NEETClass 11thClass 12thClass 12th PlusJEEClass 11thClass 12thClass 12th PlusClass 6-10Class 6thClass 7thClass 8thClass 9thClass 10thOnline CoursesDistance LearningInternational OlympiadNEETClass 11thClass 12thClass 12th PlusJEE (Main+Advanced)Class 11thClass 12thClass 12th PlusJEE MainClass 11thClass 12thClass 12th PlusClass 6-10Class 6thClass 7thClass 8thClass 9thClass 10thKCET/MHT-CETKCETMHT-CETNEET20262025202420232022JEE20262025202420232022Class 6-1020262025JEE MainPrevious Year PapersSample PapersMock TestResultAnalysisSyllabusExam DatePercentile PredictorAnswer KeyCounsellingEligibilityExam PatternJEE MathsJEE ChemistryJEE PhysicsJEE AdvancedPrevious Year PapersSample PapersMock TestResultAnalysisSyllabusExam DateAnswer KeyEligibilityExam PatternRank PredictorNEETPrevious Year PapersSample PapersMock TestResultAnalysisSyllabusExam DateCollege PredictorAnswer KeyRank PredictorCounsellingEligibilityExam PatternBiologyNCERT SolutionsClass 6Class 7Class 8Class 9Class 10Class 11Class 12TextbooksCBSEClass 12Class 11Class 10Class 9Class 8Class 7Class 6SubjectsSyllabusNotesSample PapersQuestion PapersICSEClass 10Class 9Class 8Class 7Class 6State BoardBiharKarnatakaMadhya PradeshMaharashtraTamilnaduWest BengalUttar PradeshOlympiadMathsScienceEnglishSocial ScienceNSOIMONMTCTALLENTEXASATInstant Online ScholarshipAIOT(NEET)ALLEN for SchoolsAbout ALLENBlogsNewsCareersRequest a call backBook a demo
NCERT Solutions Class 12 Biology Chapter 10 Biotechnology and Its Applications
In Class 12 Biology Chapter 10 Biotechnology and Its Applications, students are taught how modern biotechnology is used to solve real-life problems in health, agriculture and the environment. This chapter describes the production of genetically modified crops, therapeutic proteins, vaccines and diagnostic tools. It also raises ethical and safety questions about the use of genetically modified organisms, helping students to appreciate the benefits and responsibilities of biotechnological advances.
ALLEN brings you expertly curated NCERT Solutions that help you sail through these high weightage topics simplified into clear and structured explanations. The solutions are prepared by our experienced faculty of Biology so that the technical processes like maturation of pro-insulin or silencing of mRNA can be easily understood. The solutions are completely based on the updated NCERT syllabus and give precise terminology and diagrammatic representation to fetch the maximum marks.
1.0Key Concepts of Class 12 Biology Chapter 10 Biotechnology and Its Applications
Biotechnology has important applications in medicine, agriculture, disease diagnosis, and environmental management. This chapter explains how genetic techniques are used to develop useful products and solve real-world problems. The major concepts include:
- Transgenic Organisms: Understand how genetically modified plants and animals are developed and the purposes they serve.
- Biotechnology in Medicine: Learn how biotechnology is used to produce insulin, develop vaccines, and treat certain diseases through gene therapy.
- Genetically Modified Crops: Study Bt cotton and other modified crops developed for pest resistance, improved traits, and better agricultural productivity.
- Molecular Diagnosis: Understand how techniques such as PCR and ELISA help detect diseases and identify infections at an early stage.
- Ethical and Safety Issues: Explore biosafety, patents, genetically modified organisms, and the social concerns associated with biotechnology.
- Environmental Applications: Learn how biotechnology can support waste management, pollution control, and other environmental solutions.
2.0NCERT Class 12 Biology Chapter 10 Biotechnology and Its Applications : Detailed Solutions
- Which part of the plant is best suited for making virus free plants and why ? Ans. The apical and axillary meristems of plants are the best parts of the plant to make virus-free plants. This because the rate of division of meristematic cell is higher than the rate of multiplication of virus and viruses are unable to invade newly formed meristematic cells.
- What is the major advantage of producing plants by micropropagation? Ans. Micropropagation is a method of producing new plants in a short duration using plant tissue culture. Some major advantages of micropropagation are as follows : (a) Micropropagation helps in the propagation of a large number of plants in a short span of time. (b) The plants produced are identical to the mother plants. (c) It leads to the production of healthier plantlets, which exhibit better disease-resisting powers.
- Find out what the various components of the medium used for propagation of an explant in vitro are? Ans. The major components of medium used for propagation of explants in vitro are carbon sources such as sucrose, inorganic salts, vitamins, amino acids, water, agar-agar, and certain growth hormones such as auxins and gibberellins.
