Biotechnology is a very broad term meaning any use of biological organisms for the purposes of human society.

Recently, more popular terms are:

• White or industrial biotechnology – modifying simple organisms to produce specific chemicals
• Red biotechnology – medical applications
• Blue biotechnology – marine and aquatic applications
• Green biotechnology – agricultural applications

White biotechnology is a significant focus at the University of Warwick. Many projects across the Centre's member departments target manufacture of novel chemical products through development of new enzymes and organisms.