Master of Science In Molecular Biology And Biotechnology

Molecular biology and biotechnology comprises the most recent technologies applied to solve problems in forensic medicine, animal and plant breeding, drug & vaccine development, diagnosis of diseases of all forms of life, anthropology, conservation biology, population genetics, epidemiology, pathogenesis, teratology/embryology, oncogenesis and other disciplines.  Molecular biology and biotechnology techniques allow researchers to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the survival and replication of disease causative agents and the pathogenesis of diseases.  With this knowledge powerful new therapeutics, or prophylactics and diagnostic tools or control strategies can be developed to manage diseases more efficiently.  For example recombinant DNA technology can facilitate the development of recombinant vaccines such as DNA vaccines that can be produced at a lower cost and are more thermal stable than conventional vaccines.  In addition vaccines can be engineered to have a wider spectrum of protection especially useful if mutations or variants occur.  Animals or plants with new desirable characteristics can be developed using genetic engineering in order to improve productivity and food security. The basic molecular biology techniques are essentially the same for plant, animal or human scientists.  Therefore, molecular biology and biotechnology has a demand that cuts across many disciplines.  Molecular biology and biotechnology is highly demanded in the study of emerging problems such as HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Rift Valley Fever.  Some of our local institutions especially the Uganda Virus Research Institute and the Joint Clinical Research Center need molecular biology and biotechnology to make modest advances in control of diseases.  Therefore molecular biology and biotechnology is highly relevant in Uganda and Africa just like in other parts of the developed world.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Eligibility:Applicants must posses a good first degree or its equivalent in the following disiplines:veterinary or human medicine,biological or agriculture science.