Cotton breeders have made major contributions to the increase in yield, improvement in fiber quality, and resistance to pests, during the past 20 years. Traditional plant breeding involves making large numbers of crosses between a range of parents which have been selected by the breeder for their desirable attributes. Crosses are made among selected parents to increase the genetic variability, transfer, combine, and pyramid genes. Some of the progenies from the crosses, after selection and testing, will show a combination of the best traits from the parents. It takes 10-12 years from the time a cross is made to selecting and releasing a cultivar. The breeding and genetic improvement process is simple in outline but complex in practice, and requires a wide range of skills and knowledge of basic sciences. Successful programs require a team effort from many disciplines.