Introduction

Content Provider: Dr. Jaya Sivaswami Tyagi

Biotechnology has emerged as a major force not only in industrial terms but also as a discipline where in frontier areas of biology are being integrated to enhance the quality of human life. The development of immunology and molecular biology have been integrated with modern virology, microbiology and fermentation technology to yield rich dividends in the form of medical products such as insulin, erythropoietin etc., as well as sensitive and specific diagnostic procedure for infectious diseases and inherited disorders. In addition the newer therapeutics are envisaged to be genetically engineered cytokines such as interferons and interleukins. Gene therapy to correct inherited disorder is being actively pursued. These global developments need to be understood and harnessed by the medical personnel in India at all the levels viz. Undergraduate, postgraduate students, teachers and clinicians. With these objectives Department of Biotechnology the first department of Medical Biotechnology in the country was established at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in 1986 for teaching and research in the areas of Medical Biotechnology.