Golden rice is a genetically modified variety of rice, Oryza sativa, which has been developed as a fortified food for areas where there is a shortage of dietary vitamin A. It contains a precursor of pro-vitamin A, called beta-carotene, which has been introduced into the rice through genetic engineering. The rice plant naturally produces beta- carotene pigment in its leaves. However, it is absent in the endosperm of the seed. This is because beta-carotene pigment helps in the process of photosynthesis while photosynthesis does not occur in endosperm. Since beta-carotene is a precursor of pro- vitamin A, it is introduced into the rice variety to fulfill the shortage of dietary vitamin A. It is simple and a less expensive alternative to vitamin supplements. However, this variety of rice has faced a significant opposition from environment activists. Therefore, they are still not available in market for human consumption.
Answer the following questions:
(a) [(i)] Explain how some strains of Bacillus thuringiensis produce proteins that kill certain insects such as lepidopterans but do not kill the Bacillus.
[(ii)] How is the above mechanism exploited for the production of Bt cotton plant by biotechnologists?
(b) [(i)] Explain how the amplification of gene of interest is done using PCR.
[(ii)] State two applications of the desired amplified fragment of DNA.
The basic scheme of the essential steps involved in the process of recombinant DNA technology is summarised below in the form of a flow diagram. Study the given flow diagram and answer the questions that follow.
(a) What is the technical term used for Step 4 in the above process?
(b) Which of the given two combinations of restriction enzyme should be used in Step 1? Justify your answer.
(i) EcoR I to cut the plasmid and Hind III to cut the alien DNA.
(ii) EcoR I to cut both the plasmid and alien DNA.
Biotechnology is the technology that utilizes biological systems, living organisms, or parts of this to develop or create different products.
For example, brewing and baking bread fall within the concept of biotechnology (use of yeast (= living organism) to produce the desired product).
Alternative to conventional farming: A possible solution is the use of genetically modified crops which is an alternative path to conventional farming.
In the area of healthcare, recombinant DNA technological processes have made an immense impact which enables the mass production of safe and more effective therapeutic drugs.
A collection of methods that allows the correction of a gene defect that has been diagnosed in a child/embryo is called Gene Therapy.
For editing genomes, CRISPR is a simple yet powerful tool which allows researchers to easily alter DNA sequences and modify gene function.