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The LIFEsparks biopartnering social forum aims to boost the commercial success of Southern African initiatives and start-up companies focused the life sciences sector (biotechnology and medical devices), vis-a-vis allowing participants to share ideas, knowledge and to present their business and or investment opportunities to potential partners and funders.

Biotechnology Statistics - South Africa

Classification used:

• Human Health

• Animal Health

• Plant Biotech

• Industrial

• Environmental

• Food/Beverage

• Support Services
  

Biotechnology activity in South Africa is divided into 4 categories.

• First generation biotechnology involves the use of wild type or natural biological organisms to produce a product, for example, the use of yeast to make beer or wine. 
• Second generation biotechnology refers to the production of specific products using a pure cell or tissue culture of organisms that have been specifically selected, through random cross-breeding or similar techniques, for their superior production or expression abilities without introducing foreign DNA. 
• Third generation biotechnology involves manipulation of the genetic make-up of organisms, by introducing selected foreign (across the species barrier) DNA, through recombinant DNA technology, to make them produce small molecules, compounds or proteins.
  Support services for biotechnology include those activities that do not directly make use of biotechnology activities but provide essential support to those groups that do, e.g. legal services, business and financial support, equipment or reagent supplies, etc.

Biotechnology is defined as organizations "using biotechnology" or those that use a set of techniques leading to the transformation of a substance or production of a product, and where living organisms, or parts thereof, are involved. The living material may be the object that is transformed or produced or may be used in the manipulation or production process.

DNA: Genomics, Bioinformatics, Pharmaco-genomics, Gene probes/DNA markers, DNA Sequencing/ Synthesis/Amplification, Recombinant DNA technologies, Transgenesis.

Proteins and Molecules: Peptide/Protein Sequencing/Synthesis, Lipid/protein engineering, Carbohydrate engineering, Proteomics, Enzymology, Hormones and growth factors, Cell Receptors/Signaling/ Pheromones, Antibodies, Structural Biology, Molecular modelling.

Cell and Tissue Culture and Engineering: Cell/tissue culture, Tissue engineering, Hybridization, Cellular fusion, Vaccines/Immune Stimulants, Embryo manipulation.

Process Biotechnologies: Fermentation, Bioreactors, Bioprocessing, Biotransformation, Bioleaching, Biopulping, Bio-bleaching, Biodesulphurization, Bioremediation, Biofiltration, Phytoremediation, Biological gas cleaning, Bioaugmentation, Bioindicators, Process Control, Classical/Traditional Breeding, Extraction/Purification/Separation.

Sub-cellular Organisms: Viral vectors, Gene therapy.

Other: Molecular High Throughput Screening, Drug Delivery, Rational Drug Design, Diagnostics, Biochips, Combinatorial Chemistry, Biomaterials, Processing of Blood Products and Substitutes, Natural Products Chemistry, Microbiology/Virology/Microbial Ecology, Biosensors, Transgenics, Bio nanotechnology, Molecular Synthesis.

Biotechnology in South Africa

Life Sciences in South Africa

Also visit the following e-science form for water professionals, veterinarians and plant breeders and growers in Southern Africa

• Southern Africa Water Sciences and Technology forum
• Southern African Veterinary Sciences and Technology forum
• Southern African Plant Sciences and Technology forum

Rapid diagnostics from www.rapiddiscovery.biz