Molecular biology is emerging as one of the potential Life Science courses, which have wide applications in the healthcare sector. Molecular Biology involves the study of molecular processes that connect microbiology, medicine, physiology, pharmacology, cytogenetics and biochemistry and also play a role in new drug development, pharmacokinetics, biotechnology and genomic studies. Applications of molecular biology in microbiology research includes characterisation of microorganisms using polymerase chain reaction, sequencing and characterisation of microorganisms based on DNA and RNA availability. The most recent application was seen in the production of DNA and mRNA vaccines against COVID-19. The field has gained importance after the pandemic due to its potential applications in the production of biologicals against contagious and zoonotic diseases, as it facilitates the identification of the genetic makeup of the pathogenic organisms including virulence, pathogenicity, antibiotic sensitivity and antimicrobial resistance.
