During this time, Tec de Monterrey has shown that its research projects can have a positive impact on government, industry, and society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Far more than just being for cheese and wine production, biotechnology is present in many areas of our lives. For example, the vaccines against Covid-19 are the result of genetic engineering and molecular biology tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This discipline has applications that benefit society in areas such as health, food, improvement of industrial processes, and reduction of greenhouse gases in productive sectors. Due to this positive impact, Tec de Monterrey opened the FEMSA Biotechnology Center 15 years ago, aiming to demonstrate that the university could also conduct frontier research<\/strong> that had an impact on society. <\/p>\n\n\n\n World leaders in biotechnology will participate in an international conference from August 24 to 26 as part of the celebration of the center\u2019s 15th anniversary. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although biotechnology has been heavily attacked in recent years and is seen by some people as a \u201cFrankenstein\u201d that could harm society, the reality is quite the opposite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In an interview with Tec Review, Jos\u00e9 Gonz\u00e1lez Valdez<\/strong>, director of the FEMSA Biotechnology Center, explains one of biotechnology\u2019s contributions to the world (which almost no one talks about):<\/p>\n\n\n\n Achieving insulin fermentation with the genetically modified<\/strong> Escherichia coli bacterium has prevented the death of millions of pigs since their pancreas was previously used to purify the hormone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thanks to this advance, millions of diabetic people in the world today have access to safe and efficient<\/strong> medicine<\/strong> that comes from a genetically modified organism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Biotechnology also makes it possible to add nutrients to crops or reduce the use of fertilizers and pesticides<\/strong>, among other potential applications. The challenge lies in conveying this information to people so that they do not fear it. This might interest you: The Tec graduate with the technology to help the world produce more vaccines<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Jos\u00e9 Gonz\u00e1lez Valdez, the most important achievement of this research center, 15 years after its creation, is that the Tec has demonstrated it can conduct frontier research,<\/strong> develop high-impact technology<\/strong>, collaborate with industry, and offer improvements to its products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAbove all, we\u2019ve demonstrated that what we do has social, economic, and sustainable benefits for the community,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are reasons to celebrate, as the center has developed projects with the food industry to make healthier and more nutritious products<\/strong>, as well as process waste to emit fewer pollutants or obtain by-products from waste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s more, it has trained highly qualified students and new researchers and companies have been created from its research projects<\/strong>, which are beginning to make their way in the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There have also been new publications, patents, and developments. The center\u2019s director highlights that, in the short term, the center is renewing its technological platform and structure to continue positively impacting society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere is a great effort from many different areas of the Tec aiming to raise funds to invest in new equipment<\/strong> that will allow us to increase the center\u2019s capacities in a very significant way,\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n FEMSA Biotechnology Center conducts research in four areas which help make discoveries about life, human beings, animals, and their interactions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n These involve pharmaceutical and enzymatic processes, bioremediation, and carbon dioxide capture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Synthetic biology includes tools such as genetic and metabolic engineering to produce molecules that are found naturally but in a different context or organism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These are new scientific branches based on genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and lipidomics to analyze the functions that provide organisms with certain characteristics which are activated when they are sick or make them healthy at a molecular and cellular level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These help us discover how to produce better, more efficient, nutritious food that is less harmful, as well as related technologies such as new packaging methods and ways to process cereals, fruit, and vegetables.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This will be held from August 24 to 26 at Tec de Monterrey\u2019s Monterrey campus and will feature leading figures of biotechnology.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBiotechnology saves lives<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A look back at the Center<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Priority issues<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Bioprocesses<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Synthetic biology<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Omics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Food sciences and technologies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Celebrating with an international conference<\/h2>\n\n\n\n