12.

Biotechnology
 1-Mark Questions :
1)In which transgenic plant the substance
Flavonoids obtained as antioxidants?
Ans = Antioxidants Flavonoids are obtained from
transgenic tomato plant.
2)What is Germline Therapy ?
Ans = In Germline therapy, healthy genes are
introduced into germ cells like sperms, eggs, early
embryos, etc.
3) Which Recombinant proteins is obtained for
Hepatitis-B by r-DNA technology?
Ans = Hepatitis-B is treated using Hepatitis B
vaccine obtained by application of r-DNA
technology.
4)What is plasmid?
Ans = Plasmid is a circular, double stranded, self-
replicating, extra-chromosomal DNA molecule.
5)What is Palindrome Sequences ?
Ans = The sequences which read same in forward
and reverse direction are known as ‘palindrome
sequences'.
6)Alu-I is obtained from which organism?
Ans = Alu-I is obtained from Arthrobacter luteus.
7)What is the role of Taq-polymerase in PCR
technology?
Ans = Taq-polymerase helps in polymerization of
DNA molecule in PCR technology.
8) BT-cotton shows adverse effect on the
population of which butterfly?
Ans = BT-Cotton shows adverse effect on the
Monarch butterfly populations.
 2-Mark Questions
1)What is Biopiracy ?Explain it with respect to
Turmeric.
Ans =
i. Biopiracy is defined as ‘theft of various natural
products and then selling them by getting
patent without giving any benefits or
compensation back to the host country'.
ii. Since ancient times, Indians have been using
Haldi (Turmeric powder) as antiseptic for
healing wounds for killing pests and medicinal
purposes.
2)How biotechnology is applicable with respect to
Genomics ?
Ans = Following are the applications with respect
to genomics :
i. Whole genome sequencing.
ii. Identifying gene function.
3)Explain how transgenic fish is commercially
beneficial ?
Ans = Transgenic Fish :
i. The commercially important fish like Atlantic
salmon, catfish, goldfish, Tilapia, zebra-fish,
common carp, rainbow trout, etc. are
transfected with growth hormone, chicken
crystalline protein and E. coli hygromycin.
ii. Transgenic fish showed increased cold
tolerance and improved growth and it is
quantity and quality of fish proteins as well as
its preservation, are the factors affecting the
economic value of fish.
4)Write any two human disorders and to curve
which recombinant proteins are produced ?
Ans =
i. Atherosclerosis (HD)
Platlet derived growth factor(RP).
ii. Emphysema(HD)
alpha1-antitrpsin(RP).
5)For production of edible vaccines plants are used.
Explain this any one example.
Ans = ‘Melt in the mouth' vaccines can be
administered by placing them under tongue that
delivers it into the blood stream.
E.g. Potatoes, tomatoes, soybeans, alfalfa and
cereals are the most common foods proposed for
edible vaccine delivery.
6)Write a note on uses of somatic cell gene
therapy.
Ans = Somatic Cell Gene Therapy :
i. In this type the gene is introduced only in
somatic cells like bone marrow cells,
hepatic cells, fibroblasts endothelium and
pulmonary epithelial cells, central nervous
system, endocrine cells and smooth muscle
cells of blood vessels walls.
ii. Somatic cell gene therapy
is the only feasible option and the clinical
trials have already employed for the
treatment of acquired disorders such as
cancer and rheumatoid arthritis and blood
disorders including SCID, Gaucher's
 disease, familial hypercholesterolemia,
haemophila, phenylketonuria, cystic
fibrosis, sickle-cell anaemia, Duchenne
muscular dystrophy, emphysema
thalassemia, etc.
7)Define Vector. Write any two examples.
Ans =
i. Cloning vectors are DNA molecules that carry a
foreign DNA segment and replicate inside the
host cell.
ii. Following are the different types of vectors
used in rDNA technology:
Vectors may be plasmids,
Bacteriophage, etc.

