What is the importance of biotechnology?

Biotechnology is the use of living organisms, cells, and biological systems to develop products and processes that improve our quality of life. Its importance can be seen in several key areas:

  • Medical Advances: Biotechnology has led to the development of life-saving treatments, vaccines, and diagnostic tools. It plays a significant role in gene therapy, tissue engineering, and drug production, such as insulin and monoclonal antibodies.

  • Agricultural Improvements: It is used to develop genetically modified crops that are resistant to pests, diseases, or environmental stress, leading to increased food production and improved nutritional quality. It also helps in pest control and the enhancement of crop yield through biotechnological methods like gene editing.

  • Environmental Protection: Biotechnology is instrumental in waste treatment, bioremediation (the use of microorganisms to clean up polluted environments), and renewable energy sources, such as biofuels, to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

  • Industrial Applications: It is used to create eco-friendly processes in industries, including food and beverage production, bio-based plastics, and bio-based chemicals.

  • Animal and Human Health: Biotechnology helps in the production of vaccines, hormones (e.g., growth hormone), and other therapeutic products, improving healthcare outcomes.

Related Questions:

  1. Name the organism used in fermentation for making bread, alcohol, cheese, and yogurt.
  2. Name the medical products produced by large-scale fermentation.
  3. How has genetic engineering improved the quality of agricultural yield?
  4. Microbes are commonly used in biotechnology. What are the advantages of each of them?
  5. Give three examples of traditional foods made with the help of microbes.
  6. Yogurt manufacture requires a temperature of around 40°C. Explain precisely why this is the best temperature to use.
  7. The diagram shows an important step of genetic engineering. Name the structures P, Q, and R. What is the next step of this process?
  8. The flowchart is showing anaerobic respiration. Identify the processes A, B, and C. Name the products (i) and (ii) produced by these processes.
  9. Name the structure through which the exchange of gases can take place in plants.
  10. Name the ways through which a plant can obtain oxygen.
  11. Why should one not sleep under a tree at night?
  12. Why would very wet soil be dangerous to plants
  13. Why do plants not need a specialized respiratory system?
  14. How does the exchange of gases take place in alveoli?
  15. What is the effect of exercise on the rate of breathing?
  16. Compare inspired air and expired air.
  17. How do viral infections like COVID-19 affect bronchi?
  18. What is the importance of breathing in fresh air?
  19. What is the importance of keeping the nasal and oral cavity clear?
  20. Differentiate between: