In the same way that Neil Armstrong’s famous moon walk marked the 20th century in history, biotechnology will no doubt leave its signature on the 21st.
Broadly speaking, biotechnology is the industrial use of living organisms or biological processes. Examples of biotechnology products are antibiotics and techniques such as those used in waste recycling.
In many ways this is still uncharted territory and there are many concerns about some of the developments in biotechnology. Ethical debates are raging around issues such as genetic modification, stem-cell research and cloning. Genetic modification, for example, where genetic material from one living organism is added to another, in effect creates a new life form.
Supporters of genetic modification say the process can create valuable new products, such as seeds that are resistant to diseases and harsh climates, resulting in higher crop yields. Future possibilities include engineering fast foods that are not only tasty but also have nutritional or healing properties.
But detractors say the science has the potential to shake up natural ecosystems, resulting in the loss of biodiversity and the demise of certain species. They also question the long-term health consequences of genetic modification. A further concern is whether it is ethical for large corporate monopolies to have control over living organisms.
‘The problem is that, because so much research is sponsored by corporates, there is no independent research taking place,” says Leslie Liddell, director of BioWatch, an NGO pressure group that monitors genetic modification activity in the country.
She adds: ‘Young people entering the profession should be aware that no scientists can operate without taking into account the human rights issues and the ethical and socio-economic issues for people. People cannot interfere in the creation of life without questioning their actions.”
Whether it is right or wrong, biotechnology is a growing industry with a wide range of new career paths opening up.
From the pure scientific angle, there are new opportunities in areas such as genetically modified seeds and foodstuffs, and medical and pharmaceutical research.
The ethical concerns have also opened up new career opportunities. Typical careers include working for NGOs and pressure groups that are pressing for better monitoring of genetic modification, wider public participation and better public understanding of biotechnology. There are also those who work as consultants and experts for environmental lawyers.
Biotechnology is stirring up change in a wide range of other disciplines, including engineering, forensics and sociology.
The Department of Science and Technology’s public understanding of biotechnology website says career prospects in biotechnology are good.
‘This is because the more we learn about genetics and how to use it, the more jobs or disciplines are opened up.
‘For instance, when it first became possible to screen people for diseases, scientists didn’t realise the impact these tests would have on the patients. They soon became aware that if they wanted to do these screening tests, the patients would need to be counselled both before and after the tests were carried out.
‘This realisation gave rise to the discipline of genetics counselling, which is now an accepted field of study,” the site says.
Career choices
Many universities have responded to the new developments in biotechnology and offer biotechnology programmes and courses.
Careers in biotechnology include jobs in a wide range of sectors, including agriculture, engineering and industry. Biotechnology also affects disciplines such as food technology, medical and pharmaceutical research, and it has military applications too. The controversy around some aspects of biotechnology has given rise to careers that focus on human and environmental rights and ethics. Some careers in the field of biotechnology include:
Genetists: These are scientists who study genes, which are the building blocks of heredity. They can work with genetic disorders, determining what causes these disorders and exploring medical solutions to these problems.
Food technologists: Food scientists look at the way biotechnology can improve food quality, shelf life, production and the control over these procedures.
Bioinformatics: This is the application of computer and statistical techniques to collect, manage and analyse large amounts of biological data. It relies on computer networks and databases to analyse things such as DNA sequence information and data.
Biomedical engineering: Biomedical engineering is concerned with the development and manufacture of prostheses, medical devices, diagnostic devices, drugs and other therapies. It applies engineering principles and techniques to the field of medicine.
DNA forensic scientists: These forensic scientists work on analysing genetic material and organisms to identify DNA sequences of species and even of individuals. Forensic scientists scan 13 DNA regions that vary from person to person to create a DNA profile or fingerprint. This individual fingerprint can be used in everything from paternity testing to assisting crime investigators.
Activists:Activists who work for NGOs, or consult for people such as environmental lawyers, monitor developments in modern biotechnology. They are mostly concerned with issues around the ethics of cross-species genetic modification, and the ethics of large corporations holding the intellectual property rights to things such as genetically modified seeds. They also lobby for greater public participation and better legislation to protect the public and the environment.