Biotechnology & Applied Biology

Biotechnology & Applied Biology

Biotechnology

It deals with techniques of using live organisms or enzymes from organisms to produce products and processes which are useful for humans.

• Ex – making curd, bread or wine in which microbes are used.

Genetic Engineering

• This is the technique to alter the chemistry of genetic material (DNA & RNA) and introduce it into a host organism, which changes the phenotype of the host organism.

Bioprocess Engineering

• Maintenance of sterile ambience to enable growth of only desired microbes or eukaryotic cells in large quantities for the manufacture of biotechnological products like antibiotics, vaccines, enzymes, etc.

Restriction Enzyme

• This is known as molecular scissors cutting the DNA at a specific location.

Plasmid

• In addition to genomic DNA, many bacteria have extra small circular DNA known as plasmid.

• Due to the presence of plasmid bacteria, there is resistance to many antibiotics. This createsunique phenotypic characters in bacteria.

• A plasmid can be used as a vector to deliver an alien piece of DNA into a host organism.

DNA Ligase

• This is an enzyme by which cut ends of DNA molecules join together.

Recombinant DNA

• This is a DNA which has been created by combining two fragments of DNA from two different sources.

Cloning

• Producing a large number of identical copies of any template DNA is called cloning.

Application of Biotechnology

• Applications of biotechnology include agriculture, therapeutics, diagnostics, biopharmaceuticals, processed food, waste treatment and energy production.

Restriction Enzyme Classification

• Restriction enzymes belong to a larger class of enzymes called nucleases.

• Exonuclease removes nucleotides from the end of DNA.

• Endonucleases cut at specific positions within the DNA.

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO)

• Plants, bacteria, fungi and animals whose genes have been altered by manipulation are called genetically modified organisms (GSO).

Gene Therapy

• Gene therapy is a collection of methods that allow correction of a gene defect that has been diagnosed in a child or embryo.

• The first clinical gene therapy was given in 1990 to a four-year-old girl with adenosine deaminase.

Genetically Modified Plants

• Genetically modified plants are useful in increasing crop yields, reducing the losses and making the crop more tolerant to stresses.

Important Biotechnological Sources and Products

• The Papaver somniferum plant yields a powerful analgesic.

• The major source of sugar in the world is Saccharum officinarum.

• Cocos nucifera is a plant material which is widely used in the preparation of culture medium.

• To yield milk, a cow is given prolactin.

• The best way to determine paternity is DNA fingerprinting.

• Chloromycetin is obtained from Streptomyces venezuelae.

Applications of Genetic Engineering

Genetic engineering is applied in the development of “Recombinant Vector Vaccines” in which bacteria and viruses are used as vectors.

Bollgard Technology

• Bollgard I and Bollgard II technologies are used in developing genetically modified crop plants.

ACE-2 and Viral Diseases

• The team ‘ACE-2’ is talked about in the context of the spread of viral disease.

COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines

• A diagnostic test, real-time PCR for COVID-19, detects the RNA of the virus.

• The Rapid Antibodies Test does not require a sample from the nose and throat in the Covid-19 test approved by the Indian Council of Medical Research.

• Sinovac, given for Covid-19, is a whole virus vaccine.

• DNA barcoding can be a tool to distinguish among species that look alike.

• The Serum Institute of India produced the Covid-19 vaccine named Covishield using the mRNA platform.

• The Sputnik V vaccine is manufactured by using a vector-based platform.

• Covaxin is an inactivated pathogen-based vaccine.

• Moderna is an mRNA vaccine used against Covid-19.

Mosquito Identification

• A female Anopheles can be distinguished from a female Culex because it sits at a right angle to the surface of the substratum.

Final Thoughts

Biotechnology is the science of using living organisms or their enzymes to create useful products such as curd, bread, and vaccines. It includes key fields like genetic engineering, which modifies DNA to change an organism’s traits, and bioprocess engineering, which ensures safe large-scale production of antibiotics and enzymes.

Tools like restriction enzymes, plasmids, and DNA ligase help create recombinant DNA for cloning and research. Applications range from agriculture and healthcare to waste management.

Genetic engineering also supports vaccine development, such as Covaxin, Covishield, and Moderna, used during COVID-19. Overall, biotechnology plays a vital role in improving human life, health, and sustainability.