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| Name of Board | AHSEC |
| Class: | Assam Board Class 12 |
| Subject: | AHSEC Class 12 Biology |
| Number of Chapter: | 10 |
| Chapter Name | Biotechnology and It’s Application |
| Content Type: | Text, Images and PDF Format |
| Academic Year: | 2024-25 |
| Medium: | English |
| Available Solution Link: | AHSEC Class Biology Notes |
AHSEC Class 12th Biology Chapter: 10 Biotechnology and It’s Application
[A] VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS (1 MARK EACH)
1. What is transgenic organism? Give example each of transgenic plant and animal.
Ans: The organism having genes from another organism through the technique of genetic engineering is called transgenic organism.
Ex. of plant Bt cotton animal Rosie (transgenic cow)
2. What is gene therapy? Give one example of its application?
Ans: Gene therapy is a collection of methods that allows correction of a gene defect that has been diagnosed in a child/embryo.
One example of its application is for treating ADA deficiency in a 4 year old girl.
3. Give the name of the vaccine which is obtained from transgenic yeast.
Ans: Vaccine for hepatitis-B, Engerix-B
4. What is biopiracy?
Ans: Biopiracy is patenting and exploitation of bioresources of other nations without proper authorisation or access from the countries and people concerned without compensatory payment.
5. How many polypeptides are found in human insulin?
Ans: Two short polypeptide chains A and B.
6. Expand GEAC to full form.
Ans: Genetic Engineering Approval Committee.
7. Name a popular technique, which is used for detecting the presence of pathogen or virus in an organism.
Ans: ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay)
8. Define biopiracy
Ans: Biopiracy is patenting and exploitation of bioresources of other nations without proper authorisation or access from the countries and people concerned without compensatory payment.
9. Name two drugs that were earlier produced by sacrificing animals but are now produced using biotechnology.
Ans: Insulin, Hirudin.
10. What is probe?
Ans: Probe is a piece of single stranded DNA or RNA that is tagged with a radioactive molecule and it is used to find its complementary DNA by hybridisation.
11. What is chemical safety testing?
Ans: Transgenic animals are made to carry genes which make them more sensitive to the toxic substances than non- transgenic animals. This is called chemical safety testing.
12. What is transgenic animal?
Ans: Animals whose DNA is manipulated to possess and express an extra gene are known as transgenic animals.
13. Give any two benefits that can be acquired from transgenic animals.
Ans: (i) Transgenic animals helps to study about the development of a disease.
(ii) Transgenic animals are used in testing vaccine safety before they are used on humans.
14. What is DNA deficiency? Which disease is associated with it?
Ans: When the deletion of a gene/genes takes place, it is called DNA deficiency.
A disease associated with it is ADA deficiency.
15. What was the speciality of the milk produced by transgenic cow ‘Rosie’?
Ans. The milk produced by tranegenic cow Rosic contains human alpha lactalbumin and was nutritionally a more balanced product for human babies than natural cow milk.
16. How are two short polypeptide chains of insuline linked together?
Ans. The polypeptide chains are linked together by disulphide bonds.
17. What is golden Rice?
Ans. Vitamin A enriched rice which is yellow in colour is called golden rice.
[B] FILL UP THE BLANKS :
1. ELISA test is based on the principle of______interaction.
Ans. Antigen Antibody
2. Fruit softening in tomato is promoted by the enzyme______which degrodes pectin.
Ans. Polygalacto uronase
3. A soil bacterium______produces, a crystal (cry) protein.
Ans. Bacillus thuringiensis
4. Theft, robbery and unauthorised exploitation of bioresources of a country is______
Ans. Biopiracy
5. ________is a set of standards that may be used to regulate our activities in relation to biological world.
