APPLICATIONS OF BIOTECHNOLOGY

BIOTECHNOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS IN AGRICULTURE

Bio technology can be used in agriculture through three options that can be
thought for increasing food production(i)
Agro-chemical based agriculture
(ii)
Organic agriculture; and
(iii)
Genetically engineered crop-based agriculture.
The Green Revolution succeeded in tripling the food supply but yet it was not
enough to feed the growing human population. Increased yields have partly been
due to the use of improved crop varieties, but mainly due to the use of better
management practices and use of agrochemicals (fertilisers and pesticides).
However, for farmers in the developing world, agrochemicals are often too
expensive, and further increases in yield with existing varieties are not possible
using conventional breeding. Use of genetically modified crops is a possible
solution.
Plants, bacteria, fungi and animals whose genes have been altered by
manipulation are called Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO). GM plants have
been useful in many ways. Genetic modification has:
(i) Made crops more tolerant to abiotic stresses (cold, drought, salt, heat).
(ii) Reduced reliance on chemical pesticides (pest-resistant crops).
(iii) Helped to reduce postharvest losses.
(iv) Increased efficiency of mineral usage by plants (this prevents early
exhaustion of fertility of soil).
(v) Enhanced nutritional value of food, e.g., Vitamin A enriched rice.
In addition to these uses, GM has been used to create tailor-made plants to
supply alternative resources to industries, in the form of starches, fuels and
pharmaceuticals.
Some of the applications of biotechnology in agriculture are the production of
pest resistant plants, which could decrease the amount of pesticide used. Bt
(Biotech) toxin is produced by a bacterium called Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt for
short). Bt (Biotech) toxin gene has been cloned from the bacteria and been
expressed in plants to provide resistance to insects without the need for
insecticides; in effect created a bio-pesticide. Examples are Bt cotton, Bt corn,
rice, tomato, potato and soya bean etc.
Bt Cotton: Some strains of Bacillus thuringiensis produce proteins that kill certain
insects such as lepidopterans (tobacco budworm, armyworm), coleopterans
(beetles) and dipterans (flies, mosquitoes). B. thuringiensis forms protein crystals
during a particular phase of their growth. These crystals contain a toxic
insecticidal protein.
Pest Resistant Plants: Several nematodes parasites a wide variety of plants and
animals including human beings. A nematode Meloidegyne incognitia infects the
roots of tobacco plants and causes a great reduction in yield. A novel strategy
was adopted to prevent this infestation which was based on the process of RNA
interference (RNAi). RNAi takes place in all eukaryotic organisms as a method of
cellular defence. This method involves silencing of a specific mRNA due to a
complementary dsRNA molecule that binds to and prevents translation of the

mRNA (silencing). The source of this complementary RNA could be from an

infection by viruses having RNA genomes or mobile genetic elements
(transposons) that replicate via an RNA intermediate.

BIOTECHNOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS IN MEDICINE

The recombinant DNA technological processes have made immense impact in
the area of healthcare by enabling mass production of safe and more effective
therapeutic drugs. Further, the recombinant therapeutics do not induce
unwanted immunological responses as is common in case of similar products
isolated from non-human sources. At present, about 30 recombinant therapeutics
have been approved for human-use the world over. In India, 12 of these are
presently being marketed.
Genetically Engineered Insulin
Management of adult-onset diabetes is possible by taking insulin at regular time
intervals. With the help of biotechnology techniques and research a large
quantity of the bacteria can be made and that too in a required quantity.
Previously the insulin was made from the animal gene but it was seen that few
people got allergies and other problems from it. Thus, with help of biotechnology
more advanced way of creating insulin was sought and now is used all over the
world.
Gene Therapy
If a person is born with a hereditary disease, can a corrective therapy be taken
for such a disease? Gene therapy is an attempt to do this. Gene therapy is a
collection of methods that allows correction of a gene defect that has been
diagnosed in a child/embryo. Here genes are inserted into a persons cells and
tissues to treat a disease. Correction of a genetic defect involves delivery of a
normal gene into the individual or embryo to take over the function of and
compensate for the non-functional gene.
The first clinical gene therapy was given in 1990 to a 4-year old girl with
adenosine deaminase (ADA) deficiency. This enzyme is crucial for the immune
system to function. In some children ADA deficiency can be cured by bone
marrow transplantation; in others it can be treated by enzyme replacement
therapy. But the problem with both of these approaches that they are not
completely curative.
TRANSGENIC ANIMALS:
Animals that have had their DNA manipulated to possess and express an extra
(foreign) gene are known as transgenic animals. Transgenic rats, rabbits, pigs,
sheep, cows and fish have been produced, although over 95 per cent of all
existing transgenic animals are mice. These animals if produced, can benefit the
man. Some of the common reasons of this are:
(i)