 3-Mark Questions
1)Explain traditional use of Biotechnology.
Ans =
i. Traditional biotechnology (old biotechnology)
was primarily based on fermentation
technology using microorganisms.
ii. Curd, ghee, vinegar, cheese, wine, etc. are
produced through fermentation technology
using microorganisms.
iii. The dosa, idli, amd dhoka are fermented
products produced using fermentation process.
2)Define Biotechnology. Which are the basic
principles of Biotechnology?
Ans = Biotechnology refers to the development
and utilization of biological forms, products or
processes for obtaining maximum benefit to man
and other forms of life.
i. Biotechnology is based on the principles of
chemical engineering, genetic engi6and
adequate maintenance of sterile conditions.
ii. Following are the processes used in
Biotechnology:
a.Repairing of the defective genes or replacing
of defective genes by healthy genes or
normal genes.
b.Artificially synthesizing of a totally new gene.
3)What is gene cloning? Explain different tools
used for it.
Ans =
i. Gene cloning is a process in which involves the
isolation, transfer of a specific sequence of
DNA through a vector and amplification in a
host organism.
ii. There are three types of biological tools used in
rDNA technology viz. enzymes, cloning vectors
and competent host for transformation with
recombinant DNA.
4)What is recognition sequence? Explain in brief.
Ans =
i. The sequences recognized by restriction
enzymes are 4 to 8 nucleotide long and
characterised by a particular type of internal
symmetry is known as ‘recognition sequence'.
ii. When the sequence is read in opposite
direction (3’ to 5’ or 5’ to 3’) it identical/same.
iii. Restriction enzymes either cut straight across
the DNA in the region of palindrome to give
blunt ends or cuts producing short, single
stranded projections at each of DNA to
produce, cohesive or sticky ends or staggered
ends.
5)Define Biotechnology. How it is used in
production of Human insulin?
Ans = Biotechnology is refers to the development
and utilization of biological forms or processes for
obtaining maximum benefits to man and other
forms of life.
i. Isolation of DNA from the donor organism:
 a.The desire gene to be cloned is obtained
from the source organism.
b.Initially the cells of the donor organism are
sheared with blender and treated with
suitable detergent.
c. Genetic material from the donor is isolated
and purified using several techniques.
d.Isolated DNA can be spooled on a glass rod.
ii. Cutting of desired gene :
a.Isolated purified DNA is then cleaved by
using restriction enzymes.
i.e. restriction endonucleases.
b.These enzymes cleave DNA at restriction
sites and break the DNA into fragments.
c. There are several types of restriction
endonucleases.
d.Cleaved DNA fragments have cohesive,
sticky, staggered ends or blunt ends.
6)What is GM plant? Write its different advantages.
Ans = Transgenic plants are those plants which
have their DNA manipulated to posses and express
foreign gene.
Advantages of genetically
modified/transgenic plants:
a.Insect pest resistance.
 b.Transgenic plants act as factories/bioreactors.

 4-Mark Questions
1)What is PCR? Explain different steps involved in
it.
Ans = Polymerase Chain Reaction(PCR) is the
process in vitro amplification of gene of interest
using a PCR machine.
Mechanism Of PCR:
At the start of PCR, all the requirements are mixed
together in ‘eppendorf tube' and the following
operations are performed sequentially.
I. Denaturation:
The reaction mixture us heated to a temperature
(90-98°C) to separate two strands of desired DNA,
this is called ‘Denaturation'.
II. Annealing:
The mixture is allowed to cool (40-60°C) that
permits pairing of the primer to the
complementary sequence in DNA, this is called
‘annealing'.
III. Primer extension/Polymerization:
 The temperature (70-75°C) allows thermostable
taq DNA polymerase to use single-stranded DNA
as template and adds nucleotides. This is called
polymerization and it takes around two minutes
duration.

2)Explain the following terms with respect to rDNA

technology:
 Passenger DNA.
A DNA fragment containing desired gene that is
isolated and selected for cloning is called
‘passenger DNA'.
 Chimeric DNA.
The combination of vector DNA and foreign DNA
is called
‘rDNA or Chimeric DNA'.
 Transformed Cell.
The host cell which taken up rDNA is called
‘transformed cell'.
 Restriction site.
The particular sequence of nucleotides on DNA
where a restriction enzyme cuts the two strands
of DNA is called recognition or restriction site.
3)Define Biotechnology. Explain any three
application of it.
Ans = Biotechnology refers to the development
and utilization of biological forms, products or
processes for obtaining maximum benefits to man
and other forms of life.
Applications of Biotechnology :
I) Plant biotechnology:
Plant cell and tissue culture, GM crops, marker
assisted selection.
II)Industrial biotechnology:
Enzyme biotechnology, protein engineering,
metabolic engineering, metabolomics.
III)Genomics:
Whole genome sequencing,
gene function, reverse genetic
bio informatics,etc.

4)Which are different adverse effect of

biotechnology on human health and environment.
Ans = 1. Effects of Biotechnology on human health:
i. Allergies :
a. GMO crops could potentially have negative
effects on human health as well.
b. Consumers have developed unexpected
allergic reactions. E.g. Researchers used a
gene from the Brazil nut to increase the
production of Methionine in soybeans.
ii. New proteins :
a. Proteins that have never been ingested before
by humans are now part of tge foods but that
people consume everyday.
b. Their potential effects on the human body are
as of yet unknown.
2. Effects of Biotechnology on the environment:
i. Herbicide use and resistance:
a. Effects on the environment are a particular
concern with regard to GMO crops and food
production.
b. Ability to produce pesticides and resistance to
specific herbicides are also cause of concern.
ii. Effects on Untargeted species:
a. BT corn, which produces its own pesticide, is
also in use today.
b. It has adverse effects on Monarch butterfly
populations, which are not the original target
of tge pesticide.
5)Explain biopatent and Biopiracy with different
examples.
Ans =
i. Biopatent :
a.Biopatent is a biological patent awarded for
strains of microorganisms, cell lines,
genetically modified strains, DNA
sequences, biotechnological processes,
product processes and applications.
b.Biopatents are awarded to recognize real
innovative contributions made by the
inventor to the cause of human welfare.
ii. Biopiracy :
a.Texmati case : A strain of Basmati rice was
patented by Texas based company Rice Tec
Inc with trade name Texmati. This
patenting was illegal and unethical as
Basmati is a ling-grained, aromatic variety
of rice indigenous to the Indian
subcontinent. India fought a long legal
battle after which tge patent was
cancelled.
b.Turmeric : Since ancient times ,Indians
have been using Haldi (Turmeric powder)
as antiseptic for healing wounds for killing
pests and medicinal purposes. However,
companies have patented turmeric and
many medicinal plants of India. After a long
legal battle, most of the parents have been
revoked.