membrane structure and function (Structure of model membrane, lipid bilayer and membrane protein diffusion, osmosis, ion channels, active transport, membrane pumps, mechanism of sorting and regulation of intracellular transport,electrical properties of membranes).
B) Structural organization and function of intracellular organelles (Cell wall, nucleus, mitochondria, Golgi bodies, lysosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, peroxisomes, plastids, vacuoles, chloroplast, structure & function of cytoskeleton and its role in motility).
C) Organization of genes and chromosomes (Operon, unique and repetitive DNA, interrupted genes, gene families, structure of chromatin and chromosomes, heterochromatin, euchromatin, transposons).
D) Cell division and cell cycle (Mitosis and meiosis, their regulation, steps in cell cycle, regulation and control of cell cycle).
E) Microbial Physiology (Growth yield and characteristics, strategies of cell division, stress response)
3. FUNDAMENTAL PROCESSES
A) DNA replication, repair and recombination (Unit of replication, enzymes involved, replication origin and replication fork, fidelity of replication, extrachromosomal replicons, DNA damage and repair mechanisms, homologous and site-specific recombination).
B) RNA synthesis and processing (transcription factors and machinery, formation of initiation complex, transcription activator and repressor, RNA polymerases, capping, elongation, and termination, RNA processing, RNA editing, splicing, and polyadenylation, structure and function of different types of RNA, RNA transport).
C) Protein synthesis and processing (Ribosome, formation of initiation complex, initiation factors and their regulation, elongation and elongation factors, termination, genetic code, aminoacylation of tRNA, tRNA-identity, aminoacyl tRNA synthetase, and translational proof-reading, translational inhibitors, Post- translational modification of proteins).
D) Control of gene expression at transcription and translation level (regulating the expression of phages, viruses, prokaryotic and eukaryotic genes, role of chromatin in gene expression and gene silencing).
4. Cell communication and cell signaling
A) Host parasite interaction Recognition and entry processes of different pathogens like bacteria, viruses into animal and plant host cells, alteration of host cell behavior by pathogens, virus-induced cell transformation, pathogen-induced diseases in animals and plants, cell-cell fusion in both normal and abnormal cells.
B) Cell signaling Hormones and their receptors, cell surface receptor, signaling through G-protein coupled receptors, signal transduction pathways, second messengers, regulation of signaling pathways, bacterial and plant two-component systems, light signaling in plants, bacterial chemotaxis and quorum sensing.
C) Cellular communication Regulation of hematopoiesis, general principles of cell communication, cell adhesion and roles of different adhesion molecules, gap junctions, extracellular matrix, integrins, neurotransmission and its regulation.
D) Cancer : Genetic rearrangements in progenitor cells, oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, cancer and the cell cycle, virus-induced cancer, metastasis, interaction of cancer cells with normal cells, apoptosis, therapeutic interventions of uncontrolled cell growth.
E) Innate and adaptive immune system Cells and molecules involved in innate and adaptive immunity, antigens, antigenicity and immunogenicity. B and T cell epitopes, structure and function of antibody molecules. generation of antibody diversity, monoclonal antibodies, antibody engineering, antigen-antibody interactions, MHC molecules, antigen processing and presentation, activation and differentiation of B and T cells, B and T cell receptors, humoral and cell-mediated immune responses, primary and secondary immune modulation, the complement system, Toll-like receptors, cell-mediated effector functions, inflammation, hypersensitivity and autoimmunity, immune response during bacterial (tuberculosis), parasitic (malaria) and viral (HIV) infections, congenital and acquired immunodeficiencies, vaccines.
5. DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
A) Basic concepts of development : Potency, commitment, specification, induction, competence, determination and differentiation; morphogenetic gradients; cell fate and cell lineages; stem cells; genomic equivalence and the cytoplasmic determinants; imprinting; mutants and transgenics in analysis of development
B) Gametogenesis, fertilization and early development: Production of gametes, cell surface molecules in sperm-egg recognition in animals; embryo sac development and double fertilization in plants; zygote formation, cleavage, blastula formation, embryonic fields, gastrulation and formation of germ layers in animals; embryogenesis, establishment of symmetry in plants; seed formation and germination.
C) Morphogenesis and organogenesis in animals : Cell aggregation and differentiation in Dictyostelium; axes and pattern formation in Drosophila, amphibia and chick; organogenesis – vulva formation in Caenorhabditis elegans, eye lens induction, limb development and regeneration in vertebrates; differentiation of neurons, post embryonic development- larval formation, metamorphosis; environmental regulation of normal development; sex determination.
D) Morphogenesis and organogenesis in plants: Organization of shoot and root apical meristem; shoot and root development; leaf development and phyllotaxy; transition to flowering, floral meristems and floral development in Arabidopsis and Antirrhinum
E) Programmed cell death, aging and senescence
6. SYSTEM PHYSIOLOGY - PLANT
A. Photosynthesis - Light harvesting complexes; mechanisms of electron transport; photoprotective mechanisms; CO2 fixation-C3, C4 and CAM pathways.
B. Respiration and photorespiration – Citric acid cycle; plant mitochondrial electron transport and ATP synthesis; alternate oxidase; photorespiratory pathway.
C. Nitrogen metabolism - Nitrate and ammonium assimilation; amino acid biosynthesis.
D. Plant hormones – Biosynthesis, storage, breakdown and transport; physiological effects and mechanisms of action.
E. Sensory photobiology - Structure, function and mechanisms of action of phytochromes, cryptochromes and phototropins; stomatal movement; photoperiodism and biological clocks.
F. Solute transport and photoassimilate translocation – uptake, transport and translocation of water, ions, solutes and macromolecules from soil, through cells, across membranes, through xylem and phloem; transpiration; mechanisms of loading and unloading of photoassimilates.
G. Secondary metabolites - Biosynthesis of terpenes, phenols and nitrogenous compounds and their roles.
H. Stress physiology – Responses of plants to biotic (pathogen and insects) and abiotic (water, temperature and salt) stresses.
B) Cell signaling Hormones and their receptors, cell surface receptor, signaling through G-protein coupled receptors, signal transduction pathways, second messengers, regulation of signaling pathways, bacterial and plant two-component systems, light signaling in plants, bacterial chemotaxis and quorum sensing.
C) Cellular communication Regulation of hematopoiesis, general principles of cell communication, cell adhesion and roles of different adhesion molecules, gap junctions, extracellular matrix, integrins, neurotransmission and its regulation.
D) Cancer : Genetic rearrangements in progenitor cells, oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, cancer and the cell cycle, virus-induced cancer, metastasis, interaction of cancer cells with normal cells, apoptosis, therapeutic interventions of uncontrolled cell growth.
