AP Inter 2nd Year Botany Important Questions Chapter 12 Biotechnology and its Applications

Students get through AP Inter 2nd Year Botany Important Questions 12th Lesson Viruses which are most likely to be asked in the exam.

AP Inter 2nd Year Botany Important Questions 12th Lesson Viruses

Very Short Answer Questions

Question 1.
Expand GMO. How is it different from a hybrid.
Answer:

1. GMO stands for Genetically Modified Organisms.
2. GMO contains one or few genes from other species.
3. Hybrid is an organism formed by a cross between two genetically dissimilar desired varieties.
4. GMO has manipulated gene recombination while hybrid shows natural gene recombinations.

Question 2.
Give different types of cry genes and pests which are controlled by the proteins encoded by these genes.
Answer:

1. The proteins of Cry I Ac and Cry II Ab control the cotton boll worms.
2. The proteins of Cry I Ab controls com borer.

Question 3.
Can a disease be detected before its symptoms appear? Explain the principle involved.
[TS MAR-19] [AP MAR-17,19]
Answer:

1. Earlier detection of diseases can be done using (i) PCR (ii) ELISA techniques.
2. The principle of PCR is gene amplification.
3. The principle of ELISA is antigen-antibody interaction.

Question 4.
Many toxic proteins are produced in their inactive form by microorganisms. Explain how the mechanism is useful for the organism producing the toxin.
Answer:

1. Toxic proteins exists as inactive protoxins in the micro-organisms.
2. But when they reach the insect due to the alkaline pH of the gut, inactive protoxins are converted into an active toxic form.
3. The activated toxin binds to the surface of the ‘midgut epithelial cells’ and creates pores. They cause cell swelling and lysis and eventually cause the death of the insect.
4. Ex: Bt cotton gets protection from insect pests. .

Question 5.
Why has the Indian Parliament cleared the second amendment of the country’s patent bill?
Answer:

1. Due to the disparity between the use of GMO for public utility and granting of patents, the Indian Parliament has cleared the II amendment of Indian patent bills.
2. This prevents unauthorized exploitation of bioresources, and traditional knowledge and recommends adequate compensatory, emergency provisions, research and development initiatives.

Question 6.
Give any two reasons, why paten; on Basmati should not have gone to an American Company.
Answer:

1. The basmati rice variety has been growing in India since its inception. So traditionally it belongs to india.
2. The new variety of basmati that got patent rights to an American company is actually derived from Indian farmers variety.

Question 7.
PCR is a useful tool for early diagnosis of an infectious disease. Elaborate.
Answer:

1. Very low concentrations of a bacteria or virus can be detected by amplification of their nucleic
   acid through PCR (even when symptoms do not appear).
2. This is done with the help of a probe (SSDNA tagged with radioactive molecules) to find its . complementary DNA.

Question 8.
What is GEAC and what are its objectives? [TS MAY-22] [APMAY-17][APMAR-15]
Answer:

1. GEAC stands for Genetic Engineering Approval Committee.
2. Objectives: To make decisions regarding the validity of GM research and the safety of introducing GM organisms for public services.

Question 9.
Name the nematode that infects the roots of tobacco plants. Name the strategy adopted to prevent this infestation. [AP MAR-16] [ TS 20]
Answer:

1. The nematode is Meloidegyne incognitia.
2. RNA interference (RNAi) is adopted to prevent the infestation.

Question 10.
For which variety of Indian rice, has a patent been filed by a USA company. [APMAY-22]
Answer:
Basmati rice

Question 11.
“Give one example for each of transgenic plants which are suitable for food processing and those with improved nutritional quality. JAP 20]
Answer:

1. Transgenic plant suitable for food processing: “Flavr Savr” variety of tomato.
2. Transgenic plant with improved nutritional value: Taipi golden rice with vitamin A rich nature.

Question 12.
What is green revolution? Who is regarded as Father of green revolution? [TS MAR-15,17] [TS 20]
Answer:

1. The creation and utilization of high-yielding varieties in the field of agriculture, a substantial and dramatic increase in agricultural production is called green revolution.
2. Norman Borlaug is regarded as Father of green revolution.

