Applications of Biotechnology
Humans have used biotechnology to raise the standard of living, particularly in the areas of health and food production.
In Agriculture: Biotechnology can be used in Agriculture for increased food production using Agro-chemical based agriculture, Organic agriculture and Genetically engineered crop-based agriculture.
By adopting better management techniques including agrochemicals, fertilizers, and insecticides, the green revolution successfully expanded food production. Using these approaches, further production growth is not achievable. Genetically engineered crops are employed to overcome this. Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) are any plants, bacteria, fungi, or animals whose genes have been altered.
In the production of pest-resistant plants: Plants that are resistant to pests reduce the need for pesticides. Bacillus thuringiensis is a bacteria that produces the Bt toxin. In order to give insect resistance without the use of insecticides, the Bt toxin gene was cloned from bacteria and expressed in plants; this effectively developed a bio-pesticide. Bt cotton, Bt corn, rice, tomato, potato, and soya bean are some examples.
In Medicine: The mass manufacture of safe and more potent medicinal pharmaceuticals made possible by rDNA technical procedures has had a significant impact on the healthcare industry. Approximately 30 recombinant medicines have currently received global human use approval. Twelve of them are currently being offered in India.
Genetically Engineered Insulin: The management of adult-onset diabetes involves taking insulin normally. The isolation of insulin from animals served as the primary source of this insulin. Today’s insulin can be produced from bacteria using biotechnology methods.
Gene Therapy: It’s a group of techniques that permits the correction of a gene defect that has been identified in a foetus or an embryo. When someone has a hereditary disease, this method is used. In order to treat an illness, genes are injected into a person’s cells and tissues.
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