E) Innate and adaptive immune system Cells and molecules involved in innate and adaptive immunity, antigens, antigenicity and immunogenicity. B and T cell epitopes, structure and function of antibody molecules. generation of antibody diversity, monoclonal antibodies, antibody engineering, antigen-antibody interactions, MHC molecules, antigen processing and presentation, activation and differentiation of B and T cells, B and T cell receptors, humoral and cell-mediated immune responses, primary and secondary immune modulation, the complement system, Toll-like receptors, cell-mediated effector functions, inflammation, hypersensitivity and autoimmunity, immune response during bacterial (tuberculosis), parasitic (malaria) and viral (HIV) infections, congenital and acquired immunodeficiencies, vaccines.
5. DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
A) Basic concepts of development : Potency, commitment, specification, induction, competence, determination and differentiation; morphogenetic gradients; cell fate and cell lineages; stem cells; genomic equivalence and the cytoplasmic determinants; imprinting; mutants and transgenics in analysis of development
B) Gametogenesis, fertilization and early development: Production of gametes, cell surface molecules in sperm-egg recognition in animals; embryo sac development and double fertilization in plants; zygote formation, cleavage, blastula formation, embryonic fields, gastrulation and formation of germ layers in animals; embryogenesis, establishment of symmetry in plants; seed formation and germination.
C) Morphogenesis and organogenesis in animals : Cell aggregation and differentiation in Dictyostelium; axes and pattern formation in Drosophila, amphibia and chick; organogenesis – vulva formation in Caenorhabditis elegans, eye lens induction, limb development and regeneration in vertebrates; differentiation of neurons, post embryonic development- larval formation, metamorphosis; environmental regulation of normal development; sex determination.
D) Morphogenesis and organogenesis in plants: Organization of shoot and root apical meristem; shoot and root development; leaf development and phyllotaxy; transition to flowering, floral meristems and floral development in Arabidopsis and Antirrhinum
E) Programmed cell death, aging and senescence
6. SYSTEM PHYSIOLOGY - PLANT
A. Photosynthesis - Light harvesting complexes; mechanisms of electron transport; photoprotective mechanisms; CO2 fixation-C3, C4 and CAM pathways.
B. Respiration and photorespiration – Citric acid cycle; plant mitochondrial electron transport and ATP synthesis; alternate oxidase; photorespiratory pathway.
C. Nitrogen metabolism - Nitrate and ammonium assimilation; amino acid biosynthesis.
D. Plant hormones – Biosynthesis, storage, breakdown and transport; physiological effects and mechanisms of action.
E. Sensory photobiology - Structure, function and mechanisms of action of phytochromes, cryptochromes and phototropins; stomatal movement; photoperiodism and biological clocks.
F. Solute transport and photoassimilate translocation – uptake, transport and translocation of water, ions, solutes and macromolecules from soil, through cells, across membranes, through xylem and phloem; transpiration; mechanisms of loading and unloading of photoassimilates.
G. Secondary metabolites - Biosynthesis of terpenes, phenols and nitrogenous compounds and their roles.
H. Stress physiology – Responses of plants to biotic (pathogen and insects) and abiotic (water, temperature and salt) stresses.
7. SYSTEM PHYSIOLOGY - ANIMAL
A. Blood and circulation - Blood corpuscles, haemopoiesis and formed elements, plasma function, blood volume, blood volume regulation, blood groups, haemoglobin, immunity, haemostasis.
B. Cardiovascular System: Comparative anatomy of heart structure, myogenic heart, specialized tissue, ECG – its principle and significance, cardiac cycle, heart as a pump, blood pressure, neural and chemical regulation of all above.
C. Respiratory system - Comparison of respiration in different species, anatomical considerations, transport of gases, exchange of gases, waste elimination, neural and chemical regulation of respiration.
D. Nervous system - Neurons, action potential, gross neuroanatomy of the brain and spinal cord, central and peripheral nervous system, neural control of muscle tone and posture.
E. Sense organs - Vision, hearing and tactile response.
F. Excretory system - Comparative physiology of excretion, kidney, urine formation, urine concentration, waste elimination, micturition, regulation of water balance, blood volume, blood pressure, electrolyte balance, acid-base balance.
G. Thermoregulation - Comfort zone, body temperature – physical, chemical, neural regulation, acclimatization.
H. Stress and adaptation
I. Digestive system - Digestion, absorption, energy balance, BMR.
J. Endocrinology and reproduction - Endocrine glands, basic mechanism of hormone action, hormones and diseases; reproductive processes, gametogenesis, ovulation, neuroendocrine regulation
A. Blood and circulation - Blood corpuscles, haemopoiesis and formed elements, plasma function, blood volume, blood volume regulation, blood groups, haemoglobin, immunity, haemostasis.
B. Cardiovascular System: Comparative anatomy of heart structure, myogenic heart, specialized tissue, ECG – its principle and significance, cardiac cycle, heart as a pump, blood pressure, neural and chemical regulation of all above.
C. Respiratory system - Comparison of respiration in different species, anatomical considerations, transport of gases, exchange of gases, waste elimination, neural and chemical regulation of respiration.
D. Nervous system - Neurons, action potential, gross neuroanatomy of the brain and spinal cord, central and peripheral nervous system, neural control of muscle tone and posture.
E. Sense organs - Vision, hearing and tactile response.
F. Excretory system - Comparative physiology of excretion, kidney, urine formation, urine concentration, waste elimination, micturition, regulation of water balance, blood volume, blood pressure, electrolyte balance, acid-base balance.
G. Thermoregulation - Comfort zone, body temperature – physical, chemical, neural regulation, acclimatization.
H. Stress and adaptation
I. Digestive system - Digestion, absorption, energy balance, BMR.
J. Endocrinology and reproduction - Endocrine glands, basic mechanism of hormone action, hormones and diseases; reproductive processes, gametogenesis, ovulation, neuroendocrine regulation
8. INHERITANCE BIOLOGY
A) Mendelian principles : Dominance, segregation, independent assortment.
B) Concept of gene : Allele, multiple alleles, pseudoallele, complementation tests
C) Extensions of Mendelian principles : Codominance, incomplete dominance, gene interactions, pleiotropy, genomic imprinting, penetrance and expressivity, phenocopy, linkage and crossing over, sex linkage, sex limited and sex influenced characters.
D) Gene mapping methods : Linkage maps, tetrad analysis, mapping with molecular markers, mapping by using somatic cell hybrids, development of mapping population in plants.
E) Extra chromosomal inheritance : Inheritance of Mitochondrial and chloroplast genes, maternal inheritance.
F) Microbial genetics : Methods of genetic transfers – transformation, conjugation, transduction and sex-duction, mapping genes by interrupted mating, fine structure analysis of genes.
G) Human genetics : Pedigree analysis, lod score for linkage testing, karyotypes, genetic disorders.
H) Quantitative genetics : Polygenic inheritance, heritability and its measurements, QTL mapping.
I) Mutation : Types, causes and detection, mutant types – lethal, conditional, biochemical, loss of function, gain of function, germinal verses somatic mutants, insertional mutagenesis.
J) Structural and numerical alterations of chromosomes : Deletion, duplication, inversion, translocation, ploidy and their genetic implications.
K) Recombination : Homologous and non-homologous recombination including transposition.