Short Answer Questions

Question 1.
List out the beneficial aspects of transgenic plants. [AP MAY-17] [TS MAR-17] [TS MAY-22] [AP MAR-19]
Answer:
Beneficial aspects of transgenic plants:
a) Transgenic crop plants having resistance to pathogens and pests:

1. Transgenic papaya is resistant to papaya ring spot virus.
2. Bt cotton is resistant to insects.
3. Transgenic tomato plants are resistant to the bacterial pathogen pseudomonas.
4. Transgenic potato plants are resistant to the fungus phytophthora.

b) Transgenic plants suitable for food processing technology:

• Transgenic tomato “Flavr Savr” is bruise resistant i.e., suitable for storage and transport due to delayed ripening.

c) Transgenic plants with improved nutritional value:

• Transgenic golden rice obtained from “Taipei” is rich in vitamin A and prevents blindness.

d) Transgenic plants used for hybrid seed production:

• Male sterile plants of Brassica napus are produced. This will eliminate the problem of manual emasculation and reduce the cost of hybrid seed production.

c) Transgenic plants tolerant to abiotic stresses caused by chemicals, cold, drought, salt, heat etc:

• Basmati variety of rice was made resistant against biotic and abiotic stresses.
• Round-up ready soyabean is herbicide tolerant.

Question 2.
What are some bio-safety issues concerned with genetically modified crops? [AP MAY-22] [AP MAR-17] [AP,TS MAR-16]
Answer:
The bio-safety issues concerned with genetically modified crops:

1. There is fear of transferring allergies or toxins to humans and animals as side effects.
2. There is a risk of changing the fundamental nature of vegetables.
3. They may pose a harmful effect on biodiversity and have an adverse impact on environment.
4. They may bring about changes in natural evolutionary patterns.
5. There is a risk of gene pollution due to transfer of new genes into related wild species through natural outcrossing. This may result in the development of superweeds which may be fast growing than the crops and may be resistant to weedicides.

Question 3.
Give a brief account of (a) Bt cotton, (b) pest-resistant plants. [TS MAY-17] [AP,TS MAR-15] [AP 20] [TS 20] [TS MAY-22]
Answer:
(a) Bt cotton:

1. Bt cotton is a genetically modified organism (GMO) cotton variety, which produces an insecticide to bollworm.
2. Bt cotton is created by using some strains of a bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt in short form)
3. This bacterium produces proteins that kill certain insects such as lepidopterans (tobacco bud worm, army worm), coleopterans(beetles) and dipterans (flys, mosquitoes)
4. Bt forms protein crystals during a particular phase of growth. These crystals contain a toxic insecticidal protein.
5. Bt toxin protein exist inactive protoxins, but once an insect ingests the inactive toxin, it is converted into an active form of toxin due to alkaline pH of the gut which solublise the crystals.
6. Most Bt toxins are insect ‘group specific. Hence, the toxin is coded by a gene named ‘Cry’. For example, the protein encoded by the genes Cry I Ac and Cry II Ab control the cotton bollworms and Cry I Ab controls com borer.

(b) Pest-resistant plants: [TS MAR-19]

1. Pest-resistant plants are developed by using biotechnology processes.
2. A nematode parasite called ‘Meloidegyne incognita infects the roots of tobacco plant which reduces the production of tobacco.
3. To prevent the infestation, a process called RNA interference (RNAi) was adopted .
4. RNAi is a method of cellular defense, which prevents a specific mRNA to translate (silencing)
5. Using Agrobacterium vectors, nematode-specific genes were introduced into the host (Tobacco) plant.
6. Now this host plant is a transgenic plant.
7. With the introduction of DNA, both sense and antisense RNAs were produced in the host cells.
8. These two RNAs are complementary to each other and formed a double-stranded RNA
9. It initiated RNAi and silenced the specific m RNA to translate.
10. Under these circumstances, the parasite could not survive in a transgenic plant.
11. Therefore the transgenic plant got protected from the parasite.

