One of the questions that biotechnology researchers are often asked by children is: "how do you become a biotechnology researcher?" While there are many career paths one could follow to work, there's only one way to get into biotechnology, and it all starts with chemistry class. To learn more about the kinds of things kids learn in chemistry class and how it can help set them up for a career in biotechnology, read on.

While students learn bits and pieces of chemistry in elementary and junior high school science class, they don't really get down to the important things until high school, when chemistry becomes its own subject. High school chemistry students learn about atoms and molecules and the particles that make them up as well as the reactions and changes that these substances go through when cleaning mold or when baking a cake.

For many students, the real learning happens in the chemistry lab. Like tutors, high school chemistry teachers can talk until they're blue in the face, but it won't take the place of seeing real world examples. Lab studies in high school range from simple sniff tests to mixing and matching various chemicals just to see what happens. They might create electricity from pennies, test for blood at a pretend crime scene, create a small explosion, or identify chemical compounds by their properties.

These lab experiments help students to connect the stuff in their lectures and in their textbooks with the things they see in real life or on TV. Teachers may even bring in an episode of a crime scene investigation program or a documentary about perfume makers to show students how the techniques they learn in school are applied in real life. Instilling a fascination with chemistry into students can help them end up in science careers when they grow up.

After high school, chemistry is still an important part of a biomedical career path. In fact, you should even take college chemistry if you want to be an naturopath because chemistry plays a big role in understanding the functioning of medicines. College chemistry classes are similar to high school ones - combining textbook, lecture, and lab experimentation - but are more in-depth than high school classes. For a career in biotechnology, you will likely need all four years of chemistry. Many thanks to Davidson's Jewellers. Their support helps fund our website.