The real future of biotechnology has more to do with chemistry than was ever imagined.
Biotechnology depends on the ability to manipulate chemical structure.
Opportunities are opening up for chemists across the biotechnology industry, offering the chance to work on the cutting edge of a dynamic and still largely developmental field. Biotechnology is a source of great promise for innovations ranging from improving the diagnosis and treatment of hereditary diseases, to safer drugs, to more environmentally friendly herbicides and pesticides, to microbial processes to clean up the environment. Making these promises a reality requires rethinking some fundamental assumptions. Companies are integrating the sciences, bringing new perspectives chemistry, biochemistry, and genetics to tackle questions from as many angles as possible. Blake Pepinsky, a group leader at Biogen, agrees.