Biotechnology is one of today’s most rapidly growing sciences, and one of the most exciting. It involves using living organisms to create new products or processes in fields such as healthcare, agriculture, food, aquaculture, environment, forestry and mining.  Search for Biotechnology programs in Canada.

It is most often associated with genetically modified foods and drug production, but its applications are much broader. Biotechnology has been used for gene therapy, new vaccines, regenerating forests, treating waste, and producing cleaner coal and petroleum.

If you’re interested in a career in this groundbreaking field, consider pursuing your studies in Canada, one of the world’s leaders in biotechnology. There are over 400 core biotechnology companies across the country, second only to the United States. Canada is also fifth in terms of the number of U.S. genomics patents secured between 1990 and 1998.

Canada has always been a source of scientific innovation, from the discovery of insulin in 1922 to the pioneering work of Canadian scientists in genome sequencing. Some recent Canadian achievements include:

• Sequencing the genome of the corona virus implicated in SARS (Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre)
• Sequencing human chromosome 7, which will help advance knowledge of the genetic sources of cystic fibrosis, leukemia and autism
• Discovering two powerful genes encoding proteins that tell a cell when to die, which may help prevent abnormal cell death or growth (University of Waterloo)
• Reversing breast cancer in lab mice, which may help prevent or reverse breast cancer in humans (McGill University)
• Discovering a “switch” that turns immune responses on in animals, which could help boost immune response in humans (University of British Columbia)

There are many academic paths leading to careers in biotechnology. At the undergraduate level, you can take a Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology, or a specialization such as Agricultural Biotechnology. Degrees in traditional life sciences such as Microbiology, Biochemistry, Cell Biology, and Genetics can also prepare you for work in this field. Those who already have a Bachelor of Science degree may earn a Certificate in Biotechnology to upgrade existing skills.

Masters of Biotechnology programs are available at the graduate level, but science and technical programs are not your only choices. Some MBA programs offer specializations in Biotechnology to supply the management skills needed to further the growth of this industry.

Your career in this exciting field can begin in Canada. Click here to search for Biotechnology programs in Canada .