Ans. Bioethics
6. In mammals, including human insulin is synthesized as_______
Ans. Prohormone
7. Fusion of Lymphocytic and tumour cells are called________
Ans. Hybridoma
8. Molecular analysis’ of profiles of DNA samples is called_______
Ans. DNA database
9. First hormone produced artificially by culturing bacteria is_______
Ans. Insulin
10. Antibiotics are drugs commonly used to cure diseases of_______
Ans. Microbes
11. Intransgenic cow the milk contains human.
Ans: Alpha lactalbumin
12. Recovery of products, its refining and processing is called______processing.
Ans. Downstream
13. A biomolecule is a compound produced by_______
Ans. Living organism
14. The firsttransgenic crop was_______
Ans. Flovr Sovr tomato
[C] SELECT TRUE AND FALSE EXPERIMENTS :
1. Brazzein and the gene encoding for it have been pat- ented in USA.
Ans. True
2. Bt cotton contains two transgenes.
Ans. False
3. Biopiracy is the legal use of bioresources.
Ans. False
4. India holds the patent for Neem.
Ans. True
5. Insulin for curing diabetes could be obtained from 6M organisms.
Ans. True
6. Vitamin B12 and Vitamin B, are two vitamins’ manu- factured biotechnologically.
Ans. True
7. The term antibiotic was coined by Alexander Fleming.
Ans. False
8. Tissue culture is the main technique involved in ag- ricultural biotechnology.
Ans. False
9. Plasmid called ‘genetaxi’ is used during gene cloning.
Ans. True
10. Golden rice is a wild variety of rice with yellow coloured grains.
Ans. False
(II) SHORT QUESTIONS: (2 MARKS)
1. What are transgenic bacteria? Illustrate using any one example.
Ans: Transgenic bacteria are microbes carrying clones of foreign genes.
Eg Microbes have been genetically changed to help in cleaning the polluted environment e.g. Pseudomonas putida for cleaning oil spills.
2. Give the full form of ELISA. Name two diseases for the detection of which ELISA is used.
Ans: ELISA Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay.
ELISA is used for the detection of AIDS and hepatitis.
3. Suggest any two techniques which can help in early detection of bacterial/viral infection much before the symptome appear in the body.
Ans: Two techniques which help in early detection are-
(i) Polymerase Chain Reaction: In which very low concentration of a bacteria or virus can be detected by amplification of their nucleic acid.
(ii) ELISA: In this technique infection by pathogen can be detected by the presence of antigens or by detecting the antibodies synthesised against the pathogen.
4. What is transgene and what are transgenic plants?
Ans: The gene transferred to another organism artificially by technique of genetic engineering is called transgene. Crops or plants which possess and express one or more transgenes through genetic engineering are called transgenic plants.
5. What is meant by genetically modified crops? How does a genetically modified food primarily differ from the produce of conventionally developed varieties.
Ans: Crops which possess and express one or more transgenes through genetic engineering are called genetically modified crops.
Genetically modified crops are nutritionally more enriched – for e.g. Vitamin-A enriched rice than the conventionally developed varieties.
6. How does transgenic crops technique differ from normal breeding activities.
Ans: Normal breeding activities in plants very often lead to inclusion and multiplication of undesirable genes along with the desired genes. While transgenic crops technique overcome this limitation and allows to isolate and introduce only one or a set of desirable genes without introducing undesirable genes.
7. What are bioreactors? List at least two growth conditions that a bioreactor provide for obtaining the desired product.
Ans: Bioreactors are vessels in which raw materials are biologically converted into specific products by microbes, plant and animal cells and their enzymes.
Two growth conditions provided by a bioreactor are
(i) Oxygen delivery system.
(ii) Temperature and pH control system.
8. Which two patents on Indian biological resources have been revolked?
Ans: (i) A 1995 patent, “Use of Turmeric in Wound healing” was cancelled in 1998.
(ii) In 1995 the US Dept of Agriculture and a pharmaceutical research firm received a patent on a technique to extract an antifungal agent from the Neem tree which was overturned in 2005.
9. What is molecular diagnostic technique? Mention the advantages of this technique over conventional methods.
Ans. The techniques such as recombinant DNA technology, PCR, ELISA that helps in early diagnosis of a disease and understanding its pathophysiology is called molecular diagnostic technique.
Conventional diagnosis based an serum and urine analysis can- not give early diagnosis but molecular diagnostic technique help in diagnosing very low concentration of the microorganisms much be- fore the disease symptom appears in the body.
