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Biology-12 : 10 : Biotechnology and its Applications - Flashcards

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What does biotechnology mainly deal with?
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Biotechnology deals with industrial scale production of biopharmaceuticals and biologicals using genetically modified microbes, fungi, plants, and animals.
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# Question Answer
1 What does biotechnology mainly deal with? Biotechnology deals with industrial scale production of biopharmaceuticals and biologicals using genetically modified microbes, fungi, plants, and animals.
2 Name some applications of biotechnology. Therapeutics, diagnostics, genetically modified crops, processed food, bioremediation, waste treatment, and energy production.
3 What are the three critical research areas of biotechnology? 1. Providing the best catalyst (improved organism or pure enzyme), 2. Creating optimal conditions for catalyst action, 3. Downstream processing technologies to purify proteins/organic compounds
4 What are the three options for increasing food production? 1. Agro-chemical based agriculture, 2. Organic agriculture, 3. Genetically engineered crop-based agriculture
5 What was the major achievement of the Green Revolution? It succeeded in tripling the food supply.
6 Why are agrochemicals a problem for farmers in developing countries? Agrochemicals are often too expensive.
7 What is tissue culture? It is the technique in which whole plants are regenerated from explants grown in test tubes under sterile conditions in special nutrient media.
8 What is an explant? Any part of a plant taken out and grown in a test tube under sterile conditions.
9 Define totipotency. The capacity of a cell/explant to generate a whole plant.
10 What components are required in a nutrient medium for tissue culture? Carbon source (sucrose), inorganic salts, vitamins, amino acids, auxins, and cytokinins.
11 What is micropropagation? Production of thousands of plants through tissue culture in a very short duration.
12 What are somaclones? Plants produced through tissue culture that are genetically identical to the original plant.
13 Name some plants produced commercially using tissue culture. Tomato, banana, and apple.
14 Which plant part is used to obtain virus-free plants? Meristem (apical and axillary).
15 Why is meristem used for producing virus-free plants? Because meristem is free of viruses even in infected plants.
16 What is a protoplast? A naked plant cell surrounded only by the plasma membrane after removal of the cell wall.
17 What is somatic hybridisation? Fusion of isolated protoplasts from two different plant varieties to form a hybrid plant.
18 What are somatic hybrids? Hybrid plants formed by fusion of protoplasts from different varieties.
19 What is pomato? A hybrid plant formed by fusion of tomato and potato protoplasts.
20 Why was pomato not commercially successful? It did not have all the desired combination of characteristics.
21 What does GMO stand for? Genetically Modified Organisms.
22 What are Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)? Plants, bacteria, fungi, and animals whose genes have been altered by manipulation.
23 Which abiotic stresses can GM crops tolerate? Cold, drought, salt, and heat.
24 How do GM plants reduce dependence on pesticides? By developing pest-resistant crops.
25 Give an example of a nutritionally improved GM crop. Golden rice enriched with Vitamin A.
26 GM plants can supply which industrial products? Starches, fuels, and pharmaceuticals.
27 Which bacterium produces Bt toxin? Bacillus thuringiensis.
28 Name some Bt crops. Bt cotton, Bt corn, rice, tomato, potato, and soyabean.
29 Which insects are killed by proteins produced by Bacillus thuringiensis? Lepidopterans, coleopterans, and dipterans.
30 Name two lepidopteran insects affected by Bt toxin. Tobacco budworm and armyworm.
31 During which phase does Bacillus thuringiensis form protein crystals? During a particular phase of growth.
32 In which form does Bt toxin exist inside the bacterium? Inactive protoxin form.
33 How does Bt toxin become active inside insects? Alkaline pH in the insect gut solubilises the crystals and converts the protoxin into active toxin.
34 How does activated Bt toxin kill insects? It binds to midgut epithelial cells, creates pores, causes cell swelling and lysis, leading to insect death.
35 What is the name of the Bt toxin gene controlling cotton bollworms? cryIAc and cryIIAb.
36 Which Bt gene controls corn borer? cryIAb.
37 Which nematode infects tobacco roots? Meloidegyne incognitia.
38 What is RNA interference (RNAi)? A cellular defense method involving silencing of specific mRNA by complementary dsRNA.
39 What is the function of dsRNA in RNAi? It binds to specific mRNA and prevents its translation.
40 What can be the source of complementary RNA in RNAi? RNA viruses or mobile genetic elements (transposons).
41 Which vector was used to introduce nematode-specific genes into plants? Agrobacterium vector.
42 What happens when sense and antisense RNA are produced together? They form double-stranded RNA (dsRNA).
43 How does RNAi protect transgenic plants from nematodes? It silences nematode mRNA, preventing survival of the parasite.
44 Why are Bt crops considered bio-pesticides? Because they provide insect resistance without the need for chemical insecticides.
45 How has recombinant DNA technology impacted healthcare? It enabled mass production of safe and effective therapeutic drugs.
46 Why do recombinant therapeutics not induce unwanted immunological responses? Because they are similar to human proteins and are not isolated from non-human sources.
