Biotechnology And Its Applications Class 12 Notes: CBSE Biology Chapter 10

Section−A (1 Mark Questions)

1. ADA is an enzyme that is crucial for the immune system to function. What is the full form of ADA?

Ans. Adenosine deaminase is an enzyme which is crucial for the immune system to function

2. Name a molecular diagnostic technique to detect the presence of a pathogen in its early stage of infection. 

Ans. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) detects the presence of a pathogen in its early stage of infection. 

3. What does Bt in Bt cotton stand for?

Ans. Bt in Bt cotton stands for Bacillus thuringiensis.

4. What was the name of the first transgenic cow?

Ans. The first transgenic cow was named Rosie.

5. What does GEAC stand for?

Ans. GEAC stands for Genetic Engineering Approval Committee.

Section−B (2 Mark Questions)

6. What is Biopiracy? 

Ans. Biopiracy refers to the use of bio-resources by multinational companies and other organisations without proper authorisation from the countries and people concerned without compensatory payment.

7. Answer the following questions.

(i) For which Indian rice variety was patented by a USA company?

(ii) How are ‘cry’ and ‘CRY’ different from each other?

Ans. 

(i) Basmati rice is an Indian rice variety for which the patent was filed by a USA company. 

(ii) ‘cry’ is the gene that encodes for ‘CRY’ protein (Bt toxin).

8. What are the main objectives of GEAC?

Ans. GEAC is the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee. It is an Indian government organisation. Its main objectives are as follows:

• To examine the validity of genetic modification research.

• To inspect whether the use of genetically modified crops is safe for public use or not.

9. Name the following questions.

(i) Name the source organism of the gene cryIAc and its target pest.

(ii) Name the cry genes that control cotton bollworm and com borer respectively.

Ans.

(i) Source of gene crylAc is Bacillus thuringiensis and its target pest-cotton bollworms. 

(ii) The cry genes that control Cotton bollworms are cryIAc and cryIIAb, and the Corn borer is controlled by the gene cryIAb.

10. Why should not the patent on Basmati have gone to an American company?

Ans. The patent on Basmati shouldn’t have gone to an American company for the following reasons:

• The Basmati rice variety traditionally belongs to India.

• The patented variety of Basmati was derived from the ‘Indian farmer’s variety’.

 11. Answer the following questions.

(i) What are genetically modified organisms (GMO)? 

(ii) Give an example of a GMO.

Ans. 

(i) Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are those organisms (i.e., plants, animals, or microorganisms) in which the genetic material (DNA) has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally by mating and/or natural recombination.

(ii) Golden rice is an example of a GM crop.

Biotechnology

• The use of biology to develop technologies and products for the welfare of human beings is known as biotechnology. 

• It has various applications in different fields such as therapeutics, diagnostics, processed food, waste management, energy production, genetically modified crops, etc.
  
  

Fig.1. Different applications of biotechnology

Biotechnological Application in Agriculture 

• Biotechnology has different applications in agriculture. 

• It can be used in agrochemicals, organic agriculture, and genetically engineered crop-based agriculture. 

• To produce genetically modified organisms it can be used. Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) can be obtained by alteration in their genetic material. 

• A different application of genetically modified organisms is- 

1. Production of crops that are resistant to abiotic factors such as heat, cold, etc. 

2. Pest-resistant crops. 

3. Help to reduce post-harvest losses. 

4. Minerals can be used by the plants efficiently. 

5. Food with enhanced nutritional values.
   

• The Formation of pest-resistant plants is the most important application in the field of biotechnology. Bacillus thuringiensis is a bacterium that produces a Bt toxin that has insecticidal activity. The gene that codes for Bt toxin can be isolated and inserted into the plant to provide insect or pest resistance. 

• Bt cotton: Bacillus thuringiensis produces certain proteins that can kill insects such as lepidopterans, coleopterans, and dipterans. They produce insecticidal protein, which when entering the body of the insect will become active. This toxin then binds to the midgut produces causing cells to swell and eventually the death of the insect. These Bt genes are isolated and inserted into cotton plants. Such cotton is known as Bt cotton. The gene that codes for an insecticidal protein is known as cryIAc and cryptic.
  
  

Fig.2. Bt cotton

Pest Resistant Plants 

• Various pests affect the plants which cause loss as well as a decrease in the yield of the plant. 

• A nematode Meloidogyne incognita infects the roots of tobacco plants and causes a decrease in the yield of the plant. To prevent this, RNA  interference technology was used. This method involves silencing a specific mRNA due to a complementary dsRNA molecule. This inhibits the translation of the mRNA.  

