Simply put, biotechnology is the use of living organisms, or components of living organisms, to enrich our lives by making better foods, medicines and other products. Today, biotechnology is a high-growth, high-demand industry. Biotechnologists use state-of-the-art scientific techniques including genetic studies, DNA and protein analyses, and mammalian and plant cell cultures. Developing new pharmaceuticals to prevent and treat diseases, improving crops and livestock, solving crimes, and cleaning up pollution are just some of the ways in which biotechnology is used to improve our quality of life.