Unit 4: Biotechnology

Chapter 2: Applications

Health Applications

• Therapeutic Proteins: Recombinant insulin (Humulin) for diabetes.
• Vaccines: Safer and more effective recombinant vaccines (e.g., Hepatitis B).
• Gene Therapy: Correcting gene defects (e.g., ADA deficiency).
• Molecular Diagnosis: Early and accurate detection of diseases using PCR and ELISA.

Agricultural Applications

• Genetically Modified (GM) Crops:
  • Pest-resistant crops (e.g., Bt Cotton).
  • Herbicide-tolerant crops.
  • Improved nutritional value.
• RNA Interference (RNAi): Silencing specific genes in pests to make plants resistant.
• Biofortification: Breeding crops with higher nutritional value (e.g., Golden Rice with Vitamin A).

Transgenic Animals

• Animals with foreign genes in their DNA.
• Applications:
  • Study of Diseases: Models for human diseases.
  • Biological Products: Production of proteins like alpha-1-antitrypsin.
  • Vaccine Safety Testing: Testing vaccines before human use.
  • Chemical Safety Testing: Assessing toxicity of chemicals.

Biosafety and Ethical Issues

• Concerns with GMOs:
  • Potential health risks (allergies, toxicity).
  • Environmental risks (gene flow, impact on non-target organisms).
• GEAC (Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee):
  • Indian government organization that regulates GM research and products.

Biopiracy and Biopatents

• Biopiracy: Unauthorized use of traditional knowledge and genetic resources.
• Biopatents: Patents on biological entities and products.
• Examples:
  • Patents on turmeric and Basmati rice were challenged by India.
• Highlights the need to protect traditional knowledge and ensure equitable benefit sharing.