The Division of Biotechnology at RRL Jammu has four subunits
1. Microbiology
2.Fermentation technology
3.Genetic engineering
4. Enzyme technology

In the Microbiology unit of the division, isolation of microbes, their identification (by both conventional as well as molecular markers), characterization, -preservation and screening for specific microbial enzymes and secondary metabolites are carried out. Among the enzymes the emphasis is on the presence of industrially important enantio/ regio-specificity. The microbial strains encoding such enzymes are identified up to species level by 16S rRNA gene typing. The specific enzymes are purifiedto homogeneity using FPLC. Terminal sequencing is undertakenfor designing the primers for the location & cloning of desired gene(s). Selected wild type and recombinant strains are grown at lab to pilot scale fermentors.The strategies of scale-up or scale-down are selected depending upon the nature of the process under study.
The pilot plant is well equipped for down stream processing of the microbial biomass for the isolation of desired biomolecules/products. The Molecular biology and Genetic Engineering laboratories are well equipped to undertake gene cloning,heterologous expression, sequencing, RACE and RTPCR of selected genes. The lab has ABI 310 automated DNA sequence and Shimadzu automated N-terminal protein sequencer for amino acid sequencing. The lab is also well equipped to undertake plant molecule-based biopotentiator molecules for enhancing the effect of anti-bacterial and anti-fungal drugs.