Laser-assisted biotechnology : The biologist point of view

The main applications of laser to different fields of medicine and biology are reviewed and compared by a biologist. The good output of high quality papers in the biomedical field effectively contrasts with a scarce popularity of lasers in biological laboratory. In fact, a search in the Medlars database, confirmed that the use of lasers in a strict biological context is very limited or confined to few oriented laboratories. The common biologist does not have a precise point of view. In this perspective, the biologist would purpose the following approach: 1. promote training programs to create new professional figures; 2. encourage the formation of scientific and technological research networks between biologists and laser specialist.