For this reason, a glossary, albeit not an extensive one, is included here. The products of biotechnology, or biologics , are becoming increasingly important in the health care field and, in some cases, are revolutionizing clinical medicine by creating medical breakthroughs. Researchers are discovering ways of using human proteins and other natural substances to treat and prevent diseases that just a few years ago were considered incurable. The potential diagnostic and therapeutic applications of biotechnology are stunning. The late 1980s and early 1990s saw the first wave of products move from the research laboratory through testing to general clinical use.
Various disclaimers apply.