Chapter 12: Biotechnology and Its Applications

Q1Written answer

In view of the current food crisis, it is said that we need another green revolution. Highlight the major limitations of the earlier green revolution.

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1. It wasn’t helpful for poor farmers as the HYV seeds and pesticides were costly. It led to farmer debts.

2. The green revolution was only limited to food grain crops, and the major focus was on wheat and rice only.

3. The high-yielding variety (HYV) required additional water and fertilizers to give good crop yields.

Q2Written answer

Expand GMO. How is it different from a hybrid?

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GMO stands for genetically modified organism. Hybrids are produced by crossbreeding or cross-pollinating two different animal or plant species, whereas the production of GMO involves the insertion of a gene into a new organism to express a specific trait or character.

Q3Written answer

Differentiate between diagnostics and therapeutics. Give one example for each category.

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Diagnostics involves the detection of diseases. It can be of various types. For example, ELISA (i.e., Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) is a diagnostic technique used for the detection of HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C. Therapeutics help in the treatment of a specific type of disease. Ampicillin is a therapeutic agent who is an antibiotic that helps in the treatment of bacterial infections in humans

Q4Written answer

Give the full form of ELISA. Which disease can be detected using it? Discuss the principle underlying the test.

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Worked solution

The full form of ELISA is an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay which is a diagnostic method which is used for the detection of HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C

The principle of ELISA is to assay a reaction which uses an enzyme which can be easily assayed with an antigen or specific antibodies.

Q5Written answer

Can a disease be detected before its symptoms appear? Explain the principle involved.

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Worked solution

Yes, some of the diseases can be detected before their symptoms, like using PCR (Polymerase chain reaction) which is used to amplify nucleic acid to obtain an amplified gene product which can show diseases before their symptoms.

Q6Written answer

Write a short note on Biopiracy highlighting the exploitation of developing countries by developed countries.

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Worked solution

The term biopiracy refers to the unethical and unauthorized use of biological resources by multinational companies and other organizations without permission from concerned authorities and individuals.

Q7Written answer

Many proteins are secreted in their inactive form. This is also true of many toxic proteins produced by microorganisms. Explain how the mechanism is useful for the organism producing the toxin.

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Worked solution

The mechanism is useful for micro-organisms because they become active only by certain metabolic and biochemical changes like pH changes or temperature changes. Hence these toxins resist the protein and by the action of the host, the microorganisms do not get killed.

Q8Written answer

While creating genetically modified organisms, genetic barriers are not respected. How can this be dangerous in the long run?

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Worked solution

It could lead to the production of unwanted organisms, which can affect and disrupt the general food chain of other organisms.

Q9Written answer

Why has the Indian Parliament cleared the second amendment of the country’s patent bill?

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It prevents the overexploitation of bio-resources and the use of ancient Indian knowledge and techniques by other countries.

Q10Written answer

Give any two reasons why the patent on Basmati should not have gone to an American Company.

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Worked solution

Basmati rice variety belongs to India and has been cultivated since time immemorial.

The patent crop claimed by an American company was derived by crossing the Indian rice variety.

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