Fig.3. Development of pesticide-resistant plants 

Biotechnology Applications in Medicine 

• Biotechnology has contributed a lot to the medicine industry. The use of biotechnology in medicine is known as medicinal biotechnology. 

• They provide methods for the formation of genetically modified insulin known as humulin. In the treatment of a large number of diabetes patients, humulin helps a lot. Earlier insulin was extracted from the pancreas of the slaughtered animals such as cattle and pigs. Such insulin has a chance to cause allergies in humans. 

• The most important issue with the production of insulin is the formation of mature and assembled insulin.
  
  

Fig.4. Human Insulin Production

Gene Therapy 

• To correct heredity diseases, gene therapy is used. The correction of gene defects is known as gene therapy. 

• In gene therapy, a normal gene is inserted into the individual or in an embryo to replace the abnormal gene. 

• The first gene therapy was given in the year 1990 to a 4-year-old girl for Adenosine deaminase deficiency. This deficiency disease was treated earlier through bone marrow transplantation and enzyme replacement therapy. But both strategies are not completely curative.
  
  

Fig.5. Gene therapy 

Molecular Diagnosis

• It helps in disease diagnosis by various techniques such as ELISA, PCR, and recombinant DNA technology. 

• ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) is based on antigen and antibody reactions to detect different diseases. 

• PCR (polymerase chain reaction) is a technique to amplify specific DNA segments. This technique helps in detecting HIV in AIDS patients.
  
  

Transgenic Animals  

• Animals that have their DNA manipulated are known as transgenic animals. For example, rats, rabbits, pigs, sheep, etc.  

• These animals help to understand how genes are regulated and how they help in the development of animals. 

• It helps to study how genes are responsible for the development of various diseases. 

• They can be used to manufacture useful chemicals. They can also be used for the testing of drugs and vaccines.
  
  

Fig.6. Formation of transgenic animals

• Biotechnology in The Production of Antibiotics 

• Plants are used for the development of antibiotics to be used for humans as well as for animals also. 

• It helps in the production of antibiotics, vaccines, and artificial hormones for hormone therapies.  

• Ethical Issues: 

• The manipulation of living organisms by man is similar to man “playing God”. It is a tool bearing great power and therefore gets immense responsibility. 

• The genetic modification of any organism can not always be completely predictable. It may cause many problems in the organism. 

• The impact of the introduction of a GMO into an ecosystem is not completely known. It could have unpredictable results. 

• GEAC: Genetic Engineering Approval Committee is a committee set up by the Indian Government to oversee all decisions regarding GM research and the safety of GMOs for public use. 

• Biopiracy: The use of bio-resources found in any country by commercial and multinational companies and other organisations without obtaining appropriate authorization and permission from the countries and their people concerned and also without making the compensatory payment is biopiracy.
  

5 Important Topics of Biology Class 12 Chapter 10 You Shouldn’t Miss!

Importance of Biology Class 12 Chapter 10 Biotechnology And Its Application Notes

• Biotechnology Applications Class 12 Notes are extremely helpful for students as they simplify complex topics and make understanding easier. 

• These notes cover important concepts like how biotechnology is used in agriculture, medicine, and the environment. 

• By using Biotechnology Class 12 Notes, students can quickly revise and grasp key ideas, making their exam preparation more efficient. 

• They provide clear explanations of genetic engineering, the creation of transgenic animals, and ethical issues like bioethics and biopatents.

• Class 12 Biology Chapter Biotechnology And Its Applications Notes is designed to cover all essential topics, helping students feel more confident about their understanding of biotechnology.

Tips for Learning the Class 12 Biology Chapter 10 Biotechnology And Its Applications

• Understand Key Concepts: Focus on the main ideas like how biotechnology is applied in agriculture, medicine, and environmental solutions.

• Use Diagrams: Study diagrams of processes like genetic engineering and bioremediation to visualise how they work.

• Revise Definitions: Ensure you remember the meanings of terms like transgenic animals, biopiracy, and gene therapy.

• Make Notes: Write down important points in simple words, which will help you during quick revisions before exams.

• Practice Questions: Solve previous year’s questions and sample papers to get comfortable with the type of questions that may appear in exams.

Conclusion

Biotechnology And Its Applications Class 12 Notes provide a clear and simple understanding of this important chapter. These notes cover key topics like the use of biotechnology in agriculture, medicine, and environmental solutions. With easy explanations, diagrams, and definitions, students can grasp complex concepts like genetic engineering, transgenic animals, and bioremediation. By using Class 12 Biology Chapter Biotechnology And Its Applications Notes, students will be able to prepare effectively for exams and strengthen their overall knowledge of biotechnology.

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