Botany, a specialization in the biology major, focuses on the scientific study of plants. Modern botany is a diverse and frequently applied science. The biology degree program and the botany option provide a strong background in plant diversity and phylogenetics; unique structure and function relationships; genetics; evolution; ecology; and plants and the environment. It also covers applied topics with application to biotechnology and agriculture, such as the genetic engineering of food crops and biomass and biofuel production.