Normal physiology and development: Transgenic animals can be

specifically designed to allow the study of how genes are regulated,
and how they affect the normal functions of the body and its
development, e.g., study of complex factors involved in growth such as
insulin-like growth factor. By introducing genes from other species that
alter the formation of this factor and studying the biological effects that

(ii)

(iii)

(iv)

(v)

result, information is obtained about the biological role of the factor in

the body.
(ii)Study of disease: Many transgenic animals are designed to
increase our understanding of how genes contribute to the
development of disease. These are specially made to serve as models
for human diseases so that investigation of new treatments for
diseases is made possible. Today transgenic models exist for many
human diseases such as cancer, cystic fibrosis, rheumatoid arthritis
and Alzheimers.
Biological products: Medicines required to treat certain human
diseases can contain biological products, but such products are often
expensive to make. Transgenic animals that produce useful biological
products can be created by the introduction of the portion of DNA (or
genes) which codes for a particular product such as human protein (1-antitrypsin) used to treat emphysema. Similar attempts are being
made for treatment of phenylketonuria (PKU) and cystic fibrosis. In
1997, the first transgenic cow, Rosie, produced human protein-enriched
milk (2.4 grams per litre). The milk contained the human alphalactalbumin and was nutritionally a more balanced product for human
babies than natural cow-milk.
Vaccine safety: Transgenic mice are being developed for use in
testing the safety of vaccines before they are used on humans.
Transgenic mice are being used to test the safety of the polio vaccine.
If successful and found to be reliable, they could replace the use of
monkeys to test the safety of batches of the vaccine.
Chemical safety testing: This is known as toxicity/safety testing. The
procedure is the same as that used for testing toxicity of drugs.
Transgenic animals are made that carry genes which make them more
sensitive to toxic substances than non-transgenic animals. They are
then exposed to the toxic substances and the effects studied. Toxicity
testing in such animals will allow us to obtain results in less time.

These are the main applications of biotechnology in various field. The

applications of biotechnology in these fields is proving to be very helpful to the
human beings in all sorts of life. It may be the food or the health or the medicine,
biotechnology is given importance and used in all these.
But this application of has also given rise to ethical and legal issues.
And these issues state the need of regulation. Human race cannot go on any
further without regulation. Going beyond the morality of such issues, the
biological significance of such things is also important. Genetic modification of
organisms can have unpredictable results when such organisms are introduced
into the ecosystem.
The law has an important role in regulating the use of biotechnology. Applications
of biotechnology has stated varied legal problems for example bio piracy is one
of them. The issues in relation to patenting of the research done under
biotechnology calls for a strong patenting laws. And other ownership and privacy
rights.
Applications and Benefits of Environmental Biotechnology
written by: Tarun Goeledited by: Laurie Patsalidesupdated: 10/19/2011
Environmental Biotechnology enables us to harness biological processes
commercially and that too in an Eco-friendly manner. The emphasis lies on making

use of biological systems and reusing natural wastes. This article explains how we
can make better use of natural wastes and biological systems.
What is Environmental Biotechnology?
Biotechnology applications in food security, agriculture, climate change, and climate