- Crystals of Bt toxin produced by some bacteria do not kill the bacteria themselves because- (a) bacteria are resistant to the toxin (b) toxin is immature; (c) toxin is inactive; (d) bacteria encloses toxin in a special sac. Ans. (c) toxin is inactive.
- What are transgenic bacteria? Illustrate using any one example. Ans. The bacteria whose DNA is manipulated, carry and express a foreign DNA is called transgenic bacteria. For example :- Two DNA sequence (A and B chains of human insulin) were introduced into the plasmid of bacteria E.coil. The transgenic bacteria start producing insulin chain.
- Compare and contrast the advantages and disadvantages of production of genetically modified crops. [IMP.] Ans. Advantages of genetically modified crops: (1) Reduces the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides which cause pollution (air, water and soil). (2) Production of new resistant varieties against pathogen, droughts, salinity, etc. (3) Provides raw materials to industries like pharmaceuticals. (4) Genetically modified crops have enhanced nutritional quality and yield. (5) These crops grow fast and produce high yield through modifications. Disadvantages of genetically modified crops: (1) Proteins produced by GM organisms might cause allergy and other reactions. (2) Resistance characters might develop in intestinal bacteria against antibiotics. (3) Resistant genes transferred by pollen to the weeds may also become resistant to pests.
- What are Cry proteins? Name an organism that produce it. How has man exploited this protein to his benefit? [IMP.] Ans. Cry protein (crystal protein) is a toxin coded by a gene cry and is poisonous to some insects, thus giving resistant characters to the plants.
- Bacillus thuringiensis produces Cry protein.
- Cry protein producing gene is transferred to the plants to provide resistance against insect larvae.
- Man has developed several transgenic crops by introducing these genes from bacteria to crop plants such as Bt cotton, Bt corn etc.
- What is gene therapy ? Illustrate using the example of adenosine deaminase (ADA) deficiency. Ans. Gene therapy is a method which corrects or replaces the defective genes. [IMP.]
- In 1990, first clinical gene therapy was given to a 4-year old girl with adenosine deaminase (ADA) deficiency.
- This enzyme plays an important role in functioning of immune system. The disorder is caused due to the deletion of the gene for adenosine deaminase.
- In gene therapy, lymphocytes from the blood of the patient are grown in a culture outside the body.
- A functional ADA cDNA (using a retroviral vector) is then introduced into these lymphocytes, which are returned to the patients. However, as these cells are not immortal, hence the patient requires periodic infusion of such genetically engineered lymphocytes.
- Diagrammatically represent the experimental steps in cloning and expressing an human gene (Say the gene for growth hormone) into a bacterium like E.coli ? Ans. It is possible to produce HGH (human growth hormone) by recombinant DNA technology. This is represented diagrammatically as follows :
- Can you suggest a method to remove oil (hydrocarbon) from seeds based on your understanding of rDNA technology and chemistry of oil? Ans. To remove oil from seeds, the genes responsible for formation of glycerol or fatty acids need to be identified and removed which is responsible for this synthesis. So, by rDNA technique one can obtain oil-less seeds by preventing the synthesis of fats.
- Find out from internet what is golden rice. Ans. Golden rice is a genetically modified rice that contains -carotene (provitamin A). This rice is modified in order to enhance the quantity of vitamin - A in it. It is called golden due to the gold like colour it gets from - carotene.
- Does our blood have proteases and nucleases? Ans. Blood does not contain proteases and nucleases because their function is to breakdown proteins and nucleic acids.
- Consult internet and find out how to make orally active protein pharmaceutical. What is the major problem to be encountered? Ans. Orally active protein pharmaceutical can be made by lining it with a substance that will dissolve after it has passed through the stomach. The major problem encountered is that the stomach enzymes and acids may denature the therapeutic protein and render it ineffective.
3.0NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Biology | Other Chapter-wise Links
Find detailed NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Biology chapter-wise, with simple explanations and accurate answers to textbook questions using the links below.
4.0Key Features and Benefits of Class 12 Biology Chapter 10 Biotechnology and Its Applications
- Practical Applications Made Clear: Understand how biotechnology is used in healthcare, agriculture, and other fields through relevant examples and simple explanations.
- Important Biotechnology Products: Learn about applications such as recombinant insulin, vaccines, gene therapy, and genetically modified crops.
- Agricultural Applications: Understand how biotechnology helps improve crop characteristics and provides solutions such as pest-resistant crops.
- Quick Revision Support: Revise important applications, examples, and key terms through well-organised explanations that make important points easier to remember.
- Application-Based Practice: Strengthen your ability to answer questions involving biotechnology applications, concepts, and real-world examples.
- Strong Foundation for NEET: Build a clear understanding of biotechnology applications that can support NEET preparation and further studies in biology and life sciences.