When you read about biotechnology in the news, it's usually in the context of laboratory breakthroughs or new and expensive technologies for use in hospitals. Almost no one realizes that they've got the results of biotechnology work right there in their own home. Whether you're just doing laundry or getting ready for bed, you're enjoying the benefits of biotechnology. To learn more about how biotechnology helps your own personal little world go round, read this article. You may be surprised.

Biotechnologists don't just work on designing artificial limbs and mutant corn. They also design biochemical processes that show up in our homes in the form of laundry soap. Have you ever wondered how laundry soap manages to break down tough stains like oil and grass and red wine? It's because biotechnologists working for companies like Tide and Sunlight have experimented with enzymes that help speed up the breakdown of these substances and then added them to their laundry detergents so you don't have to spend your morning scrubbing at stubborn stains.

Similar types of chemical processes go into the creation of the cosmetics, oils, creams, and masks you get when you visit the spa. It's biotechnology that helps smooth out your wrinkles, make your skin look young, and pigment your face so that it looks more attractive. You might not like where some of the ingredients are derived from, such as crushed insect bodies and fish scales, but you can't deny their effectiveness in changing your appearance and most women refuse to do without them. Cosmetics companies hire biotechnologists to look for new and better ways to make their products.

It's not only our appearances that are improved through the use of biotechnology, but also our homes. The paint that we put on the walls of our condo, on our cars and patio furniture, even on our canvases, is all augmented by the use of biotechnology. The work of biotechnologists makes paint brighter, longer lasting, easier to clean up, and more durable so we don't have to reapply so often. If you want to talk to a chemist about what types of chemical compounds some everyday products we may use, we suggest you contact a cleaning product company. They will have answers.

Even if you eschew chemical detergents and paints and don't wear makeup, chances are there's still a little biotechnology in your house. Where is it? In your food! Our food may have originated with a plant or animal, but what's keeping it from spoiling while you're shopping? Biotechnology! Biotechnology is also what turns milk into cheese, yeast into bread, and hops into beer. You can even practice a little biotechnology at home by using a make your own beer or wine kit, baking some bread, or even by marinating your meat. It's hard to get around.