I am a firm believer
in the reasoning that
a true biotechnologist
in India is born when
a child is spellbound
after reading about
basic food and fibre
production in his class
sixth NCERT science
textbook, when he
watches a superhero
flick and for a second
supposes that it might
not be impossible
after all, and when he
believes that after all
this time, the next step
in human evolution
and the secret of
immortality is not in
the hands of a higher
magical being, but
within our nucleic acid
combinations.
The point being,
biotechnology, in its
essence, is almost
a mystical subject,
literally providing
its master the
power to control
and manipulate
the brainchild of
this Universe –
Life itself. It is an
all-encompassing
alchemy of science
and art taking shelter
in an ever raging
war between ethics,
breakthroughs and
the greater good.
Fearing this immense
power and the risks
arising from such an
uncontrolled potential,
we ourselves have put
justifiable restrictions
and regulations to its
use.
Acceptance of this
realization is the
greatest challenge for
the youth about to
pursue biotechnology.
The realization that
it is not just another
bifurcation of a
biological stream, but
a highly specialized
science which decides
what and how the
future eats, wears,
cleans, breathes, lives,
heals, fuels, and most
importantly, survives.
Understanding the
challenges at the
micro level
The key lies in
proper orientation
and guidance, and
most importantly,
factually leading the
students to believe that,
biotechnology is, indeed
the future, the boom
is a real thing and the
$100 billion dream is not
impossible
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