Biotechnologies

This research area focuses on recombinant molecular technologies to engineer proteins and organisms; industrial biochemistry, biochemistry of micro-organisms, of products of biotechnological origin and of xenobiotics including drugs; molecular and recombinant biotechnologies and their biochemical, biophysical and biotechnological applications in the medical, pharmaceutical, agricultural, veterinary, industrial and environmental fields.

Particular attention is given to macromolecules that are involved in the conservation, repair, duplication, transcription and translation of the information contained in nucleic acids; to the macromolecules responsible for controlling the expression of genes, the proliferation, differentiation and transformation of cells; to the macromolecules that allow cellular movement, interaction and development of multicellular plant or animal organisms. The above are tackled using genetic engineering techniques, crystallography, methods that characterise the biological macromolecules using bioinformatic and biophysical equipment.

A further area of research is the integrated study of cells and living organisms, with a particular focus on basic mechanisms that are involved in the processes of behaviour and evolution; biotechnological, general and molecular genetic applications of the above processes are also a significant aspect of this area. Learning and the use of all advanced biological technologies, including recombinant technologies and the use of transgenic animals are also included.

A further research area included here is that of gene therapy, the use of immobilised enzymes in bioreceptors and biosensors and as model systems for the functioning of the cell system.