mitigation are well known. The industrial

applications of
biotechnology are a profitable option for food and agriculture businesses. Moreover,
these processes ensure that minimal damage is inflicted upon our environment.
Usually, industries spend a huge amount on controlling the aftermaths of
conventional industrial production processes but biotechnology ensures that money
is saved at the time of production itself.
Environmental Biotechnology utilizes the biochemical potential of microorganisms
and plants for the preservation and restoration of the environment. It promotes
sustainable and efficient use of natural resources like fungi, plants, algae, and
bacteria in the industrial processes. Our biological systems have the capability to
absorb and control pollutants like free carbon sources from our environment and
keep our surroundings clean and green. Integrated with the industrial processes, it
helps in forming a balanced industrial framework that has better efficiency, makes
better use of natural resources, and also keeps our environment green. Green
manufacturing technologies and sustainable development are the key issues that
environmental biotechnology addresses.
In the subsequent sections we will see what the benefits are of integrating
biotechnology with our industrial processes.
Benefits of Environmental Biotechnology
The uses and methods of environmental biotechnology applications have many
diverse implications and benefits. Biotechnology is constantly being used to help
adapt organisms and engineer useful ways to help clean up the environment and
keep it green for the future generations. As well as eliminating the use of pollutants
and wastes that affect our environment, there is a need to be able to promote and
sustain the development of our society with the lowest possible impact on the
environment.
All biological processes have a role in the removal of pollutants. Using biotechnology
is enabling researchers and scientists to take advantage of this new versatility of
organisms to convert and degrade certain compounds. New breakthroughs in
methods of biotechnology applications including genomics, proteomics,
bioinformatics, sequencing and imaging are all producing vast amounts of
information. When it comes to the field of environmental microbiology, new studies
are beginning to open up to an era of new possibilities and discoveries in the world
of biodegradation.
Both changes to the functional and metagenomic approaches are adding to our
understanding and knowledge about the importance of having different pathways
and types of networks to use in particular environments. Those compounds and will
only continue to speed up the bioremediation processes. This process is essential to
the improving and preservation efforts to conserve resources and help the
environment, as well as protect it from further damage.
It seems as though marine types of environments are especially prone to this kind of
occurrence because of the kinds of activities on coastlines such as oil spills. Not only
are pollutants from humans a constant source of trouble, but also adding to that are

the tons of gallons of petroleum that is entering the marine environment every year
and coming from natural sources.
Even though this has a high level of toxicity, a large portion of the petroleum that
enters the marine system is being eliminated by the degrading activities caused by
microbial sources. Biotechnology applications will continue to have a large impact on
the environmental activities and help lessen the concern of degradation that is
currently a large problem facing the environment. By using techniques and methods
of biotechnology applications, scientists are able to help improve and slow down the
degradation process as well as work to preserve the environment and work towards
more suitable conservation methods.
Applications of Environmental Biotechnology
Environmental biotechnology finds use in various fields and industries. In this section
we have listed certain most popular and commonly practiced applications of
environmental biotechnology around us.
Bio-composting involves combining organic materials
under certain controlled conditions that decomposes
them at a faster rate than they would decompose under
natural conditions in free surroundings.

Bioenergy We hear about fuels like biogas, biomass,

and hydrogen being used for industrial, domestic, and
space exploration purposes. All these fuels belong to the
category of Bioenergy. Of late, need of the hour has
become finding alternate resources of energy that are
clean and equally efficient. Energy generation from
organic waste or biomass is the finest example of green
energy. These are all ecofriendly solutions to our pollution
woes. Biomass energy supply demand balances have
become a component of energy sector analysis and
planning and assumed greater importance in countries.

Bioremediation is a clean-up technology that uses

naturally occurring microorganisms to degrade hazardous
substances into less toxic or nontoxic compounds.

Bio-Transformation is a process of Biological changes of

complex compound to simpler toxic to non-toxic or viceversa. It is used in manufacturing industries where toxic
substances are released as bi-products.

Biomarker is a biological response to a chemical that

gives a measure of exposure and, of toxic effect.
Biological markers can provide molecular evidence of the
correlation among oils and their sources.