INTRODUCTION
Master of Science (MSc) Biotechnology is a postgraduate degree in life sciences. It has a duration of two years. Biotechnology is the branch of science that involves the application of biological processes in animals, plants, and micro-organisms in research, engineering, technology, medicine, and manufacturing to produce useful bioproducts. The course is usually taken after a three-year BSc graduate degree in science or life science subjects. The MSc Biotechnology course prepares candidates for application and research-based careers. The course emphasizes on the theoretical and practical fundamentals and applications of Biotechnology. It is an interdisciplinary subject and involves basic concepts of Biology, Chemistry, and Mathematics. Important and useful concepts involving the application of biological products and resources in developing and designing new biological techniques, using renewable sources of energy, replacing non-renewable resources, manufacturing important antibiotics and enzymes, developing fast and advanced diagnostic kits, fermentation to produce useful products, and packaging and preservation of food resources are taught in the course. Students are prepared for roles in fermentation processes, antibiotic extraction and manufacture, enzyme extraction, recombinant DNA technology, genetic engineering, pharmaceutical development, and nutraceuticals.
Subjects involved in MSc Biotechnology are core areas related to microbial strain development and improvement, waste water management and treatment, soil purification, nanotechnology, environmental conservation and technology, agricultural development, industrial technology, evolutionary and genetic techniques, strain enhancement and improvement, cell and molecular biology, immunology and diagnostics, genetics and genomes, proteomics, food technology and preservation, clinical standardization, enzymology, and antibiotic extraction and purification.
The course builds personal skills like communication, attention to detail, leadership, teamwork, logic, presentation, public demonstration and speaking, and analysis; and professional and social skills like planning and execution, problem-solving, research, critical thinking, analytical thinking, and reasoning.
SCOPE OF MSC BIOTECHNOLOGY
MSc Biotechnology graduates have many opportunities in the fields of Science, Research, and Technology. Students have many opportunities in different areas and sectors:
