Andhra Pradesh - Kurnool   

Biotech will play key role in future: SKU V-C

Staff Reporter

Creation of Department of Biotechnology termed a right step

NEW VISTAS: A. Rama Rao (extreme right), Vice-Chancellor of S. K. University, inaugurating an awareness workshop on Biotechnology in Kurnool on Sunday.

KURNOOL : Sri Krishnadevaraya University Vice-Chancellor A. Rama Rao has said the next revolution in the job market will be driven by biotechnology after the Information Technology.

Addressing students after inaugurating a workshop sponsored by Ravindra Degree College for Women here on Sunday, he said biotechnology would play a key role in medicine, agriculture, food production, industrial development and pharmaceuticals.

Largest industry

G. Pakki Reddy, coordinator of AP Netherlands Biotechnology Programme, said biotechnology already overcome the nascent troubles and emerged as one of the largest industry with a business turnover of 54,613 million dollars employing 1,83,820 scientists by 4,416 companies in the world.

He explained that biotechnology required huge investments for setting up world-class laboratories and highly skilled scientists. Ethical issues, technical problems, financial constraints and Trade Agreements were going to come in the way of fast growth of biotechnology.

He said students should join those institutions with well-equipped laboratories and experienced teachers.

He said the Union Government provided a right direction by creating a separate Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and allotting an amount of Rs. 325 crores.

Earlier, addressing the workshop, Dr. Reddy said stem cell research, cloning technology and mutilation of DNA were going to turn into reality all wild imaginations. With recombinant DNA, the genetic characters of a plant, animal or human being could be altered. The `cut and paste' method in a computer could be applied to DNA structure to replace the particular part dealing with the specific character. Genetic material from animals could be injected into plants and human beings and vice versa.

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