NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Biology Chapter 10 Biotechnology and its Applications

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• NCERT Exemplar for Class 12 Biology: Biotechnology and Its Applications

• NCERT Notes for Class 12 Biology: Biotechnology and Its Applications

Get Class 12 Biology Chapter 10 Biotechnology and Its Applications Question Answer (Exercise Questions)

The detailed answers to all the questions given in the textbook are provided below. Through regular practice of the Class 12 Biology Chapter 10 Biotechnology and Its Applications question answers, which are prepared according to the NCERT curriculum, students can understand the concepts related to biotechnology.

Ques 1: Which part of the plant is best suited for making virus-free plants, and why?

Ans: Meristematic tissue (e.g., shoot apical meristem) is most appropriate for the production of virus-free plants since it is generally free from viral infections. This is because viruses find it difficult to reach actively dividing cells in the meristem.

Ques 2: What is the major advantage of producing plants by micropropagation?

Ans: Micropropagation enables one to produce large numbers of genetically uniform plants rapidly. It can be applied for the propagation of disease-free plants and the conservation of rare or endangered species.

Ques 3: Find out what the various components of the medium used for propagation of an explant in vitro are.

Ans: The medium used for in vitro propagation includes nutrients like sucrose (source of energy), minerals (such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium), vitamins, plant growth regulators (auxins and cytokinins), and agar (gelling agent).

Ques 4: Crystals of Bt toxin produced by some bacteria do not kill the bacteria themselves because-

(a) Bacteria are resistant to the toxin

(b) The toxin is immature

(c) Toxin is inactive

(d) Bacteria enclose toxins in a special sac.

Ans: Bt toxin crystals formed in bacteria do not kill the bacteria because the toxin is inactive. The Bt toxin is in an inactive state inside the bacteria and is only activated when it is ingested by insects, where it is activated by the alkaline pH of the insect gut.

Hence, the correct answer is (c) Toxin is inactive

Ques 5: What are transgenic bacteria? Illustrate using any one example.

Ans: Transgenic bacteria are those whose genomes have been altered by recombinant DNA technology to include foreign genes. A good example is transgenic E. coli, which has been genetically modified to produce human insulin by the introduction of DNA sequences encoding the A and B chains of insulin, thus allowing it to synthesize insulin for the treatment of diabetes.

Ques 6: Compare and contrast the advantages and disadvantages of the production of genetically modified crops.

Ans: The following table shows the advantages and disadvantages of GM crops:

Ques 7: What are Cry proteins? Name an organism that produces it. How has man exploited this protein to his benefit?

Ans: Cry proteins are insecticidal proteins carried by the cry genes, which are produced by the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). They are toxic to many insect larvae, especially those belonging to the order Lepidoptera. Humans have utilised Cry proteins by transferring the cry genes into genetically modified crops like Bt cotton and Bt brinjal, rendering them resistant to certain insect pests.

Ques 8: What is gene therapy? Illustrate using the example of adenosine deaminase (ADA) deficiency.

Ans: Gene therapy includes methods to fix or substitute faulty genes that cause disease occurrence. ADA deficiency, for example, is a result of a mutation in the gene for the adenosine deaminase enzyme. In one important case, a 4-year-old patient received gene therapy in which his lymphocytes were grown, a viable ADA cDNA was introduced with a retroviral vector, and afterwards, these converted cells were administered back into the patient's circulation. The diagram given below illustrates gene therapy for Adenosine deaminase deficiency.

Ques 9: Diagrammatically represent the experimental steps in cloning and expressing a human gene (say the gene for growth hormone) into a bacterium like E. coli.

Ans: Below is the diagram to represent the steps in DNA cloning.

A diagrammatic representation of the steps in DNA cloning

Ques 10: Can you suggest a method to remove oil (hydrocarbon) from seeds based on your understanding of rDNA technology and the chemistry of oil?

Ans: By recombinant DNA technology or RNA interference (RNAi), genes controlling oil/fatty acid synthesis in seeds can be silenced, reducing oil content

Ques 11: Find out from the internet what golden rice is.

Ans: Golden Rice is genetically modified rice that produces β-carotene (provitamin A) in its endosperm. It was developed by inserting the psy and crtI genes, helping prevent vitamin A deficiency.

Ques 12: Do our blood cells have proteases and nucleases?

Ans: Blood contains proteases (like thrombin, plasmin) for clotting and nucleases (like DNase) for defense. Their activity is controlled by inhibitors to prevent damage to the body.

Ques 13: Consult the internet and find out how to make orally active protein pharmaceuticals. What is the major problem to be encountered?