Question 4.
Write notes on the green revolution and gene revolution.
Answer:
Green Revolution: The improvement of agricultural production through conventional and non-conventional breeding methods, better agricultural practices, chemical fertilizers and pesticides, improved irrigation facilities, land reforms etc. is termed as green revolution. Norman Borlaug Father of green revolution. Dr. M.S.Swaminathan Father of green revolution in India.

Gene Revolution: It is an application of biotechnology to increase food production by reducing use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. It provides farmers with

1. Enhances the nutritional value of food.
2. Diseases free planting material
3. Crops more tolerant to abiotic stresses (cold, salt, heat, drought)
4. Reduced chemical pesticides & insecticides.
5. Avoid post-harvest losses.
6. Tools and vaccines to control animal diseases.
7. Increased efficiency of mineral usage of plants (claims soil fertility)
8. Creates new varieties.

Long Answer Questions

Question 1.
Give an account of biotechnological applications in agriculture and other fields.
Answer:
In agriculture biotechnology mainly involves the following three aspects.

1. Agrochemical-based agriculture
2. Organic agriculture
3. Genetically engineered crop based agriculture.

Genetically modified organisms:
1) GMO is used to produce high-yielding disease-resistant varieties and genetic modification etc.

1. made crops more tolerant to abiotic stresses (cold, drought), salt, heat)
2. reduced reliance on chemical pesticides (pest-resistant crops) Ex: Bt cotton
3. helped to reduce post harvest losses.
4. increased efficiency of mineral uage by plants (this prevents early exhaustion of fertility of soil)
5. enhanced nutritional value of food Ex: Vitamin A enriched rice.

Beneficial aspects of transgenic plants:
a) Transgenic crop plants having resistance, to pathogens and pests:

1. Transgenic papaya is resistant to papaya ring spot virus.
2. Bt cotton is resistant to insects.
3. Transgenic tomato plants are resistant to the bacterial pathogen pseudomonas.
4. Transgenic potato plants are resistant to the fungus phytophthora.

b) Transgenic plants suitable for food processing technology:

• Transgenic tomato “Flavr Savr” is bruise resistant i.e., suitable for storage and transport due to delayed ripening.

c) Transgenic plants with improved nutritional value:

• Transgenic golden rice obtained from “Taipei” is rich in vitamin A and prevents blindness.

d) Transgenic plants used for hybrid seed production:

• Male sterile plants of Brassica napus are produced. This will eliminate the problem of manual emasculation and reduce the cost of hybrid seed production.

e) Transgenic plants tolerant to abiotic stresses caused by chemicals, cold, drought,
salt, heat etc: :

• Basmati variety of rice was made resistant against biotic and abiotic stresses.
  • Round up ready soyabean is herbicide tolerant.

(a) Bt cotton:

1. Bt cotton is a genetically modified organism (GMO) cotton variety, which produces an insecticide to bollworm.
2. Bt cotton is created by using some strains of a bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt in short form)
3. This bacterium produces proteins that kill certain insects such as lepidopterans (tobacco bud worm, army worm), coleopterans(beetles) and dipterans (flys, mosquitoes)
4. Most Bt toxins are insect group specific. Hence, the toxin is coded by a gene named ‘Cry’. For example, the protein encoded by the genes Cry I Ac and Cry II Ab control the cotton bollworms and Cry I Ab controls com borer.

(b) Pest resistant plants:

1. Pest resistant plants are developed by using biotechnology processes.
2. A nematode parasite called ‘Meloidegyne incognitia’ infects the roots of tobacco plant which reduces the production of tobacco.
3. To prevent the infestation, a process called RNA interference (RNAi) was adopted.
4. Therefore the transgenic plant got protected from the parasite.

Green Revolution: The improvement of agricultural production through conventional and non-conventional breeding methods, better agricultural practices, chemical fertilizers and pesticides, improved irrigation facilities, land reforms etc. is termed as green revolution. Norman Borlaug Father of green revolution. Dr. M.S.Swaminathan Father of green revolution in India.

