8: Cell Biology and Biotechnology

1. Fill in the blanks and complete the statements.

Ans.

(a) Methods like artificial insemination and embryo transplant are mainly used for animal husbandry.
(b) Stem cell research is the revolutionary event in biotechnology after cloning.
(c) The disease related with the synthesis of insulin is diabetes(Sep. ‘21)
(d) Government of India has encouraged the aquaculture for improving the productivity by launching NKM-16.

2. Match the pairs.

a. Interferon           1. Diabetes
b. Factor VIII         2. Dwarfness
c. Somatostatin     3. Viral infection
d. Interleukin        4. Cancer
                                 5. Hemophilia

Ans. (1) Interferon – Viral infection (2) Factor VIII – Haemophilia (3) Somatostatin – Dwarfness  (4) Interleukin – Cancer.

3. Rewrite the following wrong statements after corrections.

(a) Changes in genes of the cells are brought about in non-genetic technique.
Ans. Non-genetic technology involves use of either cell or tissue / Changes in genes of the cells are brought about in genetic technique.

(b) Gene from Bacillus thuringiensis is introduced into soyabean.
Ans. Gene from Bacillus thuringiensis is introduced into cotton and brinjal.

4. Write short notes.

(a) Biotechnology: Professional uses. (March. ‘19)
Ans. (i) Use of various abilities of microbes like yoghurt production from milk and alcohol from molasses. (ii) Use of productivity of cells eg. Production of antibiotics and vaccines with the help of specific cells. (iii) Use of bio-molecules like DNA and proteins in human welfare. (iv) Development of plants, animals and products of desired quality by gene manipulation. eg. Production of growth hormone with the help of genetically modified bacteria. (v) Use of genetic and
non-genetic technique. Non-genetic biotechnology involves use of either cell or tissue. eg. tissue culture, production of hybrid seeds.

(b) Importance of medicinal plants
Ans. (i) Medicinal plants find applications in food industry, pharmaceuticals, agriculture and cosmetics. (ii) There are infinite medicinal plants which come together and form a branch of medical science called ayurveda. Plants like lemon, turmeric, Aloe-Vera, Adulsa, Basil, Neem, Garlic, Ashwagandha etc. are used to cure many ailments. (iii) Many of these remedies are present in the house itself.

5. Answer the following questions in your own words.

(a) Which products produced through biotechnology do you use in your daily life?
Ans. (i) The simplest use of biotechnology that we practice at home ismakingcurdand buttermilk,
(ii) The primary type of biotechnology is used in the process of fermentation while making food shifts, like bread, idli-dosa, dhokla, etc, (iii) Nowadays, different types of cheese, paneer, yoghurt, energy drinks, etc. are produced with the help of biotechnology. We are consuming these in our daily life. From

(b) Which precautions will you take during spraying of pesticides? (Sep. ‘21)
Ans. Following precautions will be taken by me during spraying of pesticides:
(i) Applying only recommended dose. (ii) Covering nose with cloth before spraying or even filling up the pump can of pesticide. (iii) Always wearing gloves while handling the apparatus. (iv) Avoiding spillage of pesticide. (v) Do not smelling the pesticide. (vi) Reading the instructions carefully. (h) Do not applying against the wind direction, rains, sunny day.

(c) Why some of the organs in human body are most valuable?
Ans. (i) The body can be in best health if all the vital organs of the body are also in the best condition. (ii) Brain, kidney, heart, liver, etc. are some such vital organs which are most essential for proper metabolism and functioning of the body. (iii) One cannot survive if any o f these vital organs are not functioning properly. (iv) Many organs in human body remain functional for certain period even after death occurs under specific conditions. (v) These organs can be transplanted on donation. Hence certain organs like heart, kidneys, eyes, liver, heart valves, skin etc. are more valuable.

(d) Explain the importance of fruit processing in human life?
Ans. (i) Fruits are perishable agro – produce. (ii) Fruits contain vitamins, proteins, minerals and dietary fibres. (iii) There is a need to process fruits in order to increase their storage or shelf – life significantly. (iv) Various products are prepared from fruits like chocolates, jams, juices and jellies and are used daily. (v) Fruit processing is done in such a way that it can be used throughout the year. (vi) Fruit processing include various methods ranging from cold storage to drying, salting, air tight packing, pickling, evaporating etc.

(e) Explain the meaning of vaccination.
Ans. (i) Vaccination is the administering of vaccine. Vaccine is the ‘antigen’, given to a person or even to animals for acquiring immunity against particular pathogens or diseases. (ii) In olden days, vaccines were prepared with the help of completely or partially killed pathogens. But this method causes some inconvenience. (iii) Hence in recent times the vaccines are produced by using biotechnology. These vaccines are artificial which are synthesised in the laboratories. (iv) The antigen is produced with the help of gene of the pathogen. (v) These antigenic proteins are injected to people to make their immune systems strong. This process of vaccination is absolutely safe.

6. Complete the following chart.
Ans.
7. Write the correct answer in blank circles.
Ans.

8. Identify and complete the following correlations.
Ans.
(a) Insulin : Diabetes : : Interleukin : Cancer

(b) Interferon :  Viral infection : : Erythropoietin: Anaemia.

(c) Somatostati : Dwarfness : : Factor VIII : Haemophilia.

(d) White revolution : Dairy : : Blue revolution : Fishery  (March ‘19)

9. Write a comparative note on usefulness and harmfulness of biotechnology.

Ans. Usefulness of biotechnology:
(i) Biotechnology has proved to be useful in the field of agriculture, medicine, clean technology
and industrial products. (ii) Due to various biotechnological experiments, the food production is increased substantially. The milk and milk products are now freely available. People no longer die of hunger due to abundant food supply. (3) The sophisticated vaccines  have stopped the spread of epidemics. (4) The diseases like diabetes can he controlled due to human insulin injections that can be manufactured by biotechnology. (5) The problems of pollution control, solid waste management and fuels are partially tackled by biotechnological alternatives.

Harmful effects of Biotechnology :

(i) The genetic changes are breaking the principles of nature. By inserting human genes in bacteria or virus, the products that are needed only for humans are produced. (ii) Human cloning is also a debatable issue. It will cause social and ethical problems. The new generations formed by cloning will have mothers but no fathers. If man tries to manipulate the genomes of other living organisms, it will cause disturbances in the natural balance. The long term effects of all such genetic manipulations can be disastrous. Thus, according to some views, biotechnology can be dangerous too.