Question

What is Biotechnology? Describe its various applications.

Hint:

Biotechnology has revolutionized healthcare and agriculture, making processes more efficient and sustainable.

Answer 1

Definition: Biotechnology is the use of living organisms, cells, or their components to develop useful products and processes for human welfare. It combines biology with technology. Applications of Biotechnology: \begin{enumerate} \item Medical Applications: \[\begin{array}{rl} \bullet & \text{Production of insulin, growth hormones, and vaccines through recombinant DNA technology.} \\ \bullet & \text{Gene therapy to treat genetic disorders.} \\ \end{array}\] \item Agricultural Applications: \[\begin{array}{rl} \bullet & \text{Genetically Modified (GM) crops like Bt cotton resistant to pests.} \\ \bullet & \text{Tissue culture for producing disease-free, high-yielding plants.} \\ \end{array}\] \item Industrial Applications: \[\begin{array}{rl} \bullet & \text{Production of enzymes, antibiotics, and vitamins.} \\ \bullet & \text{Fermentation technology in food and beverages.} \\ \end{array}\] \item Environmental Applications: \[\begin{array}{rl} \bullet & \text{Bioremediation: Using microbes to clean pollutants.} \\ \bullet & \text{Biofuels: Production of biogas, ethanol, and hydrogen gas.} \\ \end{array}\] \end{enumerate}