Hybridoma technology is a new biotechnological approach for commercial production of:
Correct Answer:
(A)
Monoclonal antibodies
Hybridoma technology is a technology of forming hybrid cell lines (called hybridomas) by fusing an antibody– producing B cell with a myeloma (B cell cancer) cell that is selected for its ability to grow in tissue culture and for an absence of antibody chain synthesis. The antibodies produced by the hybridoma are all of a single specificity and are therefore monoclonal antibodies (in contrast to polyclonal antibodies). The production of monoclonal antibodies was invented by César Milstein and Georges J. F. Köhler in 1975. They shared the Nobel Prize in 1984 for medicine and physiology with Niels Kaj Jerne, who made other contributions to immunology.
Ques:
12
Bollgard I and Bollgard II technologies are mentioned in the context of :
Correct Answer:
(B)
developing genetically modified crop plants
Bollgard I Bt-cotton (single-gene technology) is India's first biotech crop technology approved for commercialization in India in 2002, followed by Bollgard II – double-gene technology in mid-2006, by the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), the Indian regulatory body for biotech crops.
Bollgard I cotton provides in-built protection for cotton against destructive American Bollworm Heliothis Armigera infestations, and contains an insecticidal protein from a naturally occurring soil microorganism, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). Bollgard II technology contains a superior double-gene technology – Cry 1 Ac and Cry 2 Ab which provides protection against bollworms and Spodoptera caterpillar, leading to better boll retention, maximum yield, lower pesticides costs, and protection against insect resistance. Both, Bollgard II and Bollgard I insect-protected cotton are widely planted around the world as an environment-friendly way of controlling bollworms.
Ques:
13
A genetically engineered form of brinjal, known as the Bt. brinjal has been developed. The objective of this is -
Correct Answer:
(A)
To make it pest-resistant
Bt. brinjal is a transgenic brinjal created by inserting a gene ‘Cry 1 Ac’ from the soil bacterium ‘Bacillus thuringiensis’ into brinjal. Bt. brinjal has been developed to give resistance against lepidopteran insects like the brinjal shoot-borer Leucinodes orbonalis and fruit-borer Helicoverpa armigera. Bt. brinjal has generated much debate in India. The promoters say that Bt. brinjal will be beneficial to small farmers because it is insect resistant, increases yields etc. On the other hand, concerns about Bt. brinjal relates to its possible adverse impact on human health and bio-safety, livelihoods and biodiversity. In India Bt. brinjal was developed by the Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds company (Mahyco). Despite the conduct of field trials from 2002-2006, a moratorium was issued in October 2009 and a government ban was implemented in February, 2010.
Ques:
14
With reference to the Genetically Modified mustard (GM mustard) developed in India, consider the following statements:
GM mustard has the genes of a soil bacterium that give the plant the property of pest-resistance to a wide variety of pests.
GM mustard has the genes that allow the plant cross-pollination and hybridization.
GM mustard has been developed jointly by the IARI and Punjab Agricultural University.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Correct Answer:
(B)
2 only
GM mustard developed in India, also known as Dhara Mustard Hybrid-11 (DMH-11), is a genetically modified hybrid variety of the mustard species Brassica juncea. It was developed by Prof. Deepak Pental (University of Delhi) with the aim of reducing India’s demand for edible oil imports. His team introduced several genes from a soil bacterium, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, into the mustard that allow the plant cross-pollination and hybridization. Then they cross-pollinated Indian variety with European variety to make new hybrid called DMH-11. The above DMH-11 has been developed by the scientists of ‘Center for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants’ of Delhi University. Hence, only statement 2 is correct.
Note: Genetically modified crops (GMCs, GM crops, or biotech crops) are plants used in agriculture, the DNA of which has been modified using genetic engineering techniques. In most cases, the aim is to introduce a new trait to the plant which does not occur naturally in the species. Examples in food crops include resistance to certain pests, diseases or environmental conditions, reduction of spoilage or resistance to chemical treatments (e.g., resistance to an herbicide), to enable them to withstand drought, to increase the nutritive value of the produce, to increase their shelf life, or improving the nutrient profile of the crop.
Ques:
15
With reference to agriculture in India, how can the technique of ‘genome sequencing’, often seen in the news, be used in the immediate future?
Genome sequencing can be used to identify genetic markers for disease resistance and drought tolerance in various crop plants.
This technique helps in reducing the time required to develop new varieties of crop plants.
It can be used to decipher the host-pathogen relationship in crops.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Correct Answer:
(D)
1, 2 and 3
Genome sequencing plays an important role in the agriculture sector. It can be used to identify genetic indicators, which is essential for developing properties such as disease resistance and drought-tolerance in crops. Genome sequencing can help in reducing the time required to develop new varieties of crops. Also, it can be used to understand the host pathogen relationship in crops.