A) Mendelian principles : Dominance, segregation, independent assortment.
B) Concept of gene : Allele, multiple alleles, pseudoallele, complementation tests
C) Extensions of Mendelian principles : Codominance, incomplete dominance, gene interactions, pleiotropy, genomic imprinting, penetrance and expressivity, phenocopy, linkage and crossing over, sex linkage, sex limited and sex influenced characters.
D) Gene mapping methods : Linkage maps, tetrad analysis, mapping with molecular markers, mapping by using somatic cell hybrids, development of mapping population in plants.
E) Extra chromosomal inheritance : Inheritance of Mitochondrial and chloroplast genes, maternal inheritance.
F) Microbial genetics : Methods of genetic transfers – transformation, conjugation, transduction and sex-duction, mapping genes by interrupted mating, fine structure analysis of genes.
G) Human genetics : Pedigree analysis, lod score for linkage testing, karyotypes, genetic disorders.
H) Quantitative genetics : Polygenic inheritance, heritability and its measurements, QTL mapping.
I) Mutation : Types, causes and detection, mutant types – lethal, conditional, biochemical, loss of function, gain of function, germinal verses somatic mutants, insertional mutagenesis.
J) Structural and numerical alterations of chromosomes : Deletion, duplication, inversion, translocation, ploidy and their genetic implications.
K) Recombination : Homologous and non-homologous recombination including transposition.
9. DIVERSITY OF LIFE FORMS:
A. Principles & methods of taxonomy: Concepts of species and hierarchical taxa, biological nomenclature, classical & quantititative methods of taxonomy of plants, animals and microorganisms.
B. Levels of structural organization: Unicellular, colonial and multicellular forms. Levels of organization of tissues, organs & systems. Comparative anatomy, adaptive radiation, adaptive modifications.
C. Outline classification of plants, animals & microorganisms: Important criteria used for classification in each taxon. Classification of plants, animals and microorganisms. Evolutionary relationships among taxa.
D. Natural history of Indian subcontinent: Major habitat types of the subcontinent, geographic origins and migrations of species. Comman Indian mammals, birds. Seasonality and phenology of the subcontinent.
E. Organisms of health & agricultural importance: Common parasites and pathogens of humans, domestic animals and crops.
F. Organisms of conservation concern: Rare, endangered species. Conservation strategies.
A. Principles & methods of taxonomy: Concepts of species and hierarchical taxa, biological nomenclature, classical & quantititative methods of taxonomy of plants, animals and microorganisms.
B. Levels of structural organization: Unicellular, colonial and multicellular forms. Levels of organization of tissues, organs & systems. Comparative anatomy, adaptive radiation, adaptive modifications.
C. Outline classification of plants, animals & microorganisms: Important criteria used for classification in each taxon. Classification of plants, animals and microorganisms. Evolutionary relationships among taxa.
D. Natural history of Indian subcontinent: Major habitat types of the subcontinent, geographic origins and migrations of species. Comman Indian mammals, birds. Seasonality and phenology of the subcontinent.
E. Organisms of health & agricultural importance: Common parasites and pathogens of humans, domestic animals and crops.
F. Organisms of conservation concern: Rare, endangered species. Conservation strategies.
10. ECOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES
The Environment: Physical environment; biotic environment; biotic and abiotic interactions.
Habitat and Niche: Concept of habitat and niche; niche width and overlap; fundamental and realized niche; resource partitioning; character displacement.
Population Ecology: Characteristics of a population; population growth curves; population regulation; life history strategies (r and K selection); concept of metapopulation – demes and dispersal, interdemic extinctions, age structured populations.
Species Interactions: Types of interactions, interspecific competition, herbivory, carnivory, pollination, symbiosis.
Community Ecology: Nature of communities; community structure and attributes; levels of species diversity and its measurement; edges and ecotones.
Ecological Succession: Types; mechanisms; changes involved in succession; concept of climax.
Ecosystem Ecology: Ecosystem structure; ecosystem function; energy flow and mineral cycling (C,N,P); primary production and decomposition; structure and function of some Indian ecosystems: terrestrial (forest, grassland) and aquatic (fresh water, marine, eustarine).
Biogeography: Major terrestrial biomes; theory of island biogeography; biogeographical zones of India.
Applied Ecology: Environmental pollution; global environmental change; biodiversity: status, monitoring and documentation; major drivers of biodiversity change; biodiversity management approaches.
Conservation Biology: Principles of conservation, major approaches to management, Indian case studies on conservation/management strategy (Project Tiger, Biosphere reserves).
The Environment: Physical environment; biotic environment; biotic and abiotic interactions.
Habitat and Niche: Concept of habitat and niche; niche width and overlap; fundamental and realized niche; resource partitioning; character displacement.
Population Ecology: Characteristics of a population; population growth curves; population regulation; life history strategies (r and K selection); concept of metapopulation – demes and dispersal, interdemic extinctions, age structured populations.
Species Interactions: Types of interactions, interspecific competition, herbivory, carnivory, pollination, symbiosis.
Community Ecology: Nature of communities; community structure and attributes; levels of species diversity and its measurement; edges and ecotones.
Ecological Succession: Types; mechanisms; changes involved in succession; concept of climax.
Ecosystem Ecology: Ecosystem structure; ecosystem function; energy flow and mineral cycling (C,N,P); primary production and decomposition; structure and function of some Indian ecosystems: terrestrial (forest, grassland) and aquatic (fresh water, marine, eustarine).
Biogeography: Major terrestrial biomes; theory of island biogeography; biogeographical zones of India.
Applied Ecology: Environmental pollution; global environmental change; biodiversity: status, monitoring and documentation; major drivers of biodiversity change; biodiversity management approaches.
Conservation Biology: Principles of conservation, major approaches to management, Indian case studies on conservation/management strategy (Project Tiger, Biosphere reserves).
11. EVOLUTION AND BEHAVIOUR
A. Emergence of evolutionary thoughts
A. Emergence of evolutionary thoughts
Lamarck; Darwin–concepts of variation, adaptation, struggle, fitness and natural selection; Mendelism; Spontaneity of mutations; The evolutionary synthesis.
B. Origin of cells and unicellular evolution:
B. Origin of cells and unicellular evolution:
Origin of basic biological molecules; Abiotic synthesis of organic monomers and polymers; Concept of Oparin and Haldane; Experiement of Miller (1953); The first cell; Evolution of prokaryotes; Origin of eukaryotic cells; Evolution of unicellular eukaryotes; Anaerobic metabolism, photosynthesis and aerobic metabolism.
C. Paleontology and Evolutionary History:
The evolutionary time scale; Eras, periods and epoch; Major events in the evolutionary time scale; Origins of unicellular and multi cellular organisms; Major groups of plants and animals; Stages in primate evolution including Homo.
D. Molecular Evolution:
Concepts of neutral evolution, molecular divergence and molecular clocks; Molecular tools in phylogeny, classification and identification; Protein and nucleotide sequence analysis; origin of new genes and proteins; Gene duplication and divergence.
E. The Mechanisms:
Population genetics – Populations, Gene pool, Gene frequency; Hardy-Weinberg Law; concepts and rate of change in gene frequency through natural selection, migration and random genetic drift; Adaptive radiation; Isolating mechanisms; Speciation; Allopatricity and Sympatricity; Convergent evolution; Sexual selection; Co-evolution.
F. Brain, Behavior and Evolution:
Approaches and methods in study of behavior; Proximate and ultimate causation; Altruism and evolution-Group selection, Kin selection, Reciprocal altruism; Neural basis of learning, memory, cognition, sleep and arousal; Biological clocks; Development of behavior; Social communication; Social dominance; Use of space and territoriality; Mating systems, Parental investment and Reproductive success; Parental care; Aggressive behavior; Habitat selection and optimality in foraging; Migration, orientation and navigation; Domestication and behavioral changes.
C. Paleontology and Evolutionary History:
The evolutionary time scale; Eras, periods and epoch; Major events in the evolutionary time scale; Origins of unicellular and multi cellular organisms; Major groups of plants and animals; Stages in primate evolution including Homo.
D. Molecular Evolution:
Concepts of neutral evolution, molecular divergence and molecular clocks; Molecular tools in phylogeny, classification and identification; Protein and nucleotide sequence analysis; origin of new genes and proteins; Gene duplication and divergence.
E. The Mechanisms:
Population genetics – Populations, Gene pool, Gene frequency; Hardy-Weinberg Law; concepts and rate of change in gene frequency through natural selection, migration and random genetic drift; Adaptive radiation; Isolating mechanisms; Speciation; Allopatricity and Sympatricity; Convergent evolution; Sexual selection; Co-evolution.
F. Brain, Behavior and Evolution:
Approaches and methods in study of behavior; Proximate and ultimate causation; Altruism and evolution-Group selection, Kin selection, Reciprocal altruism; Neural basis of learning, memory, cognition, sleep and arousal; Biological clocks; Development of behavior; Social communication; Social dominance; Use of space and territoriality; Mating systems, Parental investment and Reproductive success; Parental care; Aggressive behavior; Habitat selection and optimality in foraging; Migration, orientation and navigation; Domestication and behavioral changes.
12. APPLIED BIOLOGY:
A. Microbial fermentation and production of small and macro molecules.
B. Application of immunological principles, vaccines, diagnostics. Tissue and cell culture methods for plants and animals.
C. Transgenic animals and plants, molecular approaches to diagnosis and strain identification.
D. Genomics and its application to health and agriculture, including gene therapy.
E. Bioresource and uses of biodiversity.
F. Breeding in plants and animals, including marker – assisted selection
G. Bioremediation and phytoremediation
H. Biosensors
A. Microbial fermentation and production of small and macro molecules.
B. Application of immunological principles, vaccines, diagnostics. Tissue and cell culture methods for plants and animals.
C. Transgenic animals and plants, molecular approaches to diagnosis and strain identification.
D. Genomics and its application to health and agriculture, including gene therapy.
E. Bioresource and uses of biodiversity.
F. Breeding in plants and animals, including marker – assisted selection
G. Bioremediation and phytoremediation
H. Biosensors
13. METHODS IN BIOLOGY
A. Molecular Biology and Recombinant DNA methods:
Isolation and purification of RNA , DNA (genomic and plasmid) and proteins, different separation methods. Analysis of RNA, DNA and proteins by one and two dimensional gel electrophoresis, Isoelectric focusing gels.
A. Molecular Biology and Recombinant DNA methods:
Isolation and purification of RNA , DNA (genomic and plasmid) and proteins, different separation methods. Analysis of RNA, DNA and proteins by one and two dimensional gel electrophoresis, Isoelectric focusing gels.
Molecular cloning of DNA or RNA fragments in bacterial and eukaryotic systems.
Expression of recombinant proteins using bacterial, animal and plant vectors.
Isolation of specific nucleic acid sequences.
Generation of genomic and cDNA libraries in plasmid, phage, cosmid, BAC and YAC vectors.
In vitro mutagenesis and deletion techniques, gene knock out in bacterial and eukaryotic organisms.
Protein sequencing methods, detection of post translation modification of proteins.
DNA sequencing methods, strategies for genome sequencing.
Methods for analysis of gene expression at RNA and protein level, large scale expression, such as micro array based techniques
Isolation, separation and analysis of carbohydrate and lipid molecules.
RFLP, RAPD and AFLP techniques
B. Histochemical and Immunotechniques
Antibody generation, Detection of molecules using ELISA, RIA, western blot, immunoprecipitation, fluocytometry and immunofluorescence microscopy, detection of molecules in living cells, in situ localization by techniques such as FISH and GISH.
C Biophysical Method:
B. Histochemical and Immunotechniques
Antibody generation, Detection of molecules using ELISA, RIA, western blot, immunoprecipitation, fluocytometry and immunofluorescence microscopy, detection of molecules in living cells, in situ localization by techniques such as FISH and GISH.
C Biophysical Method:
Molecular analysis using UV/visible, fluorescence, circular dichroism, NMR and ESR spectroscopy Molecular structure determination using X-ray diffraction and NMR, Molecular analysis using light scattering, different types of mass spectrometry and surface plasma resonance methods.
D Statisitcal Methods:
Measures of central tendency and dispersal; probability distributions (Binomial, Poisson and normal); Sampling distribution; Difference between parametric and non-parametric statistics; Confidence Interval; Errors; Levels of significance; Regression and Correlation; t-test; Analysis of variance; X2 test;; Basic introduction to Muetrovariate statistics, etc.
E. Radiolabeling techniques:
Detection and measurement of different types of radioisotopes normally used in biology, incorporation of radioisotopes in biological tissues and cells, molecular imaging of radioactive material, safety guidelines.
F. Microscopic techniques:
Visulization of cells and subcellular components by light microscopy, resolving powers of different microscopes, microscopy of living cells, scanning and transmission microscopes, different fixation and staining techniques for EM, freeze-etch and freeze- fracture methods for EM, image processing methods in microscopy.
G. Electrophysiological methods:
D Statisitcal Methods:
Measures of central tendency and dispersal; probability distributions (Binomial, Poisson and normal); Sampling distribution; Difference between parametric and non-parametric statistics; Confidence Interval; Errors; Levels of significance; Regression and Correlation; t-test; Analysis of variance; X2 test;; Basic introduction to Muetrovariate statistics, etc.
E. Radiolabeling techniques:
Detection and measurement of different types of radioisotopes normally used in biology, incorporation of radioisotopes in biological tissues and cells, molecular imaging of radioactive material, safety guidelines.
F. Microscopic techniques:
Visulization of cells and subcellular components by light microscopy, resolving powers of different microscopes, microscopy of living cells, scanning and transmission microscopes, different fixation and staining techniques for EM, freeze-etch and freeze- fracture methods for EM, image processing methods in microscopy.
