NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Biology Chapter 12, “Biotechnology and Its Applications,” provides a comprehensive overview of the principles, techniques, and applications of biotechnology. The chapter covers various aspects of biotechnology, including recombinant DNA technology, DNA fingerprinting, genetically modified organisms, and bioprocess technology. Additionally, the chapter delves into the applications of biotechnology in various fields, such as medicine, agriculture, and industry. The NCERT Solutions for this chapter can help students develop an in-depth understanding of the principles and applications of biotechnology and provide them with a solid foundation for further studies in this field.
Answers to the class 12 biology questions provided in the exercise might be challenging for students for a number of reasons. One should not omit any NCERT textbook content in order to get the highest possible grade. Use the Swastik Classes’ NCERT answers for biology class 12 as a resource. Important exam-based questions are covered in depth in each chapter.
NCERT SOLUTIONS FOR CLASS 12 BIOLOGY Chapter 12 Biotechnology And Its Applications – Exercises
Answer the following Questions.
Question1. Crystals of Bt toxin produced by some bacteria do not kill the bacteria themselves because −
(a) bacteria are resistant to the toxin
(b) toxin is immature:
(c) toxin is inactive:
(d) bacteria encloses toxin in a special sac.
Solution :
toxin is inactive: In bacteria, the toxin is present in an inactive form, called prototoxin, which gets converted into active form when it enters the body of an insect.
Question2. What are transgenic bacteria? Illustrate using any one example.
Solution :
Transgenic bacteria contain foreign gene that is intentionally introduced into its genome. They are manipulated to express the desirable gene for the production of various commercially important products.
An example of transgenic bacteria is E.coli. In the plasmid of E.coli, the two DNA sequences corresponding to A and B chain of human insulin are inserted, so as to produce the respective human insulin chains. Hence, after the insertion of insulin gene into the bacterium, it becomes transgenic and starts producing chains of human insulin. after that, these chains are extracted from E.coli and combined to form human insulin.
Question3. Compare and contrast the advantages and disadvantages of production of genetically modified crops.
Solution :
The production of genetically modified (GM) or transgenic plants has several advantages.
The production of genetically modified (GM) or transgenic plants has several advantages.
- Most of the genetically modified crops have been developed for pest resistance, which increases the crop productivity and reduces the reliance on chemical pesticides.
- Many varieties of genetically modified food crops have been developed, which has good nutritional quality. For example, golden rice is a transgenic variety in rice, which is rich in vitamin A.
- These plants prevent the loss of fertility of soil by increasing the efficiency of mineral usage.
- They are highly resistant to unfavourable abiotic conditions.
- The use of genitically modified crops decreases the post harvesting loss of crops.
But, there are certain controversies regarding the use of genetically modified crops around the world. The use of these crops can affect the native biodiversity in an area. For example, the use of Bt toxin to decrease the amount of pesticide is posing a threat for beneficial insect pollinators such as honey bee. If the gene expressed for Bt toxin gets expressed in the pollen, then the honey bee might be affected. As a result, the process of pollination by honey bees would be affected. Also, genetically modified crops are affecting human health. They supply allergens and certain antibiotic resistance markers in the body. Also, they can cause genetic pollution in the wild relatives of the crop plants. Hence, it is affecting our natural environment.
Question4. What are Cry proteins? Name an organism that produces it. How has man exploited this protein to his benefit?
Solution :
Cry proteins are encoded by cry genes. These proteins are toxins, which are produced by Bacillus thuringiensis bacteria. This bacterium contains these proteins in their inactive from. When the inactive toxin protein is ingested by the insect, it gets activated by the alkaline pH of the gut. This results in the lysis of epithelial cell and eventually the death of the insect. Therefore, man has exploited this protein to develop certain transgenic crops with insect resistance such as Bt cotton, Bt corn, etc.
Question5. What is gene therapy? Illustrate using the example of adenosine deaminase (ADA) deficiency.
Solution :
Gene therapy is a technique for correcting a defective gene through gene manipulation. It involves the delivery of a normal gene into the individual to replace the defective gene, for example, the introduction of gene for adenosine deaminase (ADA) in ADA deficient individual. The adenosine deaminase enzyme is important for the normal functioning of the immune system. The individual suffering from this disorder can be cured by transplantation of bone marrow cells. The first step involves the extraction of lymphocyte from the patient’s bone marrow. Then, a functional gene for ADA is introduced into lymphocytes with the help of retrovirus. These treated lymphocytes containing ADA gene are then introduced into the patient’s bone marrow. Thus, the gene gets activated producing functional T- lymphocytes and activating the patient’s immune system.
Question6. Diagrammatically represent the experimental steps in cloning and expressing an human gene (say the gene for growth hormone) into a bacterium like E. coli ?
Solution :
DNA cloning is a method of producing multiple identical copies of specific template DNA. It involves the use of a vector to carry the specific foreign DNA fragment into the host cell. The mechanism of cloning and transfer of gene for growth hormone into E.coli is represented below.
7. Can you suggest a method to remove oil (hydrocarbon) from seeds based on your understanding of rDNA technology and chemistry of oil?
Solution :
Recombinant DNA technology (rDNA) is a technique used for manipulating the genetic material of an organism to obtain the desired result. For example, this technology is used for removing oil from seeds. The constituents of oil are glycerol and fatty acids. Using rDNA, one can obtain oilless seeds by preventing the synthesis of either glycerol or fatty acids. This is done by removing the specific gene responsible for the synthesis.
Question8. Find out from internet what is golden rice.
Solution :
Golden rice is a genetically modified variety of rice, Oryza sativa,which has been developedas a fortified food for areas where there is a shortage of dietary vitamin A. It contains a precursor of pro-vitamin A, called beta-carotene, which has been introduced into the rice through genetic engineering. The rice plant naturally produces beta-carotene pigment in its leaves. However, it is absent in the endosperm of the seed. This is because beta-carotene pigment helps in the process of photosynthesis while photosynthesis does not occur in endosperm. Since beta-carotene is a precursor of pro-vitamin A, it is introduced into the rice variety to fulfill the shortage of dietary vitamin A. It is simple and a less expensive alternative to vitamin supplements. However, this variety of rice has faced a significant opposition from environment activists. Therefore, they are still not available in market for human consumption.
Question9. Does our blood have proteases and nucleases?
Solution :
No, human blood does not include the enzymes, nucleases and proteases. In human beings, blood serum contains different types of protease inhibitors, which protect the blood proteins from being broken down by the action of proteases. The enzyme, nucleases, catalyses the hydrolysis of nucleic acids that is absent in blood.
Question10. Consult internet and find out how to make orally active protein pharmaceutical. What is the major problem to be encountered?
Solution :
Protein pharmaceutical cannot be taken orally because they can be degraded by the proteases of our alimentary canal.
Thus, major problem to be encountered is the action of digestive enzymes. It has to be made digestible for the digestive system and also protect it from the degradation of HCl present in stomach so it is coated by a film that is resistant to protein degrading enzymes.
Conclusions for NCERT SOLUTIONS FOR CLASS 12 BIOLOGY CHAPTER 12 BIOTECHNOLOGY AND ITS APPLICATIONS
NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Biology Chapter 12, “Biotechnology and Its Applications,” offers a comprehensive understanding of biotechnology and its various applications. The chapter discusses various techniques and applications of biotechnology, including recombinant DNA technology, genetic engineering, DNA fingerprinting, and bioprocess technology. Additionally, the chapter explores the application of biotechnology in various fields such as agriculture, medicine, and industry. The NCERT Solutions for this chapter provide students with a clear understanding of the principles and techniques of biotechnology and their applications in solving real-world problems. These solutions can help students to gain a deeper appreciation of the potential of biotechnology in improving human life and addressing global challenges. The chapter is a valuable resource for students interested in pursuing further studies in biotechnology or related fields.
Q1. What is biotechnology, and how is it useful?
Biotechnology is a field of science that involves the use of living organisms, cells, and biomolecules to develop new products or improve existing ones. It has several useful applications, including in medicine, agriculture, industry, and environmental management.
Q2. What is recombinant DNA technology?
Recombinant DNA technology is a technique used to join DNA molecules from different sources to create a new DNA sequence. It allows scientists to produce new proteins, create genetically modified organisms, and develop gene therapies.
Q3. What is DNA fingerprinting, and what are its applications?
DNA fingerprinting is a technique used to identify individuals based on their unique DNA profiles. It has several applications, including forensic investigations, paternity testing, and studying genetic diversity in populations.
Q4. What are genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and what are their benefits and risks?
Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are organisms that have been genetically altered using recombinant DNA technology. They have several potential benefits, including increased crop yields, improved nutritional content, and resistance to pests and diseases. However, they also raise concerns about their potential impact on the environment, human health, and biodiversity.
Q5. What are the applications of biotechnology in medicine?
Biotechnology has several applications in medicine, including the development of vaccines, gene therapies, and diagnostic tests. It is also used to produce recombinant proteins used in medical treatments, such as insulin, growth hormones, and blood clotting factors.
