Dr Ricky Wong, head of the Biology Department, Hong Kong Baptist University

Over the last decade or so, while the spread of the Internet and advances in communications technology have captured much of the world's attention, other new industries have been quietly growing and may well come to have an equally significant long-term impact. Gene therapy and nanobiotechnology are already making headlines and are the most visible aspects of scientific breakthroughs made primarily in biological research. As yet, there is no telling which practical applications of these new developments may catch on first but one thing is clear - the field of biology has never been more exciting.

Much publicity was rightly given to the announcement of the decoding of the human genome. The successful outcome of this international project meant that the "code of life" had been cracked. This has scientists now contemplating the possible benefits for mankind and parallel work in gene technology has made real the possibility of "super species" of crops which could reduce the risk of future famines.

"The book of life has been decoded, but now it is time to interpret the book," says Dr Ricky Wong, head of the Biology Department at the Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), referring to the human genome project. In his opinion, there is no doubt this is "a golden time to study biology".

Potential uses of the decoding breakthrough are numerous, from treating incurable diseases to regenerative surgery and therapeutic cloning. The latter would involve the reproduction of human tissue to create replacement body parts. Less controversial applications could include personalised medicines. Since pharmaceuticals affect each human body differently, it should be possible to tailor-make "individual" medicines with potentially fewer side effects.

Biology is the basis for all of this and also for research and development in nanobiotechnology, which looks as if it will be a similarly dynamic new field of endeavour. The potential applications of nanobiotechnology will include tiny machines for drug delivery, specific removal of bacteria or cancer cells and ultra sensitive biosensors for the detection or monitoring of chemicals inside the body.

Consequently, people with a background in biology are increasingly important for medical, commercial and governmental organisations. The subject is also extending its reach, so much so that, last year, lecturers from the HKBU physics department requested weekly tuition from Dr Wong's biology department. "They found they needed a better understanding of biology to perform their own research and teaching," he explains. "Today, technology may be faster and more accurate in solving scientific puzzles but you still need to keep up with the advances in inter-related fields of study."

Despite the speed at which science is moving, Dr Wong emphasises there are many problems to tackle before technology takes its next giant leap. For example, cloning human body parts will require a complex chain of events to successfully re-create an arm lost in an industrial accident. The initial steps are already possible but, directed differentiation, a key aspect by which embryonic stem cells (the base component in all human cells) are converted into tissue, muscle or bone has yet to be achieved. Research biologists know what they have to do!

As career options, there are still, of course, the more traditional routes which lead to botany, zoology, palaeontology or the environment. Nowadays, conservation and sustainable development are particularly hot issues. Multinational corporations and countries can no longer get away with the kind of pollution and destruction they used to - or at least not so easily - thanks, in part, to the growing number of professionals dedicated to environmental protection. In the wake of SARS, working for a healthier environment is also on the agenda and this too will require the input of experts in biology.

As for the chances of joining emerging technology companies, the current job market is relatively restricted but the remuneration is attractive. At present, for example, the therapeutic cloning industry comprises roughly 30 start-up companies around the world which employ a mere 1,500 people, but this will increase. Since 1995, US$200 million has been provided by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for research on gene therapy and industrial support of such research has grown steadily. The estimated market for nanobiotechnology products in 2003 was US$930 million and is expected to reach over US$3 billion in 2008.

Clearly, funding can readily be found when it is a matter of pushing ahead with ground-breaking technological advances. This means that any degree holder in biology can look forward to both an exciting future and the chance to do something that is genuinely life-changing.

A Bachelor's or Master's degree could be the gateway to entering the field but, to be a "true" biologist or an expert, a doctoral degree will be vital to enhance one's analytical skills and ability in research. Dr Wong predicts, "The next generation of biologists will be able to understand life in a much more holistic manner than we can today."

Course information

Applications welcome The Hong Kong Baptist University BSc honours degree in Applied Biology is a three-year course. For enrolment, A-levels in biology and chemistry are required together with a good HKCEE grade in mathematics. The majority of subjects studied in the first year are biology-related but classes in chemistry, computing and English are also taken. By the third year, students concentrate on environmental science and biotechnology and work on an independent research project required to achieve an honours classification. The project takes between six and twelve months and students work individually with supervisors. A postgraduate MSc in Environmental and Public Health Management is also offered. For admission, a Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised university or comparable institution or a qualification deemed to be equivalent is acceptable. Higher diploma holders with three or more years' experience are encouraged to apply. The main objective of the postgraduate course is to incorporate management techniques into the technical aspects of environmental protection and the effective maintenance of a healthy environment. This incorporates scientific, legal, social and economic issues.

Taken from Career Times 2004/04/02