Biotechnology is a broad term for all technologies that utilize biological systems, living organisms, or their parts to develop or create different products. This course covers topics ranging from the development of climate-resilient and herbicide-resistant crops using CRISPR/Cas to the development of mRNA therapies and the usage of fungi for removing contaminants from the environment. The course aims to give you an extensive overview of recent developments in biotechnology and the broad array of possibilities within this field. The course will start with an overview of molecular techniques available for biotechnology. Different topics and applications will be discussed, such as metabolic engineering, food production, prevention of infectious diseases, and applications of biotechnology in medicine. In addition, other aspects related to biotechnology, such as intellectual property rights, ethical concerns, and the marketability of a product, are discussed. Throughout the course, guest speakers from different universities, companies and institutes will highlight career prospects within the biotechnology field. Volunteer visits to companies are organized to help students better understand how the knowledge about biology is used in the plant, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries.
