CBSE Class 12 Biology Notes Chapter 12 Biotechnology and Its Applications

Biotechnology has a wide range of applications, including medicine, therapeutics, diagnostics, bioremediation, genetically modified crops, waste treatment, processed food production, and even energy generation. The focus areas of biotechnology include:

• Improved organisms, mostly microbes or purified enzymes, act as highly efficient catalysts.
• By modifying the conditions to optimum through engineering, scientists can ensure these catalysts function at their peak performance.
• Downstream processing technologies to purify protein/organic compounds.

CBSE Class 12 Biology Notes for Chapter 12 Biotechnology and its Applications are given in the article below for easy preparation and understanding of the concepts involved.

Read More: 

---

Class 12 Biology Chapter 12 Notes – Biotechnology and Its Applications

Applications of Biotechnology in Agriculture

• The application of biotechnology techniques in agriculture is called Green biotechnology or Green revolution.
• Some of its applications include:
  • Organic agriculture
  • Agro-chemical based agriculture
  • Genetically engineered crop-based agriculture
• The use of biotechnology has led to a significant increase in crop yields, potentially tripling food production in some cases. 
• This has helped meet the food needs of the growing human population.
• Genetically modified (GM) crops are a specific application of green biotechnology. 
• They are produced by introducing genes with desired traits into the genome of the plant.
• Examples of GM crops include Bt cotton, Bt brinjal, and golden rice.

Applications of biotechnology in agriculture

Genetic Engineering in Plants

The main steps in plant engineering are given below

• Agronomically important gene is identified and isolated.
• Plasmid is isolated from the bacterium, agrobacterium tumefaciens.
• Plant DNA containing the gene of interest is integrated into the T DNA of the plasmid by using restriction endonuclease and ligase enzymes.
• The recombinant plasmid is introduced into the cultured plant cells.
• T DNA integrates into the plant cell's chromosomes DNA.
• As the plant cell divides, each daughter cell receives a copy of T DNA and the gene of interest it carries.
• The cells give rise to a plantlet, which when transferred into soil, grows into a new plant that may express the new gene.

Applications of Biotechnology in Medicine

• Recombinant DNA technology has transformed healthcare by enabling the mass production of safer and more effective therapeutic drugs.
• This technology is the foundation for genetic engineering.
• It is a process used to create drugs like Humulin, the genetically modified insulin for diabetes treatment.
• Biotechnology also offers gene therapy, a potential cure for genetic disorders, by modifying genes in embryos.
• Other exciting applications in medicine and diagnostics include ELISA and PCR techniques.

Applications of biotechnology in medicine

Transgenics animals

• A gene that has been introduced into a cell or organism is called a transgene.
• The animal carrying the introduced foreign gene is said to be a transgenic animal.
• The process of introducing foreign genes is called Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).
• Most of the transgenic animals studied to date were produced by microinjection of DNA into fertilized eggs.
• The integration of injected DNA molecules appears to occur at random sites in the genome.
• The first transgenic animal produced was the "supermouse" by the incorporation of the gene for human growth hormone by Richard Palmiter and Ralph Brisnter in 1981.

Transgenics animals

Applications of Biotechnology in Aquaculture

• Biotechnology applications help to increase the quality and quantity of fish. 
• To improve breeding, the gonadotropin-releasing hormone is given to the fish.
• This increases growth and improves their genetic traits. 
• It also protects against a variety of diseases.

Production of Antibiotics

• Plants are becoming biofactories for vaccines, antibiotics, and artificial hormones.
• Scientists introduce genes with desired traits, allowing the plants to produce the encoded proteins.
• These plant-based products, particularly edible vaccines, offer significant advantages. 
• They are cost-effective, easy to store, and can be administered directly, potentially revolutionizing vaccination programs in developing countries.

There are Some important List Of Top Biology Questions On Biotechnology Asked In CBSE CLASS XII