10. Define antigen and antibody with a suitable example from each of them.
Ans. Antigen is any foreign substance, toxin or pathogen which induces the immure system of the body to produce cells and anti- bodies to dispose off the same e.g..
Antibodies are glycoproteins which have specific amino acid sequences by which they can interact with specific antigens.
11. Write a short note on transgenic animals.
Ans. The animals which have been genetically modified by in- corporating foreign and other specific genes through recombinant DNA technology. Trangenic rats, rabbits, pigs, sheep, cows and fish have been produced, although our 95% of all transgenic animals are mice. Transgenic animals are used for producing various biological products useful in treating certain human diseases. They are also used to study about various diseases and normal body functions and development.
[III] SHORT QUESTIONS: (3 MARKS)
1. What are Cry proteins? Name the organisms that produces them. How has man exploited these proteins to his benefit.
Ans: Cry protein is a toxin coded by a gene cry and is poisonous to some insects, thus giving resistant characters to the plants
Bacillus thuringiensis produces Cry protein. Cry protein producing gene is transferred to the plant to provide resistance against insect larva because these proteins contain toxic insecticidal protein. Man has developed several transgenic crops by introducing these genes from bacteria to crop plants such as Bt cotton.
2. Expand the name of enzyme ADA. Why is the enzyme essential in the human body? Suggest a gene therapy for its deficiency.
Ans: ADA: Adenosine deaminase.
This enzyme is essential for the immune system to function. As a first step towards gene therapy, lymphocytes from the blood of the patient are grown in a culture outside the body. A functional ADA and DNA (using a retroviral vector) is then introduced into these lymphocytes which are subsequently returned to the patient.
3. What are GMOs? Write at least four main objectives of genetically modified crops.
Ans: Plants, bacteria, fungi and animals whose genes have been altered by manipulation are called Genetically modified organism.
Four main objective of GMOs are
(i) to made crops more tolerant to abiotic stresses.
(ii) to reduce reliance on chemical pesticides
(iii) to enhance nutritional value of food.
(iv) helped to reduce post harvest losses.
4. What do you mean by GEAC? What are its role?
Ans: GEAC means Genetic Engineering Approval Committee. Its role are to make decisions regarding the validity of GM research and the safety of introducing GM organisms for public services.
5. How does the toxic insecticide protein produced by bacterium in Bt cotton kill the insect pest but not the cell of Bacillus thuringiensis, where the toxic protein is generated.
Ans: Toxic insecticide protein produced by bacterium in Bt cotton exist as inactive protoxins but once an insect ingest the inactive toxin, it is converted into an active form of toxin due to the alkaline pH of the gut which solubilise the crystals. The activated toxin binds to the surface of midgut epithelial cells and create pores that cause cell swelling and lysis and eventually cause death of the insect.
6. What are antibiotics? Give a list of organisms used for production of different antibiotics mentioning against their names.
Ans: Antibiotics are drugs produced by micro-organisms which in low concentration kill pathogenic microbes by inhibiting their growth and metabolism without harming the host.
Source
1. Penicillium chrysogenum
2. Penicillium griseofulvin
3. Streptomyces griseus
4. Aspergillus fumigatas
Antibiotic
Penicillin
Griseofulvin
Streptomycin
Fumagillin
7. Plasmid is a boon to biotechnology. Justify this statement quoting the examples in the field of biotechnological inventions.
Ans: Plasmids are extrachromosomal, self replicating, usually circular, double standed DNA molecules found naturally in many bacteria.
In 1983, Eli Lily an American company first prepared two DNA sequences corresponding to A and B chains of human insulin and introduced them in plasmids of E.coli to produce insulin chains. These chains A and B were produced separately, extracted and combined by creating disulfide bonds to form human insulin.
Thus we can say that plasmid is a boon to biotechnology otherwise insulin would need to be extracted from pancreas of slaughtered cattle and pigs.
8. What is a transgenic crop? State the advantages of the technique involved in the production of transgenic crop over breeding activities.
Ans. Crops which possess and express our or more transgenes through genetic engineering are called transgenic crops.
