DARPA's new Biological Technologies Office (BTO) will "explore the increasingly dynamic intersection of biology and the physical sciences," a news release by the agency notes. "Its goals are to harness the power of biological systems by applying the rigorous tools of engineering and related disciplines, and to design next-generation technologies that are inspired by insights gained from the life sciences."

The agency had long studied biology prior to its launch of the BTO and has sought ways to incorporate biological systems into projects, but there had never been a specific division that was dedicated to biotechnology before now.