Biotechnology is a discipline that is based on modern life science and is combined with the basic principles and technologies of other sciences, in order to provide products to the world by using microorganisms, animals and plants as raw materials. Biotechnology is becoming a leading subject and the main driving force of the development of international technology. It is one of the fastest developing fields with great potential and high competition worldwide. Biotechnology has been developed to resolve the major issues the modern society is facing with such as health, food, energy, environment and biosafety.

The major of biotechnology in the School of Life Sciences at Lanzhou University is one of the first batches of "National Life Sciences and Technology Talents Training Base" program (2001), and the “Characteristic Specialty of the Ministry of Education” project (2008). The graduated students majoring in biotechnology can be employed in enterprises, industries and administrative departments of the government related to medicine, food, agriculture, forestry, animal management, fishery, environmental protection and gardening, conducting scientific research, technological development, teaching and management.