By Sarah Duey
Although the concept of
biotechnology has been in
existence since the brewing
of beer, only in the last 20
years has it grown to be a
recognized field in science.
A quarter of a century
ago, scientists may not have
been able to read and alter
an opportunity for economic
benefits to the citizens of
Nebraska.”
The development of
biotechnology, one of the
fastest growing fields in
science, has enabled scien
tists to apply biological
principles to practical pur
poses by improving plants
and animals and manufactur
new faculty members in key
areas of biotechnology in fhe
last three and a half years,
Weeks said.
Funding by NRI has also
helped the Center of Biotech
nology establish seven
research facilities wr“1
equipment and expertise to
enhance research programs
of all faculty in the biological
joint project with agronomy
professor Bill Compton since
1986.
“Research in biotechnol
ogy often involves different
disciplines coming together •
Osterman said.
“We have been able to
use each other’s talents,” he
said.
Through plant breeding,
the genetic blueprints of living
things. Today, scientists have
expertise and equipment to
take them far beyond what
they may have imagined.
"Biotechnology is a very
important, growing industry,"
said Donald Weeks, director
of the Center of Biotechnol
ogy at UNL. "Not only does
biotechnology offer an
opportunity for Nebraska
graduates to get Jobs, it offers
% 4'
ing products with the use of
living organisms.
Biotechnology as a
scientific field is relatively new
to the University of Nebraska
Lincoln. Since it came into
existence in 1986, the Center
for Biotechnology has proved
to be beneficial for UNL and
the state, Weeks said.
Through funding by the
Nebraska Research Initiative,
the center was able to hire 18
"sciences at UNL, Weeks said
DNA synthesis, DNA se
quencing and production of
antibodies are among the
focuses of study, he said.
Faculty are allowed to use the
facilities for a small charge.
-Without good state-of
the-art equipment if s difficult
to be competitive," Weeks
said.
John Osterman, a biology
professor, has worked on a
Osterman said he was
identifying superior traits in
com that affect economic
aspects of com production
and make the breeding
process easier.
So far, Osterman said
their goals were to develop a
plant with the highest grain
yield and a faster maturity.
“Seed money” programs
offer faculty the opportunity to
turn new ideas into research
programs with adequate J ■
strength to attract support
,rom outside the university
system. Weeks said this
small program provided UNL
more funding than they had
put into it.
But the center is not only
benefitting UNL faculty. The
center also has a program
that provides funds for 36
graduate students. Weekly
seminars with top scientists
from across the United States
have "proved successful m
setting up interaction between I
students and outstanding -1
scientists," Weeks said.
Beyond the university, the
center, with its 13 depart
ments and 160 faculty
members, has provided
workshops for high schools
and extension agents on
molecular biology and
molecular genetics.
"Our goal is to help
people understand what
biotechnology is,” Weeks
said. ”We want to give them
insight on how biotechnology
is and will be affecting their
lives."
In terms of economic
gains for the state, the center
has been instrumental in
helping biotechnology start-up
companies in Lincoln, Weeks
said. BioNebraska grew out of
collaboration of three univer
sity professors who saw a
strong commercial potential
for some of their research.
Fred Wagner, biochemis
try professor and president of
BioNebraska, said the
company, now 4 years old,
developed products through
biotechnology that benefit
people.
BioNebraska’s first