3.9 Biotechnology notes

1. 3.9.1Recombinant DNA technology: restriction enzymes, vectors and PCR

   Recombinant DNA technology cuts DNA with restriction enzymes, joins it to a vector with ligase, grows it in a host, and PCR makes millions of copies of a chosen DNA segment.

   Advanced · 5 min · Full course
2. 3.9.2GM crops: Bt cotton, Bt brinjal, GM mustard and golden rice

   Bt cotton (approved 2002) is India's only commercially grown GM crop; Bt brinjal is under a moratorium, GM mustard awaits a Supreme Court decision and policy, and golden rice carries provitamin A.

   Advanced · 5 min · Full course
3. 3.9.3Genome editing: CRISPR-Cas9 and genome-edited crops

   CRISPR-Cas9 uses a guide RNA to lead the Cas9 enzyme to a chosen DNA site and cut it, letting scientists switch genes off or correct them; India treats the simpler edits in plants as outside GM rules.

   Advanced · 5 min · Full course
4. 3.9.4Medical biotechnology: recombinant insulin, gene therapy and diagnostics (ELISA, PCR)

   Biotechnology makes human insulin in bacteria, tries to cure genetic disease by replacing faulty genes, and detects infections early using ELISA and PCR.

   Advanced · 5 min · Full course
5. 3.9.5Cloning, transgenic animals and stem cells

   Cloning produces genetically identical copies (Dolly the sheep, 1996), transgenic animals carry foreign genes, and stem cells can become many cell types, with iPSCs made from adult cells.

   Advanced · 5 min · Full course
6. 3.9.6Microbes in agriculture and industry: biofertilisers, biocontrol and fermentation

   Useful microbes fix nitrogen, dissolve phosphate and kill pests for farming, and make bread, curd, alcohol, acids, antibiotics and drugs in industry.

   Advanced · 5 min · Full course
7. 3.9.7Biosafety and biotech policy: GEAC, Cartagena Protocol, Genome India and BioE3

   India regulates genetic engineering through the 1989 Rules and the GEAC, follows the Cartagena Protocol on biosafety, and promotes biotechnology through DBT schemes such as GenomeIndia and the BioE3 policy (2024).

   Advanced · 5 min · Full course

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