CBSE Class 12 Biology || Biotechnology Principles And Processes || Full Chapter || By Shiksha House

Summary

This script explores the transformative power of biotechnology, highlighting its applications in healthcare, agriculture, and environmental management. It delves into genetic engineering techniques such as gene cloning, recombinant DNA, and gene transfer, illustrating the process from DNA isolation to the production of recombinant proteins. The script underscores the significance of biotechnology in addressing modern challenges, from disease resistance to sustainable crop production.

Takeaways

• 🌱 Biotechnology is an applied science that uses biological organisms or their enzymes to create useful products for humans, including vaccines, medicines, and drought-resistant crops.
• 🧬 Modern biotechnology is distinguished from traditional processes like cheese-making by its use of genetically modified organisms and larger-scale operations.
• 🛠️ Genetic engineering is a key technique in biotechnology, involving the modification of an organism's DNA to change its characteristics.
• 🔬 Chemical engineering processes in biotech apply physical and life sciences to convert chemicals into valuable forms, such as in the production of antibiotics and enzymes.
• 🧬🔄 Gene cloning is the replication of cells containing a specific DNA fragment of interest, which is crucial for isolating desirable genes in genetic engineering.
• 🔗 Recombinant DNA technology, first developed in 1972, combines DNA from different sources into a single molecule, enabling the creation of new genetic combinations.
• ✂️ Restriction enzymes are essential tools in genetic engineering, recognized for cutting DNA at specific sequences, facilitating the construction of recombinant DNA molecules.
• 🔬🔬 The discovery of restriction endonucleases and their role in defending bacteria against viruses has significantly contributed to the development of genetic engineering.
• 🔄 Cloning vectors, such as plasmids or bacteriophages, are used to replicate foreign DNA within host cells, a critical step in gene cloning and transfer.
• 🌿 Agrobacterium tumefaciens, a plant pathogen, has been repurposed into a useful cloning vector for gene delivery in plants, demonstrating the adaptability of biotechnological methods.
• 🔬💊 Recombinant DNA technology has been paramount in addressing challenges in healthcare and agriculture, such as developing treatments for diseases and improving crop yields.

Q & A

What is biotechnology and how does it differ from traditional microbe-mediated processes?

Biotechnology is a field of applied biology that uses organisms or their enzymes to produce useful products for humans. It differs from traditional microbe-mediated processes like making curd and cheese because it involves the use of genetically modified organisms and operates on a much larger scale.

What are some specialized processes that fall within the scope of biotechnology?

Specialized processes in biotechnology include synthesizing and using genes, developing DNA vaccines, in vitro fertilization, and developing biofuels.

How has agriculture been related to biotechnology historically?

Agriculture is the oldest biotechnological system used to create new products. It has been used for a long time to select high-yielding crop varieties and to use specific organisms as fertilizers to restore nitrogen and control pests.

What are the two core techniques that modern biotechnology arose from?

Modern biotechnology arose from two core techniques: genetic engineering and chemical engineering processes.

What is gene cloning and how does it relate to biotechnology?

Gene cloning refers to the production of a lineage of cells containing one kind of DNA fragment of interest derived from a population of many kinds of DNA fragments. It is a key technique in biotechnology that helps isolate and select only desirable genes and avoid the transfer of undesirable genes in target organisms.

What is recombinant DNA and how was it first constructed?

Recombinant DNA is artificial DNA created from two or more sources and incorporated into a single recombinant molecule. It was first constructed by Stanley Cohen and Herbert Boyer in 1972 by combining the processes of restriction enzymes and plasmids.

What is the role of restriction enzymes in genetic engineering?

Restriction enzymes play a crucial role in genetic engineering by recognizing specific sequences in DNA and cutting the DNA to produce restriction fragments. They help in the construction of recombinant DNA molecules by creating similar sticky ends on different DNA molecules, which can then be linked using DNA ligase.

What is a cloning vector and why is it important in biotechnology?

A cloning vector is a DNA molecule that has an origin of replication and is capable of replicating in a host cell. It is important in biotechnology because it provides the necessary identification sequences or replicants for foreign DNA to be recognized and multiplied in the host cell.

How are foreign DNA fragments introduced into host cells in genetic engineering?

Foreign DNA fragments can be introduced into host cells using methods such as making the bacterial cells competent for plasmid uptake, microinjection, and the gene gun method, which involves bombarding plant cells with high-velocity microparticles coated with DNA.

What is the purpose of a bioreactor in biotechnology?

A bioreactor is used to carry out a chemical process using raw materials such as microbial, plant, animal, or human cells and converting them into products like enzymes. It facilitates the growth of a large volume of biomass by providing optimum growth conditions and is crucial for producing high yields of desired proteins.

What is downstream processing in the context of recombinant DNA technology?

Downstream processing refers to the recovery and purification of biosynthetic products, such as pharmaceuticals, after they have been produced using recombinant DNA technology. It is the final step before the products are formulated, tested, and brought to the market.