Ans: To prepare orally active protein drugs, proteins or peptides are encapsulated in liposomes along with penetration enhancers for oral administration. The principal difficulty encountered is that the proteins can be hydrolysed by the proteases of the stomach before exerting their therapeutic action, which requires alternative routes of administration directly to target locations.

Also, check the NCERT Books and the NCERT Syllabus here:

• NCERT Books Class 12 Biology

• NCERT Syllabus Class 12 Biology

• NCERT Books Class 12

• NCERT Syllabus Class 12

Approach to Solve Biotechnology and Its Applications Class 12 Question Answer

To solve the textbook questions effectively, one needs to understand the concepts first. The chapter has important terms, such as GM crops, genetically engineered insulin, and transgenic animals. To understand these definitions clearly, students can refer to the Class 12 Biology Chapter 10 Biotechnology and Its Applications question answer. Making notes of the chapter is important to prepare effectively for the exam. Biotechnology and Its Applications Class 12 question answer includes all the solved exercise questions, with to-the-point answers. Therefore, one should practice the NCERT Solutions for class 12 to have an overall idea of the chapter.

NCERT Exemplar Class 12 Solutions

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• NCERT Exemplar Class 12 Mathematics Solutions

• NCERT Exemplar Class 12 Biology Solutions

• NCERT Exemplar Class 12 Physics Solutions

Main Topics of Class 12 Biology Chapter 10 Biotechnology and Its Applications

Biotechnology and Its Applications focuses on how genetic engineering techniques are used to improve human health, agriculture, and industrial processes. This chapter is highly important for NEET as it includes application-based questions directly drawn from the NCERT.

• Applications of Biotechnology in Medicine

• Genetically Modified (GM) Crops

• Bt Crops and Cry Genes

• RNA Interference (RNAi)

• Gene Therapy

• Transgenic Animals and Their Uses

• Molecular Diagnosis (ELISA, PCR)

• Ethical Issues Related to Biotechnology

• Biotechnological Applications in Agriculture

Important Questions of NCERT Class 12 Biology Chapter 10 Biotechnology and Its Applications

Given below are some of the important questions from this chapter, which help students understand how questions are framed in the exam. For more such questions, students can refer to the NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Biology Chapter 10 Biotechnology and Its Applications.

Question 1: Which of the following steps are catalysed by Taq DNA polymerase in a PCR reaction?

1. Denaturation of template DNA

2. Annealing of primers to template DNA

3. Extension of the primer end on the template DNA

4. All of the above

Answer:

The extension of the primer end on the template DNA occurs during DNA replication or PCR amplification. Once the primer binds to the template strand, DNA polymerase extends the primer by adding complementary nucleotides to the growing strand. This process occurs in the 5' to 3' direction, with the polymerase synthesizing the new strand based on the template sequence. The extension continues until the entire segment of DNA has been replicated or amplified.

Hence, the correct answer is option (3) Extension of the primer end on the template DNA

Question 2: Golden rice is:

1. A variety of rice is grown along the Yellow River in China

2. Long-stored rice has a yellow colour tint

3. A transgenic rice having the gene for β-carotene

4. The wild variety of rice with yellow coloured grains

Answer:

The correct option is (3) transgenic rice carrying the gene for beta-carotene. This rice is popularly known as Golden Rice because of its golden-yellow colour, which is due to the beta-carotene it produces. Golden Rice was designed to combat vitamin A deficiency, a serious health problem in many parts of the world where rice is the staple food. This gene has been placed in Golden Rice, which is intended to enhance nutrition and decrease health issues resulting from vitamin A deficiency.

Hence, the correct answer is option (3) A transgenic rice having the gene for β-carotene

Question 3: The first clinical gene therapy was done for the treatment of:

1. AIDS

2. Cancer

3. Cystic fibrosis

4. SCID (Severe Combined Immune Deficiency resulting from a deficiency of ADA)

Answer:

In 1990, a 4-year-old girl with adenosine deaminase (ADA) deficiency—a rare genetic condition that affects the immune system—received the first clinical gene therapy. A severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) caused by an ADA deficiency leaves the body extremely susceptible to infections.

Hence, the correct answer is option (4) SCID (Severe Combined Immune Deficiency resulting from a deficiency of ADA)

Question 4: Silencing of a gene could be achieved through the use of:

1. RNAi only

2. Antisense RNA only

3. Both RNAi and antisense RNA

4. None of the above

Answer:

Antisense RNA and RNA interference (RNAi) are two methods for silencing a gene.

