Biotechnology and Its Applications
Class 12 · Biology
4 ideas in Class 12 Biology, explained in plain words, with games and quizzes to practise.
Tissue Culture and GM Crops
Part of: Better Crops
Totipotent explants regenerate whole plants in sterile media, multiplying into identical somaclones; virus-free meristems rescue diseased stock while pomato shows somatic hybrid limits. GM crops resist stress and pests, cut losses, use minerals well and add nutrition like golden rice vitamin A.
Why it matters. Clone-versus-hybrid logic plus benefit lists answer applied questions.
Key words
- Totipotency
- : Any cell growing a whole plant.
- Explant
- : Plant piece grown in tubes.
- Somaclones
- : Identical tissue-culture plants.
- Meristem culture
- : Tip culture freeing viruses.
- GMO
- : Organism with altered genes.
- Golden rice
- : Vitamin-A enriched rice.
Try it in two minutes
- Grow one explant into thousands.
- Free meristems from viruses.
- Recite five GM benefits.
Try at home. Explain why pomato failed commercially.
Pest Fighters
Part of: Better Crops
Bt crystals hold inactive protoxin that alkaline insect guts activate; pores swell and lyse midgut cells. cryIAc and cryIIAb target bollworms while cryIAb targets corn borers. Against nematodes, host-made double-stranded RNA silences worm genes so parasites cannot survive.
Why it matters. Activation-site logic plus gene-target matching is heavily tested.
Key words
- Protoxin
- : Inactive toxin awaiting activation.
- cry genes
- : Bt toxin-coding genes.
- Lysis
- : Cell bursting from pores.
- RNAi
- : Gene silencing by double RNA.
- dsRNA
- : Double strands triggering silencing.
Try it in two minutes
- Wake protoxin in alkali.
- Match cry genes to pests.
- Silence worm genes with dsRNA.
Try at home. Explain why farmers spray less on Bt cotton.
Insulin, Gene Therapy and Diagnosis
Part of: Healing Tools
Animal insulin risked allergy, so Eli Lilly built A and B chains separately in E. coli in 1983 and joined them, dropping the C peptide. ADA gene therapy in 1990 infused engineered lymphocytes that wear out and need repeats. PCR spots low pathogens early while ELISA and probes confirm infections and mutations.
Why it matters. Chain-joining plus repeat-infusion logic answers therapy questions.
Formulas
- Insulin holds chains A and B
- 30 therapeutics approved, 12 marketed in India
- Gene therapy first used in 1990
Key words
- Pro-insulin
- : A plus B plus C immature form.
- C peptide
- : Extra removed on maturation.
- Gene therapy
- : Mending defects with good genes.
- ADA deficiency
- : Immune failure from missing enzyme.
- Molecular diagnosis
- : Early detection with DNA tools.
Try it in two minutes
- Split pro-insulin into A, B and C.
- Infuse engineered lymphocytes.
- Amplify early traces with PCR.
Try at home. Explain why insulin cannot be swallowed as a pill.
Transgenic Animals and Ethics
Part of: Right and Wrong
Transgenic mice, 95 per cent of models, test vaccines and toxicity while Rosie the cow poured 2.4 grams per litre of human protein milk in 1997. GEAC governs Indian GM safety, and the 1997 Basmati patent plus turmeric and neem claims show biopiracy: using heritage without permission or payment.
Why it matters. Model-use matching plus fairness reasoning closes the unit.
Key words
- Transgenic animal
- : Animal carrying foreign genes.
- Rosie
- : Cow milking human protein.
- GEAC
- : Indian GM safety authority.
- Biopiracy
- : Heritage use without permission.
- Patent
- : Exclusive right over inventions.
Try it in two minutes
- Assign five uses to animals.
- Quote Rosie numbers.
- Judge patents by fairness.
Try at home. Explain why poor nations demand benefit sharing.
What your child will practise
- Insulin, Gene Therapy and Diagnosis: Space Puzzle (Clue Puzzle)
- Insulin, Gene Therapy and Diagnosis: Space Quick Fire (Quick Fire)
- Pest Fighters: Ocean Puzzle (Clue Puzzle)
- Tissue Culture and GM Crops: Ocean Quest (Flip and Match)
- Transgenic Animals and Ethics: Candy Quick Fire (Quick Fire)
- Quiz: Insulin, Gene Therapy and Diagnosis (8 questions)
- Quiz: Pest Fighters (8 questions)
- Quiz: Tissue Culture and GM Crops (8 questions)
- Quiz: Transgenic Animals and Ethics (8 questions)