G. Electrophysiological methods:
Single neuron recording, patch-clamp recording, ECG, Brain activity recording, lesion and stimulation of brain, pharmacological testing, PET, MRI, fMRI, CAT .
H. Methods in field biology:
Methods of estimating population density of animals and plants, ranging patterns through direct, indirect and remote observations, sampling methods in the study of behavior, habitat characterization: ground and remote sensing methods.
H. Methods in field biology:
Methods of estimating population density of animals and plants, ranging patterns through direct, indirect and remote observations, sampling methods in the study of behavior, habitat characterization: ground and remote sensing methods.
Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE)
SYLLABUS FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY (BT)
ENGINEERING MATHEMATICS
Linear Algebra:
Matrices and determinants, Systems of linear equations, Eigen values and Eigen vectors.
Calculus:
Limit, continuity and differentiability, Partial derivatives, Maxima and minima, Sequences and series, Test for convergence, Fourier Series.
Differential Equations:
Linear and nonlinear first order ODEs, higher order ODEs with constant coefficients, Cauchy’s and Euler’s equations, Laplace transforms, PDE- Laplace, heat and wave equations.
Probability and Statistics:
Mean, median, mode and standard deviation, Random variables, Poisson, normal and binomial distributions, Correlation and regression analysis.
Numerical Methods:
Solution of linear and nonlinear algebraic equations, Integration of trapezoidal and Simpson’s rule, Single and multistep methods for differential equations.
BIOTECHNOLOGY
Microbiology:
Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell structure; Microbial nutrition, growth and control; Microbial metabolism (aerobic and anaerobic respiration, photosynthesis); Nitrogen fixation; Chemical basis of mutations and mutagens; Microbial genetics (plasmids, transformation, transduction, conjugation); Microbial diversity and characteristic features; Viruses.
Biochemistry:
Biomolecules and their conformation; Ramachandran map; Weak inter-molecular interactions in biomacromolecules; Chemical and functional nature of enzymes; Kinetics of single substrate and bi- substrate enzyme catalyzed reactions; Bioenergetics; Metabolism (Glycolysis, TCA and Oxidative phosphorylation); Membrane transport and pumps; Cell cycle and cell growth control; Cell signaling and signal transduction; Biochemical and biophysical techniques for macromolecular analysis.
Molecular Biology and Genetics:
Molecular structure of genes and chromosomes; DNA replication and control; Transcription and its control; Translational processes; Regulatory controls in prokaryotes and eukaryotes; Mendelian inheritance; Gene interaction; Complementation; Linkage, recombination and chromosome mapping; Extrachromosomal inheritance; Chromosomal variation; Population genetics; Transposable elements, Molecular basis of genetic diseases and applications.
Process Biotechnology:
Bioprocess technology for the production of cell biomass and primary/secondary metabolites, such as baker’s yeast, ethanol, citric acid, amino acids, exopolysacharides, antibiotics and pigments etc.; Microbial production, purification and bioprocess application(s) of industrial enzymes; Production and purification of recombinant proteins on a large scale; Chromatographic and membrane based bioseparation methods; Immobilization of enzymes and cells and their application for bioconversion processes. Aerobic and anaerobic biological processes for stabilization of solid / liquid wastes; Bioremediation.
Bioprocess Engineering:
Kinetics of microbial growth, substrate utilization and product formation; Simple structured models; Sterilization of air and media; Batch, fed-batch and continuous processes; Aeration and agitation; Mass transfer in bioreactors; Rheology of fermentation fluids; Scale-up concepts; Design of fermentation media; Various types of microbial and enzyme reactors; Instrumentation in bioreactors.
Plant and Animal Biotechnology:
Special features and organization of plant cells; Totipotency; Regeneration of plants; Plant products of industrial importance; Biochemistry of major metabolic pathways and products; Autotrophic and heterotrophic growth; Plant growth regulators and elicitors; Cell suspension culture development: methodology, kinetics of growth and production formation, nutrient optimization; Production of secondary metabolites by plant suspension cultures; Hairy root cultures and their cultivation. Techniques in raising transgencies.
Characteristics of animal cells:
Metabolism, regulation and nutritional requirements for mass cultivation of animal cell cultures; Kinetics of cell growth and product formation and effect of shear force; Product and substrate transport; Micro & macro-carrier culture; Hybridoma technology; Live stock improvement; Cloning in animals; Genetic engineering in animal cell culture; Animal cell preservation.
Immunology:
The origin of immunology; Inherent immunity; Humoral and cell mediated immunity; Primary and secondary lymphoid organ; Antigen; B and T cells and Macrophages; Major histocompatibility complex (MHC); Antigen processing and presentation; Synthesis of antibody and secretion; Molecular basis of antibody diversity; Polyclonal and monoclonal antibody; Complement; Antigen-antibody reaction; Regulation of immune response; Immune tolerance; Hyper sensitivity; Autoimmunity; Graft versus host reaction.
Recombinant DNA Technology:
Restriction and modification enzymes; Vectors: plasmid, bacteriophage and other viral vectors, cosmids, Ti plasmid, yeast artificial chromosome; cDNA and genomic DNA library; Gene isolation; Gene cloning; Expression of cloned gene; Transposons and gene targeting; DNA labeling; DNA sequencing; Polymerase chain reactions; DNA fingerprinting; Southern and northern blotting; In-situ hybridization; RAPD; RFLP; Sitedirected mutagenesis; Gene transfer technologies; Gene therapy.
Bioinformatics:
Major bioinformatics resources (NCBI, EBI, ExPASy); Sequence and structure databases; Sequence analysis (biomolecular sequence file formats, scoring matrices, sequence alignment, phylogeny); Genomics and Proteomics (Large scale genome sequencing strategies; Comparative genomics; Understanding DNA microarrays and protein arrays); Molecular modeling and simulations (basic concepts including concept of force fields).
Matrices and determinants, Systems of linear equations, Eigen values and Eigen vectors.
Calculus:
Limit, continuity and differentiability, Partial derivatives, Maxima and minima, Sequences and series, Test for convergence, Fourier Series.
Differential Equations:
Linear and nonlinear first order ODEs, higher order ODEs with constant coefficients, Cauchy’s and Euler’s equations, Laplace transforms, PDE- Laplace, heat and wave equations.
Probability and Statistics:
Mean, median, mode and standard deviation, Random variables, Poisson, normal and binomial distributions, Correlation and regression analysis.
Numerical Methods:
Solution of linear and nonlinear algebraic equations, Integration of trapezoidal and Simpson’s rule, Single and multistep methods for differential equations.
BIOTECHNOLOGY
Microbiology:
Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell structure; Microbial nutrition, growth and control; Microbial metabolism (aerobic and anaerobic respiration, photosynthesis); Nitrogen fixation; Chemical basis of mutations and mutagens; Microbial genetics (plasmids, transformation, transduction, conjugation); Microbial diversity and characteristic features; Viruses.