47 Approximately how many recombinant therapeutics are approved worldwide for human use? About 30.
48 How many recombinant therapeutics are marketed in India? 12.
49 How is adult-onset diabetes commonly managed? By taking insulin at regular intervals.
50 From where was insulin extracted earlier? Pancreas of slaughtered cattle and pigs.
51 What problem was associated with insulin obtained from animals? It caused allergy or immune reactions in some patients.
52 How are the A and B chains of insulin connected? By disulphide bridges.
53 In mammals, insulin is synthesised in which form? As a pro-hormone.
54 What is C-peptide? An extra stretch present in pro-insulin that is removed during maturation.
55 Is C-peptide present in mature insulin? No, it is removed during maturation.
56 What was the major challenge in producing insulin using rDNA technology? Assembling insulin into a mature functional form.
57 Which company prepared DNA sequences for human insulin chains in 1983? Eli Lilly.
58 Which bacterium was used to produce human insulin chains? E. coli.
59 How was human insulin produced using E. coli? DNA sequences for A and B chains were introduced separately into plasmids of E. coli, then the chains were extracted and combined using disulphide bonds.
60 What is gene therapy? A collection of methods used to correct a gene defect diagnosed in a child or embryo.
61 How does gene therapy correct genetic defects? By inserting a normal functional gene into cells and tissues.
62 When and for whom was the first clinical gene therapy given? In 1990, to a 4-year-old girl with ADA deficiency.
63 ADA deficiency occurs due to deletion of which gene? Adenosine deaminase gene.
64 Why is adenosine deaminase important? It is crucial for proper functioning of the immune system.
65 Name two treatments for ADA deficiency mentioned in the text. Bone marrow transplantation and enzyme replacement therapy.
66 What is the limitation of bone marrow transplantation and enzyme replacement therapy? They are not completely curative.
67 Which vector is used to introduce functional ADA cDNA into lymphocytes? Retroviral vector.
68 Why does ADA gene therapy require periodic infusion of genetically engineered lymphocytes? Because lymphocytes are not immortal.
69 How can ADA deficiency potentially be permanently cured? By introducing the ADA gene into cells at early embryonic stages.
70 Why is early diagnosis important in disease treatment? For effective treatment and understanding of pathophysiology.
71 Why are conventional diagnostic methods insufficient for early detection? Because disease symptoms appear only after pathogen concentration becomes very high.
72 Name three techniques used for molecular diagnosis. Recombinant DNA technology, PCR, and ELISA.
73 What is the full form of PCR? Polymerase Chain Reaction.
74 How does PCR help in early disease detection? It amplifies nucleic acid of pathogens present in very low concentration.
75 PCR is routinely used to detect which disease? AIDS caused by HIV.
76 What genetic abnormality can PCR detect in suspected cancer patients? Mutations in genes.
77 What is used as a probe in molecular diagnosis? Single-stranded DNA or RNA tagged with a radioactive molecule.
78 Why does a clone with a mutated gene not appear on photographic film during autoradiography? Because the probe cannot hybridise with the mutated gene.
79 What is the full form of ELISA? Enzyme Linked Immuno-sorbent Assay.
80 On which principle is ELISA based? Antigen-antibody interaction.
81 How can infection by a pathogen be detected using ELISA? By detecting antigens or antibodies against the pathogen.
82 What are transgenic animals? Animals whose DNA has been manipulated to possess and express a foreign gene.
83 Name some transgenic animals. Rats, rabbits, pigs, sheep, cows, fish, and mice.
84 Which animal constitutes over 95% of existing transgenic animals? Mice.
85 Why are transgenic animals produced? To study gene regulation, disease development, biological products, vaccine safety, and chemical safety testing.
86 How are transgenic animals useful in studying physiology? They help study gene regulation and normal body functions.
87 Which growth-related factor is mentioned in the study of transgenic animals? Insulin-like growth factor.
88 Why are transgenic animals used as disease models? To understand how genes contribute to disease development and to test treatments.
89 Why are transgenic animals created for biological products? To produce useful biological products for treating human diseases.
90 Which human protein produced by transgenic animals is used to treat emphysema? α-1-antitrypsin.
91 Name the first transgenic cow produced in 1997. Rosie.
92 Which transgenic animal is used for vaccine safety testing? Transgenic mice.
93 What is another name for chemical safety testing? Toxicity/safety testing.
94 What special feature do transgenic animals used in toxicity testing possess? They are more sensitive to toxic substances.
95 What is the advantage of toxicity testing in transgenic animals? Results can be obtained in less time.
96 Approximately how many varieties of rice are found in India? About 200,000 varieties.
97 What makes Basmati rice distinct? Its unique aroma and flavour.
98 How many documented varieties of Basmati are grown in India? 27 varieties.
99 Which office granted the patent rights on Basmati rice? US Patent and Trademark Office.
100 What is biopiracy? Use of bio-resources by multinational companies or organisations without proper authorisation or compensatory payment.