Advantages:
1. It takes less time to produce the desired transgenic crop.
2. Any gene from any organism can be plants as per require- ment and planning.
3. In transgenic crops only desired genes are introduced. No undesirable genes appear in the offspring.
9. Name a insert pest that is killed by the product of cry 1 AC gene. Explain how the gene makes the plant resistant to the insect pest.
Ans. Cry IAc kills cotton bollworm.
Some strains of Bacillus thuringiensis possess a gene family cry gene which synthesises an endotoxic protein. This toxic insecticidal protein is formed during a particular phase of their growth. The Bt toxin protein exist as inactive protoxins but once on insect ingest the inactive toxin. it is converted into an active form of toxin due to the alkaline pH of the gut which solubilise the crystal. The activated toxin birds to the surface of midgut epithatial cells and create pores that cause cell swelling and lysis and eventually cause death of the insect. Thus the gene makes the plant resistant to the insect pest.
10. What are various advantages of using genetically modified plants to increase the overall yield of the crop?
Ans. Advantage of using genetically modified plants-
1. Plants are made more tolerant to abiotic stresses such as cold, drought, salt, heat etc.
2. Pest resistant crops are made with reduced reliance on chemical pesticides.
3. Help to reduce post harvest losses.
4. Increased efficiency of mineral usage by plants that prevents early exhaustion of fertility of soil.
5. Enhanced nutritional value of food e.g. vitamin ‘A’ enriched rice.
[IV] LONG QUESTIONS : (5 MARKS)
1. What is the principle of PCR technique? Mention the role of PCR in molecular diagnosis.
Ans: PCR is based on the principle that any piece of DNA can be quickly amplified without using cells.
PCR plays a very important role in molecular diagnosis. Very low concentration of a bacteria or virus can be detected by amplification of their nucleic acid by PCR. PCR can make billions of copies of a DNA segment in few hours and amplification makes the identification of DNA easier. Since the sequence of HIV DNA is known, its amplification by PCR can help detect HIV DNA in blood or tissue samples. This is often the best way to detect infection. DNA from single embryonic cell is amplified by PCR for rapid prenatal diagnosis of genetic disorders. DNA technology can help identify individuals with genetic disorders before the appearance of symptoms, even before birth. It is also possible to identify symptomless carriers of potentially harmful recessive alleles such as of haemophilia, phenylketonuria etc.
2. What are bioresources? How are industrialised nations exploiting the bioresources? Explain it by taking any example.
Ans: Bioresources are those organisms from which commercial benefits can be obtained. Industrialised nations are collecting and exploiting the bioresources as follows-
(i) They are collecting and patenting genetic resources of other countries showing them as products of their research. For e.g – A patent in USA covers the entire Basmamti Rice germplasm which is indigenous to Indian subcontinent. The patent was obtained in 1997 by an American company by it as its own product a new genetic variety of Basmati. It was actually developed by crossing Indian Basmati variety with a semi dwarf variety. The patent further extended to functionless equivalents so that other persons cultivating or selling Basmati could be restricted by the patent. This is despite the fact that India has some 27 varieties of Basmati out of a total 200,000 varieties of Rice found in the country.
(ii) The bioresources are being analysed for identification of valuable biomolecules which are then patented and used for commercial activities.
(iii) The traditional knowledge has been itself patented in some areas.
3. “Biotechnology can greatly promote human welfare, but can also be misused to increase human sufferings”. Comment on the statement.
Ans: The rate at which the technology is progressing the world may witness many negative impact of it. The negative sides are dangerously hazardous and potential enough to disintegrate the moral and ethical value of life and society. Some of the evil consequences are-
(i) Possibility of developing germs which are resistant to known antibiotics to be used for biological warfare.
(ii) Accidental production and escape of some potentially dangerous organisms which may cause environmental imbalance.
(iii) There may be tendency to produce monsters or a dictator may decide to create thousands of sub human creatures for specific purposes. All these would lead to a situation in which natural process of human evolution and societal relationship would be disturbed.
Thus these are a few possibilities which shows that biotechnology can be used to increase human sufferings in spite of its lots of usefulness.
