Biotechnology and its Applications

           SYNOPSIS

• Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are organisms in which foreign genes have been introduced through genetic engineering.
• Uses of Genetically Modified Plants
  
  
• Cry proteins are toxic proteins secreted by Bacillus thuringiensis in the crystal form during a particular phase of their growth.
• Genetically engineered insulin: In 1983, Eli Lilly, an American company, first prepared two DNA sequences corresponding to the A and B chains of human insulin and introduced them in plasmids of Escherichia coli to produce insulin chains. Chains A and B were produced separately, extracted and combined by creating disulphide bonds to form human insulin or humulin.

• Gene therapy is the technique of genetic engineering to replace ‘a faulty gene’ by a normal healthy functional gene in humans. For example, ADA deficiency can be treated with gene therapy.

• Applications of Biotechnology in the Field of Medicine
  
  

• ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) is a simple and versatile technique used for screening HIV and is based on the principle of antigen–antibody interaction. 

• Animals that have had their DNA manipulated to possess and express an extra (foreign) gene are known as transgenic animals.

• Benefits of Transgenic Animals:

  

• GEAC (Genetical Engineering Approval Committee) has been set up to make decisions regarding the validity of GM research and the safety of introducing GM-organisms for public services.

• Bioethics is a set of standards used to regulate our activities in relation to the biological world.

• nauthorised use of bioresources and traditional knowledge related to bioresources for commercial benefits is called biopiracy.