Biotechnology & Its Applications: Key points

	Name: ________________________________________ Class:  ______________________     Topic:  BIOTECHNOLOGY & ITS APPLICATIONS Date:   _______/ _____/ ________                                          Period ______
QUESTIONS	NOTES
	AGRICULTURE
	Bt: Bacillus thuringiensis
	Bacillus thuringiensis produces a protein that kills certain insects: lepidopterans (tobacco budworm, army worm), coleopterans (beetles), dipterans (flies, mosquito)
	Bacillus thuringiensis form protein crystals that are insecticidal
	In Bacillus – present as inactive protein – protoxin
	Inside insect gut, at alkaline pH, gets converted to active toxin
	Active toxin binds to surface of epithelial lining of insect gut, forms pores, causes swelling, cells lysis, death of insect.
	Genes for Bt toxin cry – 3 types: Cry IAc & cry II Ab for cotton bollworms Cry I Ab for corn borer
	The gene introduced in cotton using Ti plasmid
	RNA interference: production of pest resistant plants – against nematodes
	Meloidegyne incognita (Nematode) infects roots of tobacco & damages plants
	RNA interference – not allowing expression of mRNA by creating a dsRNA
	dsRNA can be made by making a complementary strand of RNA, which binds to mRNA – RNA silencing
What are transposons? Genes that are able to chang their position, replicate through RNA intermediate	In our body it occurs as a method of cellular defense – introduced by infecting viruses or transposons (jumping genes)
	To control nematodes infection – nematode genes introduced in tobacco (host)
	Host makes both sense antisense RNA for these genes
	The 2 RNAs being complementary bind to nematode RNA & do not allow it to express – silencing
	Nematode not able to survive in host
	MEDICINE
	Genetically engineered Insulin – humulin
	Structure of Insulin: Proinsulin – 3 peptides (A, B, C) In mature Insulin: C removed. A & B remain Company: Eli Lily Technque: E. coli populations 1 with gene for A peptide 2 with gene for B peptide separately formed A& B isolated and joined together by disulfide bridges in vitro
	GENE THERAPY
	Adenosine Deaminase deficiency (ADA deficiency)
	ADA enzyme – for immune system
	Disease due to defective Gene for Adenosine deaminase (ADA)
	Problem: Lmphocyte not able to fight diseases (defective)
	Cure: Bone marrow transplantation – not very successful. Possible in small children Enzyme replacement therapy – lymphocyte from blood isolated                   cDNA containing unction ADA gene inserted (using retrovirus vector)                 functional lymphocyte returned to blood Problem: Lymphocyte die. So need to be replaced periodically
	Permanent cure: Genetic engineering of bone marrow cells (that form lymphocyte)
	Molecular Diagnosis
	ELISA : enzyme linked immunosorbent assay Based on antigen antibody interaction
	PCR: can detect very low amount of DNA
a-1-antitrypsin: used to cure emphysema Also cure for phenyl ketonuria & Cystic fibrosis Transgnic Cow (Rosie) protein rich milk (2.4gm/l); human alpha lactalbumin enriched	Transgenic Animals: Advantages Study of normal physiology & development Study of disease Production of Biological products Vaccine safety testing Chemical safety testing
What is Biopiracy?	GEAC: Genetic Engineering Approval Committee: Indian committee for check on Genetic research Indian patents Bill Attempts at Biopiracy: Basmati Rice, Neem, Turmeric
SUMMARY:  Write 4 or more sentences describing specific learning from these notes. __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________