Biochemistry:
Biomolecules and their conformation; Ramachandran map; Weak inter-molecular interactions in biomacromolecules; Chemical and functional nature of enzymes; Kinetics of single substrate and bi- substrate enzyme catalyzed reactions; Bioenergetics; Metabolism (Glycolysis, TCA and Oxidative phosphorylation); Membrane transport and pumps; Cell cycle and cell growth control; Cell signaling and signal transduction; Biochemical and biophysical techniques for macromolecular analysis.
Molecular Biology and Genetics:
Molecular structure of genes and chromosomes; DNA replication and control; Transcription and its control; Translational processes; Regulatory controls in prokaryotes and eukaryotes; Mendelian inheritance; Gene interaction; Complementation; Linkage, recombination and chromosome mapping; Extrachromosomal inheritance; Chromosomal variation; Population genetics; Transposable elements, Molecular basis of genetic diseases and applications.
Process Biotechnology:
Bioprocess technology for the production of cell biomass and primary/secondary metabolites, such as baker’s yeast, ethanol, citric acid, amino acids, exopolysacharides, antibiotics and pigments etc.; Microbial production, purification and bioprocess application(s) of industrial enzymes; Production and purification of recombinant proteins on a large scale; Chromatographic and membrane based bioseparation methods; Immobilization of enzymes and cells and their application for bioconversion processes. Aerobic and anaerobic biological processes for stabilization of solid / liquid wastes; Bioremediation.
Bioprocess Engineering:
Kinetics of microbial growth, substrate utilization and product formation; Simple structured models; Sterilization of air and media; Batch, fed-batch and continuous processes; Aeration and agitation; Mass transfer in bioreactors; Rheology of fermentation fluids; Scale-up concepts; Design of fermentation media; Various types of microbial and enzyme reactors; Instrumentation in bioreactors.
Plant and Animal Biotechnology:
Special features and organization of plant cells; Totipotency; Regeneration of plants; Plant products of industrial importance; Biochemistry of major metabolic pathways and products; Autotrophic and heterotrophic growth; Plant growth regulators and elicitors; Cell suspension culture development: methodology, kinetics of growth and production formation, nutrient optimization; Production of secondary metabolites by plant suspension cultures; Hairy root cultures and their cultivation. Techniques in raising transgencies.
Characteristics of animal cells:
Metabolism, regulation and nutritional requirements for mass cultivation of animal cell cultures; Kinetics of cell growth and product formation and effect of shear force; Product and substrate transport; Micro & macro-carrier culture; Hybridoma technology; Live stock improvement; Cloning in animals; Genetic engineering in animal cell culture; Animal cell preservation.
Immunology:
The origin of immunology; Inherent immunity; Humoral and cell mediated immunity; Primary and secondary lymphoid organ; Antigen; B and T cells and Macrophages; Major histocompatibility complex (MHC); Antigen processing and presentation; Synthesis of antibody and secretion; Molecular basis of antibody diversity; Polyclonal and monoclonal antibody; Complement; Antigen-antibody reaction; Regulation of immune response; Immune tolerance; Hyper sensitivity; Autoimmunity; Graft versus host reaction.
Recombinant DNA Technology:
Restriction and modification enzymes; Vectors: plasmid, bacteriophage and other viral vectors, cosmids, Ti plasmid, yeast artificial chromosome; cDNA and genomic DNA library; Gene isolation; Gene cloning; Expression of cloned gene; Transposons and gene targeting; DNA labeling; DNA sequencing; Polymerase chain reactions; DNA fingerprinting; Southern and northern blotting; In-situ hybridization; RAPD; RFLP; Sitedirected mutagenesis; Gene transfer technologies; Gene therapy.
Bioinformatics:
Major bioinformatics resources (NCBI, EBI, ExPASy); Sequence and structure databases; Sequence analysis (biomolecular sequence file formats, scoring matrices, sequence alignment, phylogeny); Genomics and Proteomics (Large scale genome sequencing strategies; Comparative genomics; Understanding DNA microarrays and protein arrays); Molecular modeling and simulations (basic concepts including concept of force fields).
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) enables researchers to produce millions of copies of a specific DNA sequence in approximately two hours. This automated process bypasses the need to use bacteria for amplifying DNA.
Immune System - Natural Killer Cell
Natural Killer Cells are the most aggressive white cells in the immune system. They make up about 5% to 15% of the total lymphocyte circulating population. They target tumor cell and protect against a wide variety of infectious microbes. Natural Killer Cells are a very important factor in the fight against cancer. Immune Stimulation is the key to keeping the white blood cell count high and giving the Natural Killer Cells a chance to fight cancer and other diseases.
Biotechnology Puts Waste to Good Use
BRAIN, a biotechnology company in Germany, has developed a "toolkit" of different bacterial strains that can extract carbon dioxide from emissions and use it to produce synthetic materials like oil. The process could help reduce CO2 emissions worldwide.
The Power of Biotechnology
BIOTECHNOLOGY.....Taking India To The Next Level.
BIOTECH -- RULES THE WORLD
Biotechnology is globally recognized as a rapidly emerging and wide reaching technology and it is aptly named as the "Technology of Hope".
Biotechnology is globally recognized as a rapidly emerging and wide reaching technology and it is aptly named as the "Technology of Hope".
Biotechnology can deliver the next wave of technological change that can be radical and even more pervasive than that brought about by IT.
Biotechnology is an applied science aimed at harnessing the natural biological capabilities of microbial plant and animal cells for the benefit of mankind. Biotechnology couples scientific and engineering principles with commercial aspects to develop and improve products and processes made from living system with various advancements in the field of Genomic, Genetic Engineering, Recombinant DNA Technology, Drug Design, Stem Cell Research, DNA Sequencing, Tissue Culture etc. There are vast opportunities in this field.
Biotechnology is the application of techniques and processes that utilize biological systems for the efficient and useful production of materials to serve human needs in agriculture, medicine, industry and daily life. Modern development in the field has been greatly stimulated by recent advances in biochemistry and molecular biology. Humans have been making use of biotechnology since they discovered farming.
