How Research Biotechnology Is Changing Lives

Research biotechnology is one of the most important disciplines in contemporary science, because of the potential it has to change lives throughout the world. It is possible for food crops to be made far more resistant to disease and even climatic conditions, and it is also possible for more and better food to be produced from the same area of ground. It is possible for biotechnology in the pharmaceutical industry to produce new drugs, and also to produce existing drugs in far greater quantities for a cheaper price than can be achieved with conventional technology.

The benefits do not come quickly or easily, and there is inevitably a long period of time before an idea becomes commercially viable in the real world. Biotechnology has followed the long established pattern of growing industries, in that it started in an extremely small way with a handful of scientists postulating as to what may be possible in the future. These scientists were hand picked from other organizations, or from within the same organization if a scientific company was going to be entering the biotechnology market. These scientists were the original researchers, and in the case of biotechnology they were able to find venture capital to fund their research.

The reason that biotechnology has been relatively well funded is that it is going to be serving two of the largest markets in the entire commercial sector. The food market is obviously always going to be measured in the billions of dollars, as it satisfies one of the most fundamental needs of humanity. The pharmaceutical industry also has a huge market capitalization, and is prepared to pay huge money for anything which will help it to produce drugs more cheaply or to sell them in larger quantities. As of now, few biotechnology companies are in profit, but the backers are confident that this will change.

Biotech engineering

The research biotechnology industries have been able to carry out in the agricultural sector has determined several ways in which food crops can be improved. The most obvious and well publicized of these is the creation of crops which are resistant to pests and disease. This brings the possibility of reducing, or even eliminating, the use of chemical insecticides in commercial farming. It is also possible to produce crops which are resistant to extreme temperatures or drought, reducing the numbers of crops lost to extreme weather and bringing in the possibility of exporting crops to countries which could not previously grow them.

In the pharmaceutical industry, research is at a more primitive stage. We have learned much, even to the extent of being able to clone an animal from another of the same species. The technology which is nearest to the point where it could be used commercially is that of using plants to grow larger quantities of drugs. This could help with increasing insulin supplies throughout the world, relieving diabetics of a great deal of concern over rising prices or dwindling supplies. It could also allow supplies to be created and grown in the developing world.

Working in research biotechnology is obviously extremely demanding, but it can offer exceptional rewards. These are financial rewards, and also the satisfaction of knowing that you are making a genuine contribution to a better world for people to live in. Any research position will require a college degree of some kind, in a scientific subject. This can be obtained through online study if you are not able to commit to a four or six year course on a college campus. While you are studying, you can also take the time to study the job market in research biotechnology.

 

 

Biotech News:

 

Marina Biotech Announces That Licensee Mirna Therapeutics Reported Initiation of a Phase 1 Clinical Trial of .
Marina Biotech, Inc. , a leading nucleic acid-based drug discovery and development company, today announced that the Company's licensee, Mirna Therapeutics, has reported that they have initiated a Phase ...


Biotech ETF Rallies Over 30% as Cash Tumbles In
The iShares Biotech ETF (NasdaqGM: IBB) is up more than 30% so far in 2013 and other exchange traded funds tracking the sector are raking in money are investors chase the hot performance. Other funds in ...


Idaho spud giant bets on biotech potatoes - KXAN.com

Idaho spud giant bets on biotech potatoes
KXAN.com
This month, tuber processing giant J.R. Simplot Co. asked the U.S. government to approve five varieties of biotech potatoes. They're engineered not to develop ugly black bruises. McDonald's, which gets many of its fries from Simplot, rejects those .

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'Abenomics' lifts biotech ventures - The Japan Times

'Abenomics' lifts biotech ventures
The Japan Times
The venture is valued at about „158 billion and its technology was cited in discussions by a panel set up by Abe to discuss government stimulus measures in the biotech and energy industries. Japan Tissue Engineering Co. has surged ninefold this year .

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Former Serono site to become biotech campus - GenevaLunch news

Former Serono site to become biotech campus
GenevaLunch news
Half of this surface will be occupied by the Wyss Institute for Bio- and Neuro- Engineering, the other half by research groups from EPFL and UNIGE. EURœFor the remaining available spaces, Campus Biotech will seek to attract start-ups, industry and other .
Swiss Billionaires Buy Merck Geneva Building for Biotech CampusBloomberg
Multimillion-dollar biotech project buys out former pharma site in GenevaNature.com (blog)
Swiss billionaires create major biotech campus at former Serono siteFierceBiotech

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TNI BioTech, Inc. Corporation's CEO Issues Letter to Shareholders Discussing Recent Events
BETHESDA, Md., May 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- TNI BioTech, Inc.,  (OTC PINK: TNIB), a biotech company combating fatal diseases through the activation and mobilization of the body's immune system using its ...


Organic Lobby Attacks Biotech Advances, Obscures Own Sustainability And Nutrition Doubletalk
As the Genetic Literacy Project reports, the organic industry has a direct commercial interest in sowing confusion and doubt about genetically engineered crops and food ingredients derived from them...


 

 

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