4. What are the differences between conventional agricultural practices and modern agricultural practice. State the answer giving examples.
Ans: (i) Conventional agricultural practices consisted of picking up useful variation or selection. Whereas modern practices include manipulation of plant species so as to create new improved varieties.
(ii) In conventional, methods there is a limit of breeding high yielding varieties but in modern methods any gene from any organism can be excised and introduced in the crop plants as per requirement and planning.
(iii) Conventional methods are time consuming but modern methods are fast.
(iv) Undesirable genes often appear in offspring of conventional breeding. In modern practices only those genes are transferred which are required.
(v) Conventional agricultural practices based on the use of agrochemicals cause extensive pollution of soil, water and food items. But modern practices does not cause much pollution. 6. The products of modern agricultural practices are more nutritionally enriched than plants of conventional practices. For e.g. Vitamin A enriched rice.
5. Write notes on
(a) Gene therapy
Ans: Gene therapy is a collection of methods that allows correction of a gene defect that has been diagnosed in a child/ embryo. Here genes are inserted into a person’s cells and tissues to treat a disease. Correction of a genetic defect involves delivery of a normal gene into the individual or embryo to take over the function of and compensate for the non-functional gene. The first clinical gene therapy was given in 1990 to a 4 year old girl with adenosine deaminase (ADA) deficiency. As a first step towards gene therapy lymphocytes from the blood of the patient are grown in a culture outside the body. A functional ADA cDNA is then introduced into these lymphocytes, which are subsequently returned to the patient.
(b) Genetically engineered insulin
Ans: Insulin consists of two short polypeptide chains-chain A and chain B, that are linked together by disulphide bridge. In humans insulin is synthesised as a prohormone which contains an extra C-peptide. This C-peptide is not present in the mature insulin and is removed during maturation into insulin. The main challenge for production of insulin using rDNA techniques was getting insulin assembled into a mature form. In 1983, Eli Lilly an American company prepared two DNA sequences corresponding to A and B, chains of human insulin and introduced them in plasmids of E.coli to produce insulin chains. Chains A and B were produced separately, extracted and combined by creating disulfide bonds to form human insulin.
(c) Ethical issues of biotechnology
Ans: The manipulation of living organisms by the human race cannot go on any further without regulation. Some ethical standards are required to evaluate the morality of all human activities that might help or harm living organisms. Going beyond the morality of such issues, the biological significance of such things is also important. Genetic modification of organims can have unpredictable, results when such organisms are introduced into the ecosystem.
Therefore the Indian Government has set up organisations such as GEAC, which will make decisions regarding the validity of GM research and the safety of introducing GM organisms for public services.
The modification/usage of living organisms for public services has also created problems with patents granted for the same.
6. One of the main objective of biotechnology is to minimise the use of insecticides on cultivated crops. Explain how insect resistant crops have been developed by using techniques of biotechnology.
Ans. But toxin is produced by a bacteria called Bacillus thuringiensis. But toxin gene has been cloned form the bacteria and been expressed in plants to provide resistance to insects without the need for insecticides. Some strains of Bacillus thuringiensis produce proteins that kill certain insects such as lepedopterans (tobacco budworm), coleopterans (beetles) and dipterans (flies, mosquitoes). B.thuringiensis forms protein crystals during a particular phase of their growth. These crystals contain a toxic insecticidal protein. The Bt toxin protein exist as inactive protoxins but once an insect ingest the inactive toxin, it is converted into on active form of toxin due to the alkaline pH of the gut which solubilise the crystals. The activated toxin binds to the surface of midgut epithelial cells and create pores that cause cell swelling and lysis and eventually cause death of the insect.
Specific Bt toxin genes were isolated from Bacillus thuringeinsis and incorporated into the crop plants. The choice of genes depends upon the crops and the targeted pest.
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Last Words on AHSEC Class 12 Biology Chapter: 10 Biotechnology and It’s Application Notes 2025
The Chapter 10 of AHSEC Class 12 Biology deals with Biotechnology and It’s Application for a brief understanding. You can Download this HS 2nd Year Biology Notes in PDF 2025.