However, the most modern techniques in biotechnology owe their existence to the discovery of DNA. Currently, scientists directly alter genetic material with atomic precision, using techniques otherwise known as recombinant DNA technology. Anyone looking for a career in biotech can choose from a wide variety of scientific and non-scientific disciplines, ranging from molecular genetics to chemistry, to business management and law. Almost every aspect of human life is touched by biotechnology. We continue to look for ways to improve our health, increase food production with an eye to feeding the poor in less industrialized countries, and clean up our environment. Biotechnology offers more environmentally sound solutions to the onslaughts of the industrial revolution, and a wealth of hidden answers to our most intriguing medical questions. For those reasons, biotech research will carry on and the industry is here to stay.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION
Pharmaceutical Organizations
Brewries and Distillers
Textile Industry
Diagnostic and Clinical Research
Environment Companies / Biodiesel
Beauty and Skin Care Companies
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
Plant and Animal Tissue Culture
Genetic Engineering
Molecular and Computational Biology
Forensics and DNA Finger Printing
Immunology and Drug Design
Biophysics and Molecular modeling
DNA Chips / Microarrays
Stem Cell Research
All about biotech and its Scope in India – by Kiran Mazumdar Shaw
In the 1970s biotechnology jobs were difficult to come
by, especially for women. So Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Chairman & Managing
Director, Biocon, changed the rules of the game and founded her own biotech
venture that currently employs 3,500 people (15% of whom are women) and clocks
revenues in excess of Rs.1,600 crore. In an interview she talks about
biotechnology becoming the new buzzword and what it takes to build a
successfull career
Q. Does Biocon invest a lot in its people, even at the junior level?
A: Yes and it’s not about salaries alone. The kind of learning opportunities Biocon offers is unparalled in the industry. Our payback may be longer but in a knowledge-intensive business it’s our people who will differentiate us from others. We encourage people to attend workshops and conferences, both in India and overseas, so that their skill sets improve and they can become specialists. We also encourage people to take up PhD programmes – we have linkages with various universities and institutes that allow our employees to further their academic exposure.
Q. What are some of the career opportunities in
biotechnology in India today?
A: Biotechnology is a very diverse field. It offers opportunities in areas of research, marketing or manufacturing. The research that’s going in this field today is so varied and inter-disciplinary that students of biology, pharmacology, medicine, engineering and computational science all have interesting roles to play. In the area of manufacturing, we look for chemical and mechanical engineers or microbiologists with expertise in fermentation. Marketing, which involves selling products like enzymes, bio-pharmaceuticals, industrial and agri-biotech products, diagnostics, instrumentation, etc., requires knowledge of science and an MBA degree. After all, he or she must understand the products and services being sold.
A: Biotechnology is a very diverse field. It offers opportunities in areas of research, marketing or manufacturing. The research that’s going in this field today is so varied and inter-disciplinary that students of biology, pharmacology, medicine, engineering and computational science all have interesting roles to play. In the area of manufacturing, we look for chemical and mechanical engineers or microbiologists with expertise in fermentation. Marketing, which involves selling products like enzymes, bio-pharmaceuticals, industrial and agri-biotech products, diagnostics, instrumentation, etc., requires knowledge of science and an MBA degree. After all, he or she must understand the products and services being sold.
Q. Is a basic degree in biotech sufficient for a
career in this field?
A: A degree in biotechnology is not imperative to enter this field. Biocon, for example, hires MSc students from life sciences disciplines like biochemistry, molecular biology, microbiology, pharmacology and chemical biology. And it’s not like these are for non-R & roles – they are very much for our research programme. But for someone who’s really interested in research as a career, I would recommend doing a PhD. Apart from the much-needed specialization, it brings an analytical bent of mind. For non-research functions, a PhD doesn’t really help – learning on the job is much more important.
A: A degree in biotechnology is not imperative to enter this field. Biocon, for example, hires MSc students from life sciences disciplines like biochemistry, molecular biology, microbiology, pharmacology and chemical biology. And it’s not like these are for non-R & roles – they are very much for our research programme. But for someone who’s really interested in research as a career, I would recommend doing a PhD. Apart from the much-needed specialization, it brings an analytical bent of mind. For non-research functions, a PhD doesn’t really help – learning on the job is much more important.
Q. Which biotech institutes does Biocon visit
regularly for its hiring needs?
A: We go to IITs and pick students from specialized bio-sciences or biotechnology programmes – usually you can’t go wrong with an IIT! Mumbai University’s Department of Chemical Technology (UDCT) is another excellent picking ground because of its outstanding quality of education. Anna University is also quite good. Many institutes today produce quality students. We’ve a wide choice to pick from!
A: We go to IITs and pick students from specialized bio-sciences or biotechnology programmes – usually you can’t go wrong with an IIT! Mumbai University’s Department of Chemical Technology (UDCT) is another excellent picking ground because of its outstanding quality of education. Anna University is also quite good. Many institutes today produce quality students. We’ve a wide choice to pick from!
Q. What is your perception of the quality of
students available in India today?
A: It’s difficult to make a sweeping statement. There are very good institutes and terrible ones. There’s a lot of trash going around in the name of biotechnology. Because it’s seen as the ‘in thing’ everyone offers a biotech course. But you have to groom whoever you hire. None is employment-ready. We’ve found students from reasonably good colleges can be groomed to perform equally well as one from a top-notch institute.
A: It’s difficult to make a sweeping statement. There are very good institutes and terrible ones. There’s a lot of trash going around in the name of biotechnology. Because it’s seen as the ‘in thing’ everyone offers a biotech course. But you have to groom whoever you hire. None is employment-ready. We’ve found students from reasonably good colleges can be groomed to perform equally well as one from a top-notch institute.
Q. Apart from a good academic record, what other
skills are necessary to build a successful biotech career?
A: You must have an aptitude for learning – without this you cannot hope to grow in your career. Analytical and problem-solving skills are also necessary as are communication and presentation skills. Communicating in a technical journal is very different from communicating to a non-technical audience and people need to know how that is done. Knowledge sharing is essential to sustain learning and growth team skills are required to contribute productively as a team.
A: You must have an aptitude for learning – without this you cannot hope to grow in your career. Analytical and problem-solving skills are also necessary as are communication and presentation skills. Communicating in a technical journal is very different from communicating to a non-technical audience and people need to know how that is done. Knowledge sharing is essential to sustain learning and growth team skills are required to contribute productively as a team.
Q. In a biotech firm what is the most sought-after
function? What are some of the non-glamorous but equally important functions?
A: For anybody seeking a career in biotechnology research and marketing seem to be the two most sought-after functions. This is probably because they are the most talked about and in-your-face kind of roles. But you have functions like quality and regulatory that are equally if not more important. But somehow they aren’t viewed as high-profile or glamourous. In fact, getting qualified people for these functions is a tough job and, hence, they are in high demand.
A: For anybody seeking a career in biotechnology research and marketing seem to be the two most sought-after functions. This is probably because they are the most talked about and in-your-face kind of roles. But you have functions like quality and regulatory that are equally if not more important. But somehow they aren’t viewed as high-profile or glamourous. In fact, getting qualified people for these functions is a tough job and, hence, they are in high demand.
Q. What is the selection process at Biocon?
A: For a research role, candidates are grilled extensively on their technical competence. A manufacturing person will be tested on his knowledge of fermentation and other processes. For a marketing role, we look at how self-assured the person is, is he a go-getter and does he have a passion for selling. Marketing people are relatively easier to get compared to R & D and manufacturing. This year we will hire 800-1000 people across various functions – we are screening/interviewing at least 10 times that number. We have a stringent process!
A: For a research role, candidates are grilled extensively on their technical competence. A manufacturing person will be tested on his knowledge of fermentation and other processes. For a marketing role, we look at how self-assured the person is, is he a go-getter and does he have a passion for selling. Marketing people are relatively easier to get compared to R & D and manufacturing. This year we will hire 800-1000 people across various functions – we are screening/interviewing at least 10 times that number. We have a stringent process!
