Difference Between Biotechnology and Bioinformatics

Let’s see the meaning of both the terms Bioinformatics and Biotechnology.

What is Bioinformatics?

Bioinformatics is the implication of logic and principles of information technology in the field of molecular biology. It is is the study to get the information stored in certain types of biological data using the application of computer technology. It enables scientists to submit, analyze, and search the information using a globally accessible database.

The use of bioinformatics in the last few years is in genetics and genomics, particularly in those areas which include large scale DNA sequencing. All the management and analysis issues of biological data can be easily solved by bioinformatics algorithms, statistical, and computational techniques.

Some of the common activities related to bioinformatics are aligning protein sequences, and DNA, viewing and creating 3-D models of protein structures, and mapping and analyzing DNA and protein sequences.

What is Biotechnology?

Biotechnology is one of the fastest pacing scientific fields that has seen huge advances in the last years. It is an interdisciplinary stream that includes many different subjects from biology, mathematics, chemistry, physics, engineering, and many more. Also, it has a lot of technical and engineering applications. As the name itself suggests that, it is a combination of biology and technology. Use of biological constituents like systems and organisms to make useful products for the betterment of humans.

Biotechnology is used to make a product for specific use by using biological systems. It overlaps various fields like bioengineering and related fields, because of its varied applications. The use of biotechnology is expanding to various scientific fields such as seed technology, agriculture, cell biology, virology, immunology, plant physiology, etc.

But both the fields are interrelated and mainly bioinformatics is dependent on biotechnology.

Career options in Bioinformatics

Bioinformatics is one of the fastest-growing career fields and an emerging scientific field. The focus of the course is to employ existing bioinformatics resources- mainly databases and web-based programs. The job is highly hands-on and aims to answer the questions relevant to an average biologist.

There are different career opportunities available which are Database programmer, Scientific curator, gene and protein analyst, phylogenetics, bioinformatics software developer, Research associate/scientist, pharmacogenetics, computational biologist, Bio-statistician, cheminformatics, Molecular modeler, biomechanics.

Who can study bioinformatics?

• Students who studied in the science stream in class 11th and 12th can pursue a bachelor’s degree course in bioinformatics.
• Some colleges in India offer Bachelor of Technology courses in bioinformatics.
• Candidates who have a bachelor’s degrees in the field of bioinformatics can opt for master’s doctoral-level courses in India as well as in foreign universities.

Career options in Biotechnology

Career options in biotechnology are immense. For all the students who have an interest in the field of biotech and wish to use their passion, you have got an abundance of career options in Biotechnology. In the current situation where we see amazing discoveries, innovative products, and new applications in the market every day, there are immense opportunities for students in almost every sector ranging from pharmaceuticals, medicines, agriculture, environmental conservation, nutrition, animal husbandry, etc. Many world-known organizations offer great resources for entry-level biotechnology students.

Bio-technologists work as frontline workers for the search of new and sustainable food resources. As a biotechnologist, you can work in various sectors like food manufacturing, health care, environmental sector, industrial sector, medical sector, and the pharmaceutical industry.

Who can study biotechnology?

• Students with science biology or science maths in class 12th can choose biotechnology as their bachelor course. There are various 3-year and 4-year courses available for interested students. They can pursue a Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Technology in biotechnology.
• For a master’s degree in biotechnology, students can pursue M.Tech or M.Sc after their bachelor’s.
• Students who have done a bachelor’s in the life sciences can do PG in biotechnology.
• Students can also opt for research and development by pursuing Ph.D. degrees in biotechnology.

Job prospects in Biotechnology

Looking at the advancements Biotechnology is making, it can be easily stated that Biotechnology is the new and bright future of the world.

Job prospects of biotechnology in India would see huge growth with COVID pandemic as new medicines would be researched, new immunity boosters would be developed and new work would be performed in many biotechnology relevant sectors.

The job in biotechnology is related to both dry and wet laboratory works that include jobs like sample extraction, preparation, and various further process. The field of work is related to genetics, microbiology, molecular biology, biochemistry, etc.

Candidates can get jobs in various sectors like pharmaceutical companies, food companies, research labs, agriculture department, enzyme labs, soil department. Medical institutes etc.

In easy language, it is the usage of biological processes and technologies to make new products for the betterment of the livelihood of human beings.

Job prospects in bioinformatics

Today, whatever research and laboratory work is performed in medial or biological labs produces use data sets that are hard to be analyzed and handled. So for the changing and developing medical and biological researches, bioinformatics is a must analyze this data set with the usage of information technology.

Candidates can get jobs in various fields like agriculture, medicine, chemistry, pharmaceuticals, and chemistry.

It is mainly related to dry laboratory works, where bioinformatics uses the biotechnology samples to deeply analyze using them with computer software. Bioinformatics job roles include the usage of software tools and databases to easily answer biological questions more effectively. Job roles for bioinformatic students can be a science technician, bioinformatics analyst, research associate, junior research fellow, bioinformatics scientist, etc.

Scope in Biotechnology and Bioinformatics

Both fields have a lot of options to start your career. These fields are equally good from the perspective of job and salary. Based on your interest level you can choose to start your career in any field and excel.