The Department of Energy is vigorously pursuing practical applications of the biotechnology resources it and its predecessors have built over the past 50 years. Biotechnology at ORNL is defined broadly to embrace three areas: biomedical, bioprocessing and environmental. At ORNL biotechnology in the three broad areas involves four major approaches: 1) the use of living organisms or derivatives of living organisms to make useful products or to modify such products, 2) modification of enzymes, proteins or organisms for particular applications, 3) development of new techniques and/or processes for the biological or medical sciences, and 4) development of sophisticated computer programs to facilitate genome diagnostics, medical diagnostics, telemedicine, and various other applications in the three broad areas of biotechnology. These activities encompass biomolecules, biological organisms and physical systems applied to biological problems. Key Research Application Areas include: Biosensors, Mammalian Genetics and Genomes, Protein Engineering, Nuclear Medicine, Health Surveillance, Human Risk Assessment, Biomarkers, Bioremediation, Biofeedstocks, Bioprocessing, Computational Biosciences, Micromanufacturing and Manufacturing, and Industrial Collaboration. For more information, see URL: http://www.ornl.gov/biotechnology/biotechnology.html
For an overview of the research areas, link to URL: http://www.ornl.gov/biotechnology/key_research_areas.html