🧬 NEET 2025 BIOTECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS 🧬
Complete Guide to Biotechnology in Health & Agriculture
💎 3 GOLDEN FACTS (NEET 2015-24)
92%
Questions from Insulin & Vaccine Production
5x
More questions on Bt crops than Transgenic Animals
9
Direct questions on Biosafety since 2018
⚖️ BIOTECH PRODUCTS COMPARISON
| Application | Technology Used | Key Organism | Significance | NEET Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Human Insulin | rDNA Technology | E. coli | Diabetes treatment | 3 Q/yr |
| Vaccines | Recombinant DNA | Yeast/Bacteria | Disease prevention | 2 Q/yr |
| Bt Crops | Genetic Engineering | Bacillus thuringiensis | Pest resistance | 2 Q/yr |
| Gene Therapy | Gene Delivery | Viral vectors | Genetic disorder treatment | 1 Q/yr |
🏥 Biotechnology in Health
Human Insulin Production
- Gene Isolation: Human insulin gene isolated from pancreatic cells
- Vector Preparation: Plasmid extracted from E. coli
- Recombination: Insulin gene inserted into plasmid using restriction enzymes and DNA ligase
- Transformation: Recombinant plasmid inserted into E. coli
- Fermentation: Bacteria cultured in large fermenters
- Extraction: Insulin harvested and purified
Advantages over Animal Insulin:
- No risk of allergic reactions
- Identical to human insulin
- Large-scale production possible
- Cost-effective
Vaccine Production
Traditional Vaccines
- Use weakened/killed pathogens
- Example: Polio vaccine
- Risk of infection in immunocompromised
Recombinant Vaccines
- Use antigenic proteins
- Example: Hepatitis B vaccine
- Safer and more effective
Recombinant Vaccine Production Steps
- Identify and isolate gene for antigenic protein
- Insert gene into expression vector (yeast/bacteria)
- Culture recombinant organisms
- Harvest and purify antigenic protein
- Formulate into vaccine
Gene Therapy
Somatic Gene Therapy
- Targets body cells
- Non-heritable changes
- Example: SCID treatment
Germline Gene Therapy
- Targets reproductive cells
- Heritable changes
- Ethical concerns
🧠 GENE THERAPY Mnemonic
"SGS": Somatic (Safe), Germline (Scary)
Remember the two types of gene therapy and their ethical implications
🌾 Biotechnology in Agriculture
Bt Crops (Bacillus thuringiensis)
Mechanism of Action:
- Bt gene produces Cry proteins (δ-endotoxins)
- Insect ingests toxin crystals
- Toxin becomes active in alkaline gut
- Creates pores in gut epithelium
- Insect dies from septicemia
Bt Cotton
- Resistant to bollworm
- Reduces pesticide use by 40%
- First GM crop in India (2002)
Bt Brinjal
- Resistant to fruit and shoot borer
- Controversial in India
- Approved in Bangladesh
Transgenic Animals
Applications of Transgenic Animals
Medical:
- Disease models (Alzheimer's mice)
- Pharming (ATryn from goats)
- Organ donors (Pigs for xenotransplantation)
Agricultural:
- Faster growing salmon
- Disease-resistant livestock
- High milk production
🧠 TRANSGENIC ANIMALS Mnemonic
"MAP": Models, Agriculture, Pharming
Remember the three main uses of transgenic animals
⚠️ Biosafety Issues
Biopiracy
Notable Cases:
- Neem: Patents on antifungal properties
- Basmati Rice: Patent claims on grain quality
- Turmeric: Patent on healing properties (later revoked)
Prevention Measures:
- Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL)
- Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
- Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing
Patents in Biotechnology
What Can Be Patented
- Novel gene sequences
- Recombinant DNA processes
- GM organisms with utility
What Cannot Be Patented
- Natural biological processes
- Human genes as they exist in nature
- Traditional knowledge
Landmark Patent Cases
- Diamond v. Chakrabarty (1980): First patent for GM bacteria
- Myriad Genetics (2013): Human genes cannot be patented
- Oncomouse: First patented transgenic animal
🎯 PYQ Highlights:
NEET 2022: Bt toxin is effective against? Answer: Lepidopteran insects
NEET 2020: First clinical gene therapy was for? Answer: ADA deficiency
NEET 2018: Example of biopiracy? Answer: Neem patent case
📈 NEET 2025 Predictions
High Probability Topics (90% chance):
- Steps in recombinant insulin production
- Mechanism of Bt toxin action
- Differences between somatic and germline gene therapy
- Examples of biopiracy cases
Dark Horse Candidates (Surprise Elements):
- Vector used for first human insulin production
- Specific Cry proteins and their target insects
- Ethical issues in transgenic animal creation
- Nagoya Protocol provisions
💡 NEET 2025 Master Strategy
- ✅ Memorize step-by-step processes (insulin, vaccines)
- ✅ Create comparison charts for Bt crops vs conventional
- ✅ Solve all PYQs on biopiracy (2015-2024)
- ✅ Practice drawing gene therapy mechanisms
With these strategies, you'll dominate the 5-7 marks from Biotechnology Applications in NEET 2025! 🧬🌱
