Which term defines the use of living organisms to modify products or develop new organisms for specific purposes?

The term that defines the use of living organisms to modify products or develop new organisms for specific purposes is biotechnology. This field encompasses a wide range of techniques that utilize cellular processes and organisms, such as bacteria, yeast, plants, and animals, to create or enhance products and processes. For example, biotechnology plays a crucial role in genetic engineering, where organisms are modified to produce medicines, improve agricultural crop yields, or create biofuels.

Biotechnology is applied in various industries, including healthcare, agriculture, and environmental management, thus making it a versatile and impactful scientific discipline. This field aligns closely with advances in genetics and molecular biology, enabling researchers to harness the capabilities of living systems to meet human needs.

In contrast, genomics focuses specifically on the study of genomes, the complete set of DNA within an organism, and does not encompass the broader applications to modify or develop organisms. Bioinformatics is a computational field that combines biology and information technology primarily to analyze and interpret biological data, rather than actively modifying organisms. Bioremediation involves the use of microorganisms to clean up contaminated environments, which is a specific application within the broader context of biotechnology but does not encompass the full range of modification and development of organisms for various purposes.