Biotechnology: a field of evolution

By:
Jorge G. Orozco G.

Biotechnology is the applied science of biology, it specializes in applying engineering concepts

into organic tissues and organisms. This career is a branch of biology, similar on some aspects,
nonetheless it is centered on more complex ideas. There are many work opportunities for a person with
this title; the chances to work range from experiments on bacteria in a lab, to a person taking care of
zoo animals. Ive always liked nature, being on the field would be the ideal job for me. I enjoy testing
plants and reptiles, some jobs with these descriptions match genetic experimentation and herpetology
breeder.
There are many places where biotechnology can be studied, it is an evolving career with
exponential growth. Developed countries are more likely to have this field on their universities,
nonetheless Mexico holds a handful of colleges that teach the subject. There are several types of
biotechnologists, two of them are technologists and technicians. These subjects work on labs.
Technologists

and

technicians

can

either

be

general

or

specialize

in

particular

field(http://www.genengnews.com/insight-and-intelligence/top-ten-biotech-jobs-most-in-demandover-the-next-decade/77899666/). Guadalajara (Mexico) has one main college that teaches the subject:
Tecnolgico de Monterrey, among others. Texas (United States) has a lot of universities that offer the
career and give scholarship to Mexican citizens. The tuition in Mexico moves around $65,000 pesos a
semester ($10,000 dollars a year).
The job itself its easy to find, but the person with the ideals of a bio mechanic is another story.
Biotechnologys goal is to make better organic products: milk, chocolate, wheat; anything that is
necessary for human consumption. This branch can help these products by modifying their genes or
making their surroundings more ideal. Recent advances in biotechnology are helping us prepare for and
meet societys most pressing challenges (https://www.bio.org/articles/what-biotechnology).
I am not a very good following somebody else, I would like to work on a company that works to
make global solutions but rather stick to being on my own. As a bio technician it is required to have
equipment for some jobs like crop engineering, which would be one of my fields of interest, however an
individual can proceed on his/her own using biology skills. A self-employed biologist handles his own life

and time focus. As an owner you can breed and export several animals, or you can also modify and
combine plants at a home-made vivarium, it is possible to transform many grain legumes
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0734975014000950), even at a private property.
To expand my research I interviews Miss Paloma, a biologists who teaches the subject to high
school students at Instituto Thomas Jefferson. Her answers were satisfying and made me more
interested in the career itself. She clarifies to me the meaning of the field, for Biotechnology is an
applied use of biology, biology is a general picture. Biotechnology ranges for industry and human use.
You can use it for economic sector, social and health (Miss Paloma, 2014). The teacher also expanded
my point of view of where and how I could work as a biotechnologist; Being a biologist, you can work
with microorganism, you can work on eco-systems, (biomes), zoology, botany, you can do a lot of
things (Miss Paloma, 2014).
At the end of the research I find myself fascinated with the chances of success and selfimprovement I might achieve as a biotechnologist, this definitely is a career I would like to study and
follow. The journey through college will take five years, and finding a good/stable job might take even
longer, but the risk is worth the rewards. My dream from now to ten years is to be a house owner with
my own breeding facility at a coastal city where I can study the flora and fauna.
Sources:
https://www.bio.org/articles/what-biotechnology
http://www.genengnews.com/insight-and-intelligence/top-ten-biotech-jobs-most-in-demand-over-thenext-decade/77899666/
http://jobs.sanofi.us/us/portland-%28or%29/sales/jobid4943997-clinical-science-associateoregon_alaska&ss=paid?apstr=%26src%3DJB-10223
http://www.indeed.com/q-Biotechnology-jobs.html
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0734975014000950

INTERVIEW
SUBJECT: Miss Yolanda
AREA: Biology, teaching
NO. OF QUESTIONS:

1. Dnde estudi su carrera? Su especialidad es la biologa, estoy en lo correcto?

In UDG.

2. Cunto tiempo dur su carrera? Se le hizo difcil?

5 years, it wasnt difficult. It wasnt impossible but it does demand effort.

3. Trabaj en algo relacionado con la biologa antes de ser maestra?

Like a lab assistant. She was helping a teacher do her experiment, she did samples and took notes.

4. Cules son los trabajos que se pueden hacer siendo bilogo?

Being a biologist, you can work with microorganism, you can work on eco-systems, (biomes),
zoology, botany, you can do a lot of things. It also serves for medical research like neurology. You
can help research phylogeny, that has to do with evolution.

5. Cul es la diferencia entre la biologa y la biotecnologa?

Biotecnology is an applied use of biology, biology is a general picture. Biotecnology ranges for
industry and human use. You can use it for economic sector, social and healt.

6. Sabe si la industria est desarrollada en Mxico?

It is begining to deploy. You can take whichever path you want, it is a personal choice. On UDG you
have investigators from the CONACIT government, you can work with them.