101 How do industrialised and developing nations differ in biodiversity? Industrialised nations are financially rich but poor in biodiversity, while developing nations are rich in biodiversity and traditional knowledge.
102 Why is traditional knowledge related to bio-resources important? It can help develop modern applications and save time, effort, and expenditure during commercialisation.
103 Why are nations developing laws against unauthorised exploitation of bio-resources? To prevent injustice, inadequate compensation, and unfair benefit sharing.
104 What did the second amendment of the Indian Patents Bill address? Patent terms, emergency provisions, research, and development initiatives related to bio-resources.
105 How has biotechnology benefited humans? By producing useful products using microbes, plants, animals, and their metabolic machinery.
106 What is the significance of tissue culture and somatic hybridisation? They offer vast potential for manipulation of plants in vitro to produce new varieties.
107 What has recombinant DNA technology made possible? Engineering microbes, plants, and animals with novel capabilities.
108 How are GMOs created? By transferring one or more genes from one organism to another using recombinant DNA technology.
109 Mention some benefits of GM plants. Increased crop yield, reduced post-harvest losses, stress tolerance, improved nutrition, and reduced pesticide use.
110 Why are recombinant therapeutics considered safer? They are identical to human proteins and do not induce unwanted immune responses.
111 How is human insulin produced according to the summary? It is produced in bacteria and is structurally identical to natural insulin.
112 What is gene therapy according to the summary? Insertion of genes into cells and tissues to treat hereditary diseases.
113 How does gene therapy work? By replacing defective mutant alleles with functional genes or by gene targeting.
114 Why are viruses used in gene therapy? They act as vectors to transfer healthy genes into host cells.
115 What concern has arisen due to manipulation of microbes, plants, and animals? Serious ethical questions regarding their use and impact.
116 Why do crystals of Bt toxin produced by some bacteria not kill the bacteria themselves? Because the Bt toxin exists as inactive protoxins within the bacteria.
117 In which form does Bt toxin exist inside bacteria? Inactive protoxin form.
118 What are transgenic bacteria? Bacteria whose genetic material has been altered using recombinant DNA technology to express foreign genes.
119 Mention one advantage of genetically modified crops. Increased crop yield.
120 How do GM crops reduce dependence on chemical pesticides? By developing pest-resistant varieties.
121 How are GM crops beneficial under environmental stress? They are more tolerant to stresses such as drought, salt, cold, and heat.
122 What concern is associated with genetically modified crops? They raise ethical and environmental concerns.
123 What are Cry proteins? Toxic insecticidal proteins produced by Bacillus thuringiensis.
124 Which organism produces Cry proteins? Bacillus thuringiensis.
125 How has man exploited Cry proteins? By introducing Bt toxin genes into crop plants to develop pest resistance.
126 What is gene therapy? A method of correcting gene defects by inserting functional genes into cells and tissues.
127 Which disease was treated using the first clinical gene therapy? Adenosine deaminase (ADA) deficiency.
128 ADA deficiency occurs due to deletion of which gene? Adenosine deaminase gene.
129 How is functional ADA introduced during gene therapy? Through a retroviral vector into cultured lymphocytes.
130 Which bacterium is commonly used for cloning and expressing human genes? E. coli.
131 What technology is used to clone and express human genes in bacteria? Recombinant DNA technology.
132 What is golden rice? Vitamin A enriched genetically modified rice.
133 What major problem is encountered in making orally active protein pharmaceuticals? The protein is likely to be degraded/digested by proteases and the acidic environment of the stomach before reaching the target site.
134 Why does Bt toxin not kill Bacillus thuringiensis itself? Because the toxin remains in an inactive form inside the bacterium.
135 In which form does Bt toxin exist in Bacillus thuringiensis? Inactive protoxin form.
136 Which bacterium produces Cry proteins? Bacillus thuringiensis.
137 What is the role of Cry proteins? They act as toxic insecticidal proteins against specific insects.
138 How are Cry protein genes used in agriculture? They are introduced into crop plants to develop insect-resistant GM crops.
139 What is gene therapy? A technique used to correct defective genes by introducing functional genes into cells and tissues.
140 Which disease was first treated using gene therapy? Adenosine deaminase (ADA) deficiency.
141 ADA deficiency is caused by deletion of which gene? Adenosine deaminase gene.
142 Which cells are cultured outside the body during ADA gene therapy? Lymphocytes.
143 Which vector is used to transfer functional ADA cDNA into lymphocytes? Retroviral vector.
144 How can ADA deficiency become permanently curable? By introducing the ADA gene into cells at early embryonic stages.
145 Which bacterium is commonly used for cloning and expressing human genes? E. coli.
146 Which technology is used to express human genes in bacteria? Recombinant DNA technology.
147 What is golden rice? A genetically modified rice enriched with Vitamin A.
148 What is the main challenge in making orally active protein pharmaceuticals? Proteins may be digested by proteases in the digestive tract.
149 What are proteases? Enzymes that digest proteins.
150 What are nucleases? Enzymes that digest nucleic acids.
151 Mention one important advantage of GM crops. Reduced dependence on chemical pesticides.