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Q1. For which variety of Indian rice was a patent filed by a USA Company?

Solution

Indian Basmati crossed with a semi-dwarf variety was claimed as a new variety, for which the patent was filed by a USA company.

Q2. What is legally wrong in the US patent law? Mention the common items of biopiracy.

Solution

US patent law does not recognise technologies and methods in use to other countries as 'prior past'. The common items of biopiracy are soil micro-organisms plants, animals and their genetic material.

Q3. How does a transgenic organism differ from the rest of its population? Give any two examples of such organisms for human advantage.

Solution

A transgenic organism contains functional foreign gene experimentally introduced into their genome by genetic engineering from another species. Hence, it differs from the rest of the population in having one or more extra genes apart from the gene pool of that population. Examples of transgenic organisms: (i) Transgenic E. coli with gene for human insulin (ii) Transgenic mice with gene for human growth hormone

Q4. Biopiracy should be prevented. State why and how.

Solution

Biopiracy refers to the use of bioresources by multinational companies and other organisations without proper authorisation from the countries and people concerned without compensatory payment. It can be prevented by developing laws to obtain proper authorisation and by paying compensatory benefits.

Q5. List three molecular diagnostic techniques that help detect pathogens from suspected patients. Mention one advantage of these techniques over conventional methods.

Solution

Molecular diagnostic techniques that help to detect pathogens from suspected patients are: (a) Recombinant DNA technology (b) Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (c) Enzyme linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA) These techniques are better than the conventional methods because they help in early diagnosis of the disease and give precise results even when the bacteria or virus concentration is very low.

Q6. How can bacterial DNA be released from the bacterial cell for biotechnology experiments?

Solution

For biotechnology experiments, the bacterial cell wall is digested by the enzyme lysozyme to release DNA from the cell.

Q7. (i) Give the scientific name of the soil bacterium which produces crystal (Cry) proteins. (ii) How are these proteins useful in agriculture? (iii) What do the differently written terms 'Cry' and 'cry' represent respectively?

Solution

(i) Bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis produces crystal (Cry) proteins. (ii) Cry proteins are toxic to certain larvae of insects and thus, provide resistance from them. The gene encoding Cry proteins are incorporated in several crop plants (Bt toxin). Such a crop plant is resistant to the particular insect pest. (iii) Cry represents crystal protein while cry refers to the gene encoding the cry protein.

Q8. You have identified a useful gene in bacteria. Make a flow chart of the steps that you would follow to transfer this gene to a plant.

Solution

After identifying a useful gene in bacteria, following steps should be undertaken to transfer the gene to a plant:                  

Q9. What was the speciality of the milk produced by the transgenic cow Rosie?

Solution

The first transgenic cow Rosie, produced milk with human alpha-lactalbumin which was nutritionally a more balanced product for human babies than natural cow milk.

Q10. How does RNA interference help in developing resistance in tobacco plant against nematode infection?

Solution

A nematode Meloidegyne incognitia infects the roots of tobacco plants which reduce the production of tobacco. The infection can be prevented using RNA interference (RNAi) process which is checked by silencing of specific mRNA due to a complementary ds RNA. The ds RNA binds and prevents translation of the mRNA. By using Agrobacterium vectors, nematode-specific genes were introduced into the host plants which produce both sense and antisense RNA in the host cells. These two RNAs are complementary to each other and form a double stranded RNA (ds RNA) that initiates RNAi and hence, silences the specific mRNA of the nematode. The parasite cannot survive in transgenic host and so, prevents the plants from pests.

Q11. Describe the responsibility of GEAC set up by the Indian Government.

Solution

GEAC (Genetic Engineering Approval Committee) was set up by the Ministry of Environment and Forests to regulate research, testing and commercial release of GM crops, foods and organisms. The objectives of GEAC are: 1. To permit the use of GM organisms and their products for commercial purposes 2. To adopt procedures for restriction, production, scale, import, export and applications of GM organisms 3. To approve for conduct of large scale field trials and release of transgenic crops in the environment 4. To authorise agencies or persons to have large scale production and release of GM organisms into the environment or curb and take strict actions against them 

Q12. Highlight any four advantages of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

Solution

Advantages of genetically modified organisms (GMOs): (i) Tolerant to abiotic stresses (cold, drought, salt, heat) (ii) Reduces reliability on chemical pesticides (iii) Reduces post-harvest losses (iv) Increases efficiency of mineral usage by plants

Q13. What are the conditions for which patent is given?

Solution

Government grants patent to certain inventors as permission to use invention for commercial purpose. Patent is given for the following reasons: 1. For producing new product or invention 2. Modified or improved earlier invention 3. Technical know how 4. New designing concept

Q14. Why is the gene encoding for Cry protein inserted into a crop plant?

Solution

The gene encoding for Cry protein is inserted into a crop plant to provide resistance against insect larvae.

Q15. Name any five transgenic plants and their potential applications.

Solution

Some transgenic plants and their potential applications are given below:   Transgenic plants Applications 1. Bt cotton Resistance to bollworm infestation, tolerance to herbicide, high yielding 2. Golden rice Rich in vitamin A 3. Brassica napus Contains hirudin that prevents blood clotting 4. Flavr Savr tomato Better nutrient quality and longer shelf life 5. Maize Herbicide resistance    

Q16. Write two uses of PCR technique in molecular diagnosis.

Solution

Two uses of PCR technique in molecular diagnosis: (i) It is used to detect HIV in suspected AIDS patients. (ii) It is used to detect mutations in the gene of suspected cancer patients.

Q17. How do interferons protect us?

Solution

Interferons protect non-infected cells from further viral infections by creating cytokine barriers. They also inhibit cellular proliferation and modulate the immune system of the organism.

Q18. How did Eli Lilly Company go about preparing human insulin? How is this insulin produced different from that produced by the functional human insulin gene?

Solution

Eli Lilly prepared two DNA sequences corresponding to A and B chains of human insulin and introduced them in plasmids of E.coli to produce insulin chains. Chains A and B were produced separately, extracted and combined by creating disulphide bonds to form human insulin. Insulin in human pancreas is synthesised as a pro-hormone containing the C peptide, which is removed in mature hormone. The insulin synthesised by recombinant DNA technology did not contain C peptide and was prepared in the mature form.      

Q19. What are transgenic animals? Explain any four ways in which such animals can be beneficial to humans.

Solution

The organisms which contain functional foreign genes experimentally introduced into their genome by genetic engineering from another species are called transgenic animals. Benefits of transgenic animals: 1. Study of normal physiology and development: Transgenic animals are useful to study gene regulation, their effect on the normal functioning of the body and its development. 2. Study of diseases: Transgenic models have been developed for many human diseases like cancer, cystic fibrosis, rheumatoid arthritis and Alzheimer’s disease. 3. Vaccine safety: Transgenic mice have been developed to test the safety of vaccines before they are being used on humans. 4. Chemical safety testing: Transgenic animals are made to carry genes which make them more sensitive to the toxic substances than non-transgenic animals. On exposure to the toxic substances, their effects can be studied in a lesser time.

Q20. Differentiate between PCR and gene cloning.

Solution

Differences between PCR and gene cloning   PCR Gene cloning 1. It is a process of making a number of copies of a particular gene segment 1. It is a process of forming multiple identical copies of a particular template DNA 2. Requires DNA as the main substrate 2. Requires restriction enzyme, ligase, vector, bacterial cells as the main substrates 3. Automation is present 3. Automation is absent 4. Less expensive 4. Highly expensive 5. Has less applications 5. Has more applications 6. Less error probability 6. More error probability 7. Skilled labour is not required 7. Skilled labour is required