Biotechnology and Its Applications

Notes

Biotechnology has varied applications. Some important applications include therapeutics, diagnostics, genetically modified crops for agriculture, processed food, bioremediation, waste treatment and energy production.

Applications of Biotechnology in Agriculture and Medicine

There are three important research areas of biotechnology:

1. Providing the best catalyst in the form of an improved organism, usually a microbe or a pure enzyme.
2. Creating optimal conditions through engineering for a catalyst to act.
3. Developing downstream processing technologies to purify the protein or organic compound.

Biotechnological Applications in Agriculture

Food production can be increased by applying biotechnology through the following approaches:

• Agrochemical-based agriculture
• Organic agriculture
• Genetically engineered crop-based agriculture

Green Revolution

The Green Revolution succeeded in increasing food supply mainly because of:

• Use of improved crop varieties
• Use of agrochemicals such as fertilisers and pesticides
• Use of better management practices

Agrochemicals are expensive for farmers in developing countries and can also have harmful effects on the environment. Therefore, genetically modified crops were developed as an alternative approach.

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)

Plants, bacteria, fungi and animals whose genes have been altered by manipulation are called Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).

They are also called transgenic organisms. They contain and express one or more foreign genes called transgenes.

Advantages of Genetically Modified Crops

Genetic modification of crops can be useful in the following ways:

• Increased tolerance against abiotic stresses such as cold, drought, salt and heat.
• Reduced dependence on chemical pesticides through pest-resistant crops.
• Reduced post-harvest losses.
• Increased efficiency of mineral usage by plants, which helps prevent early exhaustion of soil fertility.
• Enhanced nutritional value of food. For example, Golden Rice is enriched with Vitamin A.
• Production of tailor-made plants to supply alternative resources to industries in the form of starches, fuels and pharmaceuticals.

Biopesticides

An important application of biotechnology in agriculture is the production of pest-resistant plants. Such plants can help reduce the amount of pesticides being used.

Bt Cotton

Some strains of Bacillus thuringiensis produce protein crystals during a particular phase of their growth.

These crystals contain a toxic insecticidal protein that kills certain insects such as lepidopterans, coleopterans and dipterans.