Life Sciences and Biotechnology

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Modern biotechnology encompasses quantitative biology, cell and tissue engineering, biomolecular engineering and analysis, and bioprocess technology. Research in modern biotechnology remains a focus of the Department of Chemical Engineering, and we currently have active research in all these areas.

For example, the quantitative study of living cells at the molecular level allows engineering of cell function and form. This research can lead to the engineering of specific molecules to accomplish a biological effect or to the construction networks of cells (tissues) to form functional organs for medical use. In terms of analysis systems, microfabrication techniques can be coupled with current macroscale reaction and separation analysis techniques to form extremely powerful and cost effective analysis devices. Just as the computer industry was revolutionized by silicon micromachining, bioelectronics and microanalysis have the potential to be transformed by advances in semiconductor and new material processing techniques. All these advances can also be brought to bear on the important area of bioprocessing engineering and pharmaceutical research.

The full potential of biotechnology will only be realized when (1) biologists have brought the cellular component within the realm of engineering design, and (2) engineers have brought their methods of measurement, analysis, synthesis, and control within the realm of cell and molecular biology. The integration of these disciplines with their different histories, philosophies, and approaches will increase our basic understanding of how living cells and tissues function as integrated units and how we can exploit this understanding for human advancement.