Are you fascinated by biology and how living organisms work? Have you always dreamed of working in a laboratory? Would you like to be on the cutting edge of scientific advancement in a field that touches almost every part of our lives today?
Biotechnology may not be a career field that you’ve considered — but it’s time to think now about the exciting and challenging jobs that are possible with today’s rapidly expanding technologies.
What is biotechnology? Although it encompasses a group of technologies, biotechnology by its simplest definition is using living things to make products or processes.
Traditional biotechnology techniques — which have been used for centuries — include using microorganisms to:
- Make bread (yeast is a microorganism)
- Produce food and beverages such as beer, wine and cheese through fermentation
- Selectively breed plants and animals to improve their genetic qualities
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Recently, the word has come to refer to the production of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) or the manufacture of products from genetically modified microorganisms. Remember Dolly, the cloned sheep? Current applications include:
- Genetically engineering crops for higher and better food production
- Using biopesticides to improve food plants and reduce dependence on conventional chemical pesticides
- Creating medical diagnostic tests, such as home pregnancy test kits and tests to keep the blood supply free of HIV and other diseases
- DNA fingerprinting for criminal investigation and forensic medicine
- Using microbes and genetically engineered plants to clean up environmental pollution
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The industry and its applications are expanding so rapidly that the U.S. Department of Labor’s Career Voyages for in-demand occupations has named biotechnology one of the nation’s three top emerging industries.
Biotechnology was also identified by President George W. Bush in his High Growth Job Training Initiative as one of 14 industry sectors that will add a substantial number of new jobs to the economy but desperately need more trained workers.
According to the Biotechnology Institute’s industry facts, the biotechnology industry generates nearly $40 billion a year in the United States. The industry is regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Biotechnology Degree and Certificate Options
El Centro College’s program in Biotechnology includes a two-year associate degree and one-year certificate:
Many students who earn an associate degree in Biotechnology double-major in Medical Laboratory Technology at El Centro College.
DCCCD Offers Labor Department’s Other Top Technology Programs
DCCCD also offers programs in the other two of the top three emerging industries identified by the U.S. Department of Labor — geospatial technology (which includes geographic information systems) and nanotechnology.
Geographic Information Systems Technology
Discover more about the GIS degrees and certificates DCCCD has to offer, including career information, how to get started in GIS and much more.
Nanotechnology
Richland College offers the Nanotechnology Associate in Applied Sciences degree, preparing students to perform the duties of an entry-level nanotechnician in research and development and in manufacturing industries.
Other Degree and Certificate Options
The Dallas County Community College District offers nearly 350 career and technical degrees and certificates, plus 36 academic degrees. For more information, see a chart of our degree plans by location.