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BZU Home > Institute of Biotechnology

• Chairman: Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ali
• Detailed list of Teaching Faculty
• Email Address: biotech@bzu.edu.pk

Biotechnology is defined as the application of scientific and engineering principles to the processing of materials by biological agents to produce goods and services. The completion of human genome and Arabidopsis genome projects in the year 2000 were great breakthroughs in the field of biotechnology. In the past twenty years, unprecedented progress in biotechnology has been observed, which has made revolutionary impacts on every aspect of human activity such as agriculture, forestry, horticulture, livestock, health, medicine and environment. In agriculture, it is predicted that the next green revolution or more appropriately “evergreen revolution or more revolution “evergreen revolution” will be due to biotechnological innovations. In livestock, production of new transgenic animals will not only meet the future needs of protein, dairy products etc but these animals could also be used as bioreactor for the production for various pharmaceuticals products. New safe protein drugs, particularly by site-directed mutagenesis, vaccines, diagnostic kits, antibiotics and enzymes can be produced by exploiting the biobiotechnology in the field of medicine (Medical biotechnology). The genetic based diagnostic assays for some genetic disorders and other diseases have already been developed and their treatment by gene therapy would be possible.
The primary objective of the Institute of Biotechnology is to produce manpower that can contribute to the development of Pakistan particularly in science and technology and its economy in general. Institute of Biotechnology has been established with initial HEC grant of 38 million rupees. It offers M.Sc., M.Phil and Ph.D programs of study. The Institute houses most modern teaching and research
laboratories with the following equipment:
• Thermal Cycler (PCR)
• Gel Documentation System
• Vertical/Horizontal gel electrophoresis system
• Fermentor
• Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer
• Bomb Calorimeter
• Freeze Dryer
• Ultra-centrifuge machine
• Oven/Incubators Co2 Incubator
• Bench Top Centrifuges
• UV-Visible Spectrophotometer
• Laminar Flow hood
• Rotary evaporator
• Orbital shaker
• Hybridization oven
• Inverted Microscope
In addition, a Bioinformatics laboratory has also been established with fifteen P-IV computers. The library of the Institute is equipped with latest and modern books on biotechnology and allied disciplines such as Biology, Genetics, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Immunology, Agriculture and Microbiology. The institute is also a subscriber of prestigious journals of biotechnology such as Nature Biotechnology, Applied Biotechnology & Microbiology and Journal of Biotechnology.

Admission

Admissions are conducted by the following Admission Committee of the Institute according to the admission criteria laid down by the University / Institute.

Admission Committee

Prof. Muhammad Ali                      Chairman/Director
Dr. Rehan Sadiq Shaikh                  Member
Dr. Zahid Mehmood                       Member
Mr. Muhammad Babar                   Secretary
Mr. Shehzad Anjum                       Member

Eligibility

The candidate who has passed B.Sc. (2-Year with Botany, Zoology, Chemistry) & B.Sc. Medical Biotechnology with at least 45% marks aggregate in B. Sc.

Determination of Merit

Marks in B.Sc. + 20 marks for Hifz-e-Quran (if applicable).

M.Sc. Biotechnology Program
(Morning & Evening)

The Institute of Biotechnology offers M.Sc. Bio-Technology (Semester System) courses of reading approved by Higher Education Commission, Islamabad.

Scheme of Studies
Outlines of Courses for M.Sc. Biotechnology (2-Year)

First Year

Total Credit Hours for M.Sc. Biotechnology Degree = 58

Break-up of Seats

See the relevant chart at the end.

MS/ M. Phil Program
 
M.S/ M.Phil (2-Year) program will include two Semesters of course work and two semesters of research. In the first year 7 courses of 24 Credits hours of course work will be taught. Qualifying CGPA for research will be 2.75 and candidates have to get through the comprehensive examination. Research will be carried out in the 2nd year (3rd and 4th Semester) it will be of 6 Credit Hours. The candidates will be required to give a seminar before submitting the research thesis.

Scheme of Studies
Outlines of Courses for M. Phil. Biotechnology (2-Year)
First Year

Ph.D. Program
 
The institute also offers Ph.D. program. The applications for registration in this program may be submitted as per schedule of the university. Interested candidates may contact the Director, Institute of Biotechnology for further information.

Scheme of Study
 
The Scheme of study of the program is available from the office of the Director, Institute of Biotechnology.