Biotechnology

 Biotechnology

A. What is Biotechnology?

 * Definition: Biotechnology is the branch of science that uses living organisms or substances derived from them to create products and processes useful for human welfare.

 * Key Fields: It brings together various scientific branches like cytology, biochemistry, molecular biology, and genetic engineering.

 * Progress: There is considerable progress in the field of agriculture, pharmacy (medicines), and therapeutics (treatment).

 * Scope: Biotechnology includes the use of abilities of microbes, plant tissue culture, genetically modified organisms, and various new techniques.

B. Main Areas Included in Biotechnology

 * Industrial Production: Use of the abilities of microbes to produce useful substances like yogurt, antibiotics, vaccines, and milk and alcohol from molasses.

 * Cell Productivity: Use of the productivity of specific cells. Example: Production of antibiotics, vaccines, hormones, and proteins by specific cells.

 * DNA and Proteins: Study of DNA, like DNA fingerprinting, and proteins in human welfare.

 * Agriculture: Development of plants, animals, and desired quality products through gene manipulation.

 * Genetic Engineering: Use of genetic and non-genetic techniques. Example: Tissue culture, production of hybrid seeds, etc.

C. Benefits of Biotechnology

 * Increased Yield: It is possible to increase the yield per hectare of crops, even in areas with limitations like low-land area.

 * Disease Control: Expenses on disease control have been minimized due to the development of resistant varieties of crops.

 * Better Quality: Due to fast-fruit ripening varieties, the quality and amount of production have increased.

 * Stress Resistance: Development of stress-resistant varieties that can withstand variable temperature, water stress, and changing soil conditions.

Commercial Applications of Biotechnology

1. Crop Biotechnology (Agriculture)

 * Hybrid Seeds: Seeds produced by combining the genes of two different crops to create new, improved varieties.

 * Genetically Modified Crops (GM Crops):

   * Crops developed with desired characteristics by transferring foreign genes into their genome.

   * They yield varieties with resistance to diseases, alkalinity, weeds, other stresses, cold, and drought.

   * Examples:

     * Bt Cotton/Brinjal: A gene from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is integrated into the crop genome. The toxin produced by this gene is fatal for bollworms/pests but safe for humans. This kills the pest and saves the crop.

     * Golden Rice: A gene synthesizing Vitamin A (Beta carotene) is introduced into rice. This variety produces 23 times more Beta carotene than normal rice.

     * Herbicide Tolerant Plants: Plants that are resistant to herbicides (weed killers). This allows farmers to spray the herbicide to kill only the weeds, without harming the main crop.

 * Biofertilizers: Use of beneficial microbes like Rhizobium, Azotobacter, Nostoc, and Azolla instead of chemical fertilizers. These microbes help in nitrogen fixation and phosphate solubilization, improving the growth and quality of plants.

2. Animal Husbandry

 * Biotechnology is used to improve the quality and quantity of animal products (milk, meat, wool, etc.) through techniques like artificial insemination and embryo transfer.

 * It helps to develop strong animals for hard work.

3. Human Health

 * Diagnosis and Treatment: Biotechnology helps in the early diagnosis of diseases like AIDS, dengue, diabetes, and heart diseases.

 * Hormones: The human hormone insulin, which was earlier extracted from the pancreas of horses, is now produced by introducing the human insulin gene into bacteria through biotechnology.

 * Vaccines and Vaccination:

   * Vaccine is an 'antigen' that provides temporary or permanent immunity against a specific pathogen.

   * Traditionally, vaccines were prepared with the help of pathogens, which carried a risk of contracting the disease.

   * Safer Vaccines: Scientists now produce the antigen protein in the laboratory with the help of the gene isolated from the pathogen, making vaccines safer.

   * New Concepts: Edible Vaccines (potatoes that produce immunity against diseases like cholera or E.coli) are being developed.

4. Therapeutic Products

 * Sotatropin: A hormone used for the production of hormones and blood clotting factors.

 * Interferon: A group of small protein molecules used in the treatment of viral diseases, now produced with the help of transgenic E. coli.

5. Gene Therapy

 * Process: Transferring genes into the somatic cells (body cells) of a person to treat genetic diseases like Phenylketonuria (PKU).

6. Cloning

 * Definition: Production of an exact replica of any cell, organ, or entire organism.

 * Reproductive Cloning: Production of a clone by fusing the nucleus of a somatic cell (body cell) with the enucleated ovum (egg cell) of anybody. The resulting embryo is then implanted to produce a new organism. Example: Dolly the sheep.

7. Bioremediation and Environment

 * Biotechnology helps solve environmental problems.

 * Sewage Treatment: Microbial techniques are used to treat sewage and solid waste. Sewage is rich in organic matter. If released into rivers, it consumes dissolved oxygen, adversely affecting aquatic life. After oxidation with microbial techniques, the treated water can be released into rivers.

 * Bio-remediation: Use of plants and microorganisms to clean up environmental pollutants.

   * Phyto-remediation: Using plants for cleanup.

   * Micro-remediation: Using microbes for cleanup.

   * Examples:

     * The bacterium Pseudomonas can absorb petroleum products.

     * The fern Pteris vitata can absorb arsenic.

     * Sunflower can absorb uranium.

     * The bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans is highly radiation resistant and can be genetically modified to absorb radiations from radioactive debris.

 * Oil Spill Cleanup: Special oil-digesting and fat-multiplying bacteria (developed by Dr. Anand Mohan Chakrabarty) are used to clean oil spills in the ocean.

8. Food Biotechnology

 * Production of food items like bread, cheese, wine, beer, yogurt, and vinegar using microorganisms, which are products of biotechnology.

9. DNA Fingerprinting

 * Concept: The DNA sequence of every person is unique (except identical twins).

 * Use: It is helpful in forensic science for identifying a criminal, verifying the site of a crime, or establishing the parentage of any child.

Important Stages in Agricultural Development

 * Green Revolution: A movement started to solve the problem of food shortage caused by population explosion.

 * Pioneers:

   * Dr. M. S. Swaminathan (India): Contributed significantly to the Green Revolution in India.

   * Dr. Norman Borlaug (USA): Developed improved dwarf varieties of wheat and rice.

 * Result: The proper use of fertilizers and pesticides, along with improved dwarf varieties and better water management, led to the increased production of food grains, saving large populations from hunger.

Always Remember: Organ donation and transplantation in India are legally regulated under the 'Transplantation of Human Organs Act, 1994' to ensure the process is transparent and no person is cheated.

Regards 

Mansi