By Cat Holmes

University of Georgia

From DNA fingerprinting to genetically engineered crops, the
business of biotechnology – using cellular and molecular
processes to solve problems or make products – is booming. The
industry’s revenues more than tripled from $8 billion in 1992 to
$27.6 billion in 2001.

To help meet the need for skilled workers and to provide a
groundwork for those who want to pursue a professional degree or
graduate school in the field, the University of Georgia will
offer students a new major, applied biotechnology, in fall
2003.

“With so many faculty at UGA involved in biotechnology research
and development, and so many people moving into biotechnology
careers, we think this major is a natural development,” said
Michael Adang, a biochemist and entomologist with the UGA College
of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Adang is a
co-director of the program.

The degree will incorporate classes from a number of
biology-based departments: entomology; animal sciences; crop and
soil sciences; poultry science; horticulture; plant pathology;
food science; and agricultural leadership, education and
communication.

“This is a major for people who are interested in biology with
applications and outcomes,” said UGA plant geneticist Wayne
Parrott, the other co-director.

“There is such a need for people working in this field today,”
Parrott said. “Let’s face it. Even laundry detergents are now the
products of biotechnology.”

The first two years of the program will provide a core of science
courses with hands-on methodology, Parrott said. “Students will
learn the fundamentals of biochemistry, molecular genetics and
cell biology, including DNA extraction, protein extraction and
all that’s essential to working with DNA.”

Early on, Parrott and Adang will advise students in the program.
“We want to get them on track and get them through the first two
years,” Adang said.

Once the basics are in place, students will specialize in one of
three areas: plant, animal or food science. Faculty from
appropriate departments will advise and mentor students in their
specialty fields for their final two years.

An internship or independent study will be part of the major’s
requirement. It will allow students to obtain the hands-on
experience needed both to work with biotech companies or go on
for further studies.

If the class Adang and biochemist Michael Pierce have offered for
the last four years is any indication, the new major should be
quite popular.

“Our class has provided a nice, enthusiastic introduction to
biotechnology topics, and we’ve grown from 25 students to 70
students,” said Adang.

Adang and Parrott modeled the applied biotechnology program after
a similar one begun by the University of Kentucky in 1995.

“It has been a very successful degree program for us,” said Glenn
Collins, director of undergraduate studies for the UK applied
agricultural biotechnology program. “About 20 percent of our
students go to work for private biotech companies and the other
80 percent go on to get professional degrees or to graduate
school.”

More information about the new major can be found at
http://www.uga.edu/discover/.