Biotechnology

Introduction

Biotechnology is the use of living organisms or their components to produce useful products and solve problems in medicine, agriculture, and industry.

Applications

• Medicine: Production of insulin, vaccines, antibiotics, gene therapy.
• Agriculture: Genetically modified crops, pest-resistant plants, biofertilizers.
• Industry: Production of biofuels, enzymes, bioplastics, fermentation processes.

Genetic Engineering & Cloning

Genetic engineering involves modifying an organism's DNA to achieve desired traits. Cloning is producing genetically identical copies of organisms or cells.

Advantages & Disadvantages

• Advantages: Increased crop yield, medical treatments, environmental clean-up, new products.
• Disadvantages: Ethical concerns, potential ecological impact, high cost, unforeseen health risks.

Practice Questions & Answers

• Q: Define biotechnology.
  A: Use of living organisms to produce useful products and solve problems in medicine, agriculture, and industry.
• Q: Give three applications of biotechnology.
  A: Medicine (insulin production), agriculture (GM crops), industry (biofuels).
• Q: Explain genetic engineering and give an example.
  A: Modifying DNA to achieve desired traits; example: pest-resistant crops.
• Q: List two advantages and two disadvantages of biotechnology.
  A: Advantages: higher crop yield, medical treatments. Disadvantages: ethical concerns, unforeseen ecological impact.