Q. Is Biocon an aspirational career path for
biotechnology students considering the cutting edge R & D work
you’re doing?
A: That’s for others to judge! Let me just say we are a preferred employer in this space if one goes by the number of applications we receive every year from various institutes all over the country.
A: That’s for others to judge! Let me just say we are a preferred employer in this space if one goes by the number of applications we receive every year from various institutes all over the country.
Q. Is it difficult to attract biotech talent,
especially at the middle and senior level?
A: At the junior level, we’ve been able to find the requisite talent. But for leadership roles we’ve had to look outside the country. The good news is that there are a lot of Indians with international experience who are now looking to return and work with home-grown companies doing cutting edge work. And because we enjoy a good branding within the global scientific community we’re able to attract good talent. We are now also mentoring and nurturing some of our home-grown talent for leadership roles.
A: At the junior level, we’ve been able to find the requisite talent. But for leadership roles we’ve had to look outside the country. The good news is that there are a lot of Indians with international experience who are now looking to return and work with home-grown companies doing cutting edge work. And because we enjoy a good branding within the global scientific community we’re able to attract good talent. We are now also mentoring and nurturing some of our home-grown talent for leadership roles.
Q. Does Biocon invest a lot in its people, even at
the junior level?
A: Yes and it’s not about salaries alone. The kind of learning opportunities Biocon offers is unparalled in the industry. Our payback may be longer but in a knowledge-intensive business it’s our people who will differentiate us from others. We encourage people to attend workshops and conferences, both in India and overseas, so that their skill sets improve and they can become specialists. We also encourage people to take up PhD programmes – we have linkages with various universities and institutes that allow our employees to further their academic exposure.
A: Yes and it’s not about salaries alone. The kind of learning opportunities Biocon offers is unparalled in the industry. Our payback may be longer but in a knowledge-intensive business it’s our people who will differentiate us from others. We encourage people to attend workshops and conferences, both in India and overseas, so that their skill sets improve and they can become specialists. We also encourage people to take up PhD programmes – we have linkages with various universities and institutes that allow our employees to further their academic exposure.
Q. Is Indian biotech largely about low-hanging
research fruits rather than core research? Will this impact the talent pool in
the long run?
A: The Indian pharmaceutical sector in general has thrived on generics or me-too products. In the biotech industry, too, most companies are opting for bio-generics. But I wouldn’t necessarily knock this off because through generics/bio-generics you can develop critical mass and capabilities that actually help you move forward and take the risks associated with novel research. In Biocon, we have balanced our portfolio between bio-generics and novel research programmes. The talent you require for bio-generics is no way inferior to novel research. But yes, you have to invest far more because you’re doing something for the first time. Take for instance our oral insulin molecule – currently in Phase III clinical trials. We’ve had to do everything on our own from designing clinical trials to making sure that the trials were statistically significant enough to be accepted by the regulatory authorities. The difference between bio-generics and novel research isn’t so much about talent as management risk appetite.
A: The Indian pharmaceutical sector in general has thrived on generics or me-too products. In the biotech industry, too, most companies are opting for bio-generics. But I wouldn’t necessarily knock this off because through generics/bio-generics you can develop critical mass and capabilities that actually help you move forward and take the risks associated with novel research. In Biocon, we have balanced our portfolio between bio-generics and novel research programmes. The talent you require for bio-generics is no way inferior to novel research. But yes, you have to invest far more because you’re doing something for the first time. Take for instance our oral insulin molecule – currently in Phase III clinical trials. We’ve had to do everything on our own from designing clinical trials to making sure that the trials were statistically significant enough to be accepted by the regulatory authorities. The difference between bio-generics and novel research isn’t so much about talent as management risk appetite.
Q. What would be your advice to students aspiring
for a career in biotechnology?
A: Pursue the subject only if it excites you. Not because it’s the ‘in-thing’ or someone they know is pursuing it. Students must dig deeper, figure out what areas within the broad field of biotechnology interests them and focus on those subjects. There’s no use being a generalist it won’t get you anywhere.
A: Pursue the subject only if it excites you. Not because it’s the ‘in-thing’ or someone they know is pursuing it. Students must dig deeper, figure out what areas within the broad field of biotechnology interests them and focus on those subjects. There’s no use being a generalist it won’t get you anywhere.
A: Yes and it’s not about salaries alone. The kind of learning opportunities Biocon offers is unparalled in the industry. Our payback may be longer but in a knowledge-intensive business it’s our people who will differentiate us from others. We encourage people to attend workshops and conferences, both in India and overseas, so that their skill sets improve and they can become specialists. We also encourage people to take up PhD programmes – we have linkages with various universities and institutes that allow our employees to further their academic exposure.
Q. Is Indian biotech largely about low-hanging research fruits rather than core research? Will this impact the talent pool in the long run?
A: The Indian pharmaceutical sector in general has thrived on generics or me-too products. In the biotech industry, too, most companies are opting for bio-generics. But I wouldn’t necessarily knock this off because through generics/bio-generics you can develop critical mass and capabilities that actually help you move forward and take the risks associated with novel research. In Biocon, we have balanced our portfolio between bio-generics and novel research programmes. The talent you require for bio-generics is no way inferior to novel research. But yes, you have to invest far more because you’re doing something for the first time. Take for instance our oral insulin molecule – currently in Phase III clinical trials. We’ve had to do everything on our own from designing clinical trials to making sure that the trials were statistically significant enough to be accepted by the regulatory authorities. The difference between bio-generics and novel research isn’t so much about talent as management risk appetite.
A: The Indian pharmaceutical sector in general has thrived on generics or me-too products. In the biotech industry, too, most companies are opting for bio-generics. But I wouldn’t necessarily knock this off because through generics/bio-generics you can develop critical mass and capabilities that actually help you move forward and take the risks associated with novel research. In Biocon, we have balanced our portfolio between bio-generics and novel research programmes. The talent you require for bio-generics is no way inferior to novel research. But yes, you have to invest far more because you’re doing something for the first time. Take for instance our oral insulin molecule – currently in Phase III clinical trials. We’ve had to do everything on our own from designing clinical trials to making sure that the trials were statistically significant enough to be accepted by the regulatory authorities. The difference between bio-generics and novel research isn’t so much about talent as management risk appetite.
Q. What would be your advice to students aspiring for a career in biotechnology?
A: Pursue the subject only if it excites you. Not because it’s the ‘in-thing’ or someone they know is pursuing it. Students must dig deeper, figure out what areas within the broad field of biotechnology interests them and focus on those subjects. There’s no use being a generalist it won’t get you anywhere.
A: Pursue the subject only if it excites you. Not because it’s the ‘in-thing’ or someone they know is pursuing it. Students must dig deeper, figure out what areas within the broad field of biotechnology interests them and focus on those subjects. There’s no use being a generalist it won’t get you anywhere.
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