• In RNA interference (RNAi), tiny RNA molecules attach to the mRNA of a gene, breaking it down and stopping it from producing a protein.
• A strand of RNA known as antisense RNA binds to the gene's mRNA and prevents it from being used to produce a protein.

Hence, the correct answer is option (3), Both RNAi and antisense RNA

Question 5: BT cotton is not:

1. A GM plant

2. Insect-resistant

3. A bacterial gene expression system

4. Resistant to all pesticides

Answer:

Resistant to all pesticides because of the gene incorporated from Bacillus thuringiensis. This gene produces a toxin (Bt toxin) that is harmful to certain pests that damage cotton plants. The toxin is present in the cotton plant itself, particularly in the leaves and bolls, making it resistant to bollworm infestation.

Hence, the correct answer is option (4), Resistant to all pesticides

Question 6: Transgenic animals are produced for various purposes. Which of the following is not a purpose of creating transgenic animals?

1. Production of useful biological products
2. Study of gene regulation
3. Testing vaccine safety
4. Increasing the natural lifespan of humans

Answer:

Transgenic animals are commonly used for research, the production of therapeutic proteins, and testing the safety of vaccines. They help scientists understand gene function and disease development. However, they are not created to increase the natural lifespan of humans, as this is not a direct application of transgenic animal technology.

Hence, the correct answer is option (4), increasing the natural lifespan of humans

Question 7: Which of the following agricultural practices is achieved using genetically modified crops?

1. Enhanced nutrient content
2. Resistance to biotic and abiotic stress
3. Reduced reliance on chemical pesticides
4. All of the above

Answer:

Genetically modified crops are designed for multiple benefits. They can have improved nutritional value (like Golden Rice), show resistance to pests, diseases, and harsh climates, and significantly reduce the need for chemical pesticides. These combined advantages help in better crop yield and sustainable farming.

Hence, the correct answer is option (4), All of the above

Question 8: Which of the following is an example of a molecular diagnostic technique?

1. ELISA
2. Southern blotting
3. Gel electrophoresis
4. Chromatography

Answer:

ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) is used for the detection of antigens or antibodies and is widely applied in the diagnosis of diseases like HIV infection. It is a key molecular diagnostic tool.

Hence, the correct answer is option (1), ELISA

Question 9: The Cry genes used in Bt crops code for proteins that are:

1. Activated in the acidic pH of the human stomach
2. Toxic to all insects
3. Inactive in plant cells and activated in the insect gut
4. Produced by plant mitochondria

Answer:

Cry proteins produced by Bt crops remain inactive in plant cells. When ingested by insects, the alkaline pH of the insect gut activates the toxin, leading to cell lysis and death of the insect.

Hence, the correct answer is option (3), Inactive in plant cells and activated in the insect gut

NCERT Solutions for Class 12- Subject-wise

• NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Maths

• NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Chemistry

• NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Physics

What Students Learn from Biotechnology and Its Applications NCERT Solutions

This chapter explains how biotechnology is applied in agriculture, medicine, industry, and research to benefit humans.

1. Students learn about Bt cotton and how genetically modified crops help in controlling insect pests.

2. Through the Class 12 Biology, Biotechnology and Its Applications question answer, they understand the concept of RNA interference and its role in developing pest-resistant plants.

3. The chapter explains medical applications like genetically engineered insulin and gene therapy for treating genetic disorders.

4. Molecular diagnosis techniques such as PCR and ELISA are also discussed for early disease detection.

5. By studying the Class 12 Biology, Biotechnology and Its Applications question answer, learners explore topics like transgenic animals, DNA fingerprinting, and ethical issues.

Why Class 12 Biology Chapter 10 Biotechnology and Its Applications NCERT Solutions are Important?

The Biotechnology and Its Applications chapter explains the use of biotechnology in areas such as human health, agriculture, and environmental production. Given below are a few points mentioning the importance of solutions for the students.

• Class 12 Biology Chapter 10 Biotechnology and Its Applications NCERT Solutions cover the applications of biotechnology in medicine, such as the production of insulin and vaccines.
• The solutions also include Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in crops and their advantages of increased yield and resistance to pests and diseases.
• The solutions provide explanations of topics such as bioremediation and biofuels with suitable examples.
• Students will also gain clarity on the ethical issues and biosafety concerns related to genetic engineering.

What Extra Should Students Study Beyond the NCERT for NEET?

Provided below is a table that includes all the topics that students have to study beyond the NCERT for the NEET exam. To gain clarity on the topics, students can refer to the NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Biology Chapter 10 Biotechnology and Its Applications.

NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Biology Chapter-wise

Below are the chapter-wise solutions for quick and easy access: