What do biotech workers have to know?
The responsibility of anyone working in biotechnology, either in the laboratory or in a manufacturing process, is to generate reliable data and products. This requires knowledge of basic laboratory skills, including the ability to correctly make and measure reagents, to grow and maintain organisms, to isolate and analyze DNA, to introduce genetic material into bacteria for study and expression, and to maintain viable, isolated bacterial cultures, as well as execute protocols that require sterile techniques. Also required is a working knowledge of scale-up methods, gene regulation, protein expression, and experience in general methods for product isolation and characterization, including chromatography. The biotech workplace requires everyone to work efficiently, monitor and maintain equipment, and maintain a safe laboratory environment. Documentation of procedures, materials used, and results also are key functions for success.
