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There is great excitement as we sail towards a new millennium
along the scientific current. As astronomers are
arguing about the age of the universe, physicists
are close to a unifying hypothesis to describe
fundamental particles and energy. Global warming
will bring new problems for ecologists and agriculturalists
to solve, and applications of molecular biology
in medicine give the potential for curing fatal
genetic diseases.
 Arguably
the most exciting developments to affect the life
of ordinary people everywhere will be those stemming
from the advances made in molecular genetics and
protein structure, as the basic science becomes
more widely applied. In recent months, considerable
public controversy has erupted in Europe over
the use of genetically modified crops, although
in China major programmes are in place for their
use to feed a growing population. It is anticipated
that the sequence of the human genome will be
available within a year or two. Such knowledge
will allow exploration for new methods of treating
medical conditions, and by early genetic screening,
the potential for those people with a predisposition
to illness to modify their lifestyle to avoid
problems.
As the science expands, so will the industry
based upon it. Companies developing molecular
diagnostic kits or new crops will be founded.
As bacteria and fungi can be transformed to perform
chemical reactions more cheaply than currently
available in traditional chemical plants, molecular
biologists and microbiologists will be needed
to develop and monitor the processes.
The expansion of 'biotechnological' and 'biomolecular'
industry worldwide will need trained manpower
at all levels, from technicians to laboratory
directors. In addition, there is currently, and
will continue to be, a need to recruit well-educated
bioscientists into patenting, banking, insurance
and legal services, as the implications of the
changing profile of industry require it.
Leadership within any new developing fields will
depend on people educated to a postgraduate level,
able to apply knowledge they have gained in a
wider context. Very few first degrees offer the
level of technical skills in this rapidly developing
area, but that are required for the new industries.
 Postgraduate
training can take three main forms: that of an
extension Masters course, a conversion Masters
course, or original research leading to Masters
of Doctorate level. An extension Masters course
will build on material already learnt in a first
degree course; for example, a graduate in Biochemistry
might undertake a Masters in Biotechnology to
extend their knowledge of fermentation and molecular
biology. A Chemistry graduate might wish to convert
his existing qualification to one that is more
acceptable for employment by taking the same course.
Such courses are also available in the Biomedical
Sciences, Microbiology, Parasitology, Virology,
Plant Biotechnology, Bioinformatics, and other
disciplines. Some may be part-time rather than
full-time, and a very small number can be taken
by distance learning. All courses will involve
a taught academic element and the acquisition
of transferable skills. In the UK, courses will
include a project element to stretch the student's
analytical capacity, many being laboratory-based.
Postgraduate research will involve application
to individual academics, who may be identified
for their field of work by consulting university
publicity materials. Many senior researchers have
websites, and their publications will be listed
in databases such as Medline. Research involves
an in-depth original study into a subject by personal
examination. Not only does this teach the student
technical skills, but develops communication skills
to a high level. Most senior researchers are surrounded
by a group of researchers, and teamwork is an
essential feature of the multidisciplinary nature
of Biomolecular Sciences.
The new century will probably be heavily influenced
by the research undertaken by postgraduate students,
as each makes their own contribution to studies
such as AIDS in Africa, novel antibiotic fungal
metabolites from Thailand, or image analysis of
tissue samples for diagnosis. There is great personal
development associated with original research,
over and above skill acquisition.
There really is so much to do to understand organisms,
and to use our findings wisely. There will be
a great need for Biomolecular Scientists trained
to postgraduate level in the years to come.
Author
Professor E Hilary Evans
Director, School of Biomolecular Sciences
Liverpool John Moores University
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