Biotechnology is a rapidly developing field that cannot be narrowly described and defined. It can however be defined as “any technological application that uses biological systems, living organisms, or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or processes for specific use. 

Biotechnology can improve agriculture, health and the environment and create jobs. More meaningful, intensive and extensive trainings are now being offered by various Colleges and Universities worldwide. Whereas some countries have never developed biotechnology policies, others are completely opposed to its commercialization. They are consequently curbing employment opportunities. In Africa, only South Africa has moved towards commercializing biotechnology. Many careers can be created through commercializing biotechnology.

Careers in Research: Biotechnology involves research in agriculture, biology, genetics, and medicine with a view of unraveling genetic codes that govern biological processes of different forms of life so that they can be understood and, when appropriate, modified. Life science researchers may work in an academic environment such as a University, a company or government agency.

Law Enforcement: Forensic biotechnology uses DNA finger printing. Biotechnologists can use this to place a suspect at the scene of crime. The concept is based on the fact that each individual's DNA is highly unlikely to be identical to any other person's unless they are identical twins. By examining traces of tissue, hair, tooth pulp, blood, or any other body fluids left at the scene of a crime, a suspect can be traced with great accuracy. With increasing rape and robbery, this tool would be very important in apprehending culprits. By introducing this study and training young people who are studying law, an extra channel of employment would be created.

Commercializing biotechnology would give rise to regulatory officials who would develop guidelines for research and development of new products and processes. They would review proposed research plans, assess product safety and approve plans before implementation. In addition, Patent lawyers would help scientists, companies, or universities protect their legal rights to new discoveries and file patent applications for their clients.

Biotechnology Products: After a product is approved for use, many people are required to manufacture it, direct the manufacturing process, ensure quality control, and market it. A biotechnology company would offer similar career opportunities as any other manufacturing business hence create job opportunities. Sales people would work with dealers and distributors of biotechnology products.

Education: Biotechnology's impact on human health, food industry, and the other areas calls for decision about the use of biotechnology products. The industry would lead to demand of extension professionals from public Universities, leaders of farmer groups, political and environmental organizations to facilitate informed decisions.

Public Relations: Commercializing biotechnology would call for people who would disseminate understandable information on biotechnology products and processes by translating complex scientific information about new discoveries for nonscientists. This would be a big job opportunity for the youth as they are very good in advocacy and sensitization programs, aggressive, energetic and influential.

Biotechnology's Impact on Human Health Careers

Diseases render people economically unproductive and reverse gains made in development. Use of biotechnology to eliminate diseases means development will be achieved hence employment opportunities will be created.

Human insulin for the treatment of diabetes, one of the first genetically engineered products to become commercially available, was marketed in 1982. Since then, biotechnologists have been working to develop new ways to detect and fight disease. Research on the use of Genetic engineering to produce drugs that treat AIDS, by stimulating the body's own immune system to fight the disease is on. Synthetic vaccines for HIV virus have been developed as the HIV virus itself could not be used.

Diseases such as anemia, cystic fibrosis, Huntington's disease, and some blood disorders, result from defective genes that parents pass to their children. Biotechnologists are working to identify and locate areas where defects occur in genes that are related to hereditary diseases. Medics hope to replace the missing or defective genes. Biotechnology is being used to treat cancer. Genetically engineered proteins called lymphokines work with the body's immune system to attack cancer cells. Growth inhibitor proteins slow the reproduction of cancer cells. Antibodies can be loaded with poisons that locate and destroy cancer cells.
 
Heart attacks occur when a blood clot enters one of the coronary arteries and cuts off blood flow to a portion of the heart. If the artery is not reopened quickly, severe damage to the heart can occur. A genetically engineered drug called tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) travels to the blood clot and breaks it up within minutes, restoring blood flow to the heart and lessening the chance of permanent damage.

Risks

Some of the perceived risks of biotechnology are based on unfounded fears. My father never used a tractor to plough, claiming that it would spoil his land. He never produced enough food on his large piece of land. He only tilled a small portion of it because of using traditional methods of cultivation. Pessimism and precaution should never be used as an excuse for cowardice. Everything in life involves risk. Medical drugs are harmful as well as curative. Flying is risky but people still board planes. In the 15th Century, Bartholomew Diaz sailed the Atlantic Ocean but stalled at the “Cape of Storms.” Prince Henry of Portugal reversed the name to “Cape of Good Hope” to expel fear from other sailors.

Some people in Africa are against genetically engineered foods, yet they consume them ignorantly or knowingly! In 2000, Kenya imported food aid maize from the United States and Canada to help feed citizens at food risk because of severe drought. Officials conceded that this food aid probably had GM content. Politicians who are so much opposed to commercialization of biotechnology travel often to USA. Do they carry their own food from Africa? I am sure they do not. Professor Bruce Chassy of Illinois University, USA says there is no labeling of GM foods in the US. Therefore can African prominent people deny eating GM food when they go to USA?

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) notes that “Biotechnology provides powerful tools for the sustainable development of agriculture, fisheries and forestry, and can be of significant help in meeting the food needs of a growing and increasingly urbanized population.” In the case of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), however, FAO calls for "a cautious case-by-case approach to determine the benefits and risks of each individual GMO" and to address the "legitimate concerns for the biosafety of each product and process prior to its release. We can develop the relevant policies for the implementation of the biotechnology programs instead of sitting on the fence.