Class 12 Biology — Chapter 10: BIOTECHNOLOGY AND ITS APPLICATIONS
Chapter 10: BIOTECHNOLOGY AND ITS APPLICATIONS is a chapter in Class 12 Biology (NCERT), part of the CBSE NCERT curriculum followed by over 25 million students across India. This chapter covers 7 topics including Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in Agriculture, Bt Toxin for Pest-Resistant Crops, RNA Interference (RNAi) for Pest Resistance. BrainWeave provides free AI-powered explanations — by voice or text, in Hindi or English — with no signup required.
What you'll learn
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▸Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in AgricultureCore conceptGMOGenetic ModificationGolden RiceAbiotic StressPest Resistance
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▸Bt Toxin for Pest-Resistant CropsCore conceptBt CottonBacillus thuringiensiscry genesProtoxinInsecticidal Protein
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▸RNA Interference (RNAi) for Pest ResistanceCore conceptRNA interferenceRNAiGene SilencingdsRNAMeloidogyne incognita
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▸Genetically Engineered InsulinCore conceptInsulinPro-insulinC peptideEli LillyRecombinant DNA
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▸Gene TherapyGene TherapyHereditary DiseaseGene CorrectionGenetic Defect
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▸Plant Tissue Culture and Somatic HybridizationTissue CultureTotipotencyMicro-propagationSomatic HybridizationSomaclones
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▸Recombinant Therapeutics in MedicineRecombinant TherapeuticsBiopharmaceuticalsImmunological ResponseTherapeutic Drugs
Chapter Summary
Understand what Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are and their applications in agriculture, including creating crops tolerant to abiotic stresses, reducing reliance on chemical pesticides, enhancing nutritional value (e.g., Golden Rice), and reducing post-harvest losses.
Learn the mechanism of how the Bt toxin from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis provides insect resistance to crops like cotton. This includes understanding the inactive protoxin, its activation in the alkaline gut of insects, and the specific action of cry genes (e.g., cryIAc, cryIIAb) against pests like bollworms.
Understand the process of RNA interference (RNAi) as a method of cellular defense and its application in creating pest-resistant plants. This involves learning how dsRNA silences specific mRNA, using the example of protecting tobacco roots from the nematode Meloidogyne incognita.
Study the production of human insulin using recombinant DNA technology. This includes understanding the structure of pro-insulin (A, B, and C chains) versus mature insulin, the challenges with animal-sourced insulin, and how Eli Lilly produced separate A and B chains in E. coli to create functional human insulin.
Grasp the fundamental concept of gene therapy as a collection of methods aimed at correcting a gene defect in a child or embryo to treat hereditary diseases.
Learn about the technique of tissue culture for plant propagation (micro-propagation) based on the principle of totipotency. This also includes understanding somatic hybridization, where protoplasts of different plants are fused to create hybrids like the 'pomato'.
Appreciate the overall impact of recombinant DNA technology in healthcare, focusing on the mass production of safe and effective therapeutic drugs that do not induce unwanted immunological responses, unlike products from non-human sources.
Practice Questions from this Chapter
Tap "Get Solution" on any question to ask our AI tutor.
- Discover how plants glow using genes. Get Solution →
- Explain the purpose of 'golden rice'. Get Solution →
- Find out about insect-resistant crops. Get Solution →
- What is the term for the capacity to generate a whole plant from a single cell or explant? Get Solution →
- The bacterium *Bacillus thuringiensis* is used in biotechnology to produce what? Get Solution →
- What does GMO stand for in the context of biotechnology? Get Solution →
- Golden rice is a genetically modified crop with enhanced nutritional value due to being enriched with which vitamin? Get Solution →
- The process of producing thousands of plants in a short duration through tissue culture is known as what? Get Solution →
Did you know?
- 💡 Some plants can be genetically modified to glow in the dark like fireflies.
- 💡 A common soil bacterium naturally produces a toxin that is deadly only to specific insects.
- 💡 Even tiny worms use a special gene-silencing trick to protect themselves from viruses.
- 💡 Scientists created 'golden rice' that helps prevent blindness because it makes Vitamin A.
- 💡 A single plant cell can be grown in a test tube to become a whole new plant.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many topics are covered in this chapter?
This chapter covers 7 key topics: Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in Agriculture, Bt Toxin for Pest-Resistant Crops, RNA Interference (RNAi) for Pest Resistance, Genetically Engineered Insulin, Gene Therapy, and more. The BrainWeave AI tutor explains each one with examples.
Is Chapter 10: BIOTECHNOLOGY AND ITS APPLICATIONS important for board exams?
Yes — Class 12 is a CBSE board exam year, and every NCERT chapter is part of the syllabus. Use BrainWeave's AI tutor to master this chapter, then practice with the auto-generated quizzes and mind maps.
Can I get NCERT solutions for this chapter in Hindi?
Yes. BrainWeave's AI tutor supports Hindi, English, and Hinglish for both voice and text chat. Just ask your question in your preferred language.
Is BrainWeave free for Class 12 - Science?
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Can I use voice chat for this chapter?
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How is BrainWeave better than static NCERT solutions sites?
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