Biotechnology Notes for NEET

Biotechnology Applications in Medicine and Agriculture

Biotechnology applications tested in NEET span medicine, agriculture, and diagnostics. In medicine, genetically engineered insulin (humulin) produced in E. coli replaced animal-source insulin for diabetics. Gene therapy for ADA deficiency involves introducing a functional ADA gene into the patient's lymphocytes using a retroviral vector. Transgenic animals serve as models for disease research, and Rosie the cow was the first transgenic cow producing human alpha-lactalbumin-enriched milk. In agriculture, Bt crops express the cry gene from Bacillus thuringiensis producing insecticidal crystal proteins: Bt cotton uses cry1Ac and cry2Ab genes effective against cotton bollworm, while Bt brinjal uses cry1Ab. Golden Rice is engineered to produce beta-carotene addressing Vitamin A deficiency. RNA interference (RNAi) technology has been used to create nematode-resistant tobacco plants. Molecular diagnostic techniques including ELISA and DNA fingerprinting (using VNTR or variable number tandem repeats) are tested for their principles and applications in forensics and paternity testing.