Gene Revolution: It is an application of biotechnology to increase food production by reducing use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. It provides farmers with

1. Enhances the nutritional value of food.
2. Diseases free planting material
3. Crops more tolerant to abiotic stresses (cold, salt, heat, drought)
4. Reduced chemical pesticides & insecticides.
5. Avoid post harvest losses.
6. Tools and vaccines to control animal diseases.
7. Increased efficiency of mineral usage of plants (claims soil fertility)
8. Creates new varieties.

Other: Human insulin is subtracted from pancres of cattle and ppigs by genetic engineering method. Its availability is a sufficient and reasonable price.

Gene therapy: It is used for hereditary diseases. Genes are inserted into a person’s cells and tissues to treat a disease.

1. Molecular Diagnosis: It is an effective treatment for early diagnosis and diseases.
2. Using conventional methods of diagnosis (serum and urine analysis etc). Early detection is not possible
3. PCR (Polymerase chain reaction) used to detect HIV in suspected AIDS patients.
4. (ELISA) Enzyme lined immunor sorbent Assay is based on the principle of antigen-antibody interaction to detect the presence of antigens (or) by detecting the antibodies synthesized against the pathogen.

Crystals of Bt toxin produced by some bacteria do not kill the bacteria themselves because
(a) bacteria are resistant to the toxin
(b) toxin is immature
(c) toxin is inactive
(d) bacteria encloses toxin in a special sac.’

• Toxin is inactive
• The Bt toxin proteins exists as inactive protoxins but once an insect ingests the inactive toxins it is converted into an active form of toxin due to alkaline pH of the gut.

Question 2.
What are transgenic bacteria? Illustrate using any one example.
Answer:

1. Transgenic bacteria is an organism into which a desired gene is intentionally introduced into its gene.
2. Now the transgenic bacteria is manipulated for the production of commercially important products.
3. E.coli is a typical example of transgenic bacteria.
4. An American Company prepared two DNA sequences corresponding to A and B chains of human insulin and introduced them into plasmids of E.coli to produce insulin chains.
5. Chains of A and B were produced separately, extracted and combined by creating disulfide bonds to form human insulin.
6. The possibility of production through novel method helped to have continuous supply of insutin and stabilization of its market price.

Question 3.
Compare and contrast the advantages and disadvantages of production of genetically modified crops.
Answer:
Advantages of GM Crops:

• Production of high-yielding and disease-resistant varieties.
• Made crops more tolerant to abiotic stresses (cold, drought)
• Pest-resistant crops are produced. Ex: Bt cotton.’
• Helped to reduce post-harvest loss.
• Increased efficiency of mineral usage by plants.
• Enhanced nutritional value of food. Ex: Vit A enriched rice.

Disadvantages of GM Crops:

• There is a fear of transferring allergens or toxins to humans as side effects.
• There is a risk of changing the fundamental nature of vegetables.
• They may pose a harmful effect on biodiversity and have an adverse impact an environment.
• There is a risk of gene pollution due to transfer of the new genes into related wild species through natural outcrossing.
• They may bring about changes in natural evolutionary pattern.

Question 4.
What are Cry proteins? Name an organism that produces it. How has man exploited this protein to his benefit?
Answer:
The bacterium called Bacillus thuringiensis produces a protein called Bt toxin. It exists as an inactive protoxin. It is coded by a gene called “Cry gene”. When an insect ingests this inactive protein, it is converted into active form due to the alkaline pH of the gut which solubilises the crystals. The activated toxin binds to the surface of the midgut epithelial cells and creates pores that cause cell swelling and lysis and eventually cause the death of the insect. Therefore man has exploited this protein to develop certain transgenic crops with insect resistance such as 3t cotton, Bt com etc.

Question 5.
List the advantages of recombinant insulin.
Answer:

1. The structure of synthesized human insulin is absolutely identical to that of the natural molecule.
2. It helped to have continuous supply of insulin and stabilisation of its market price.

Question 6.
What is meant by the term biopesticide? Name and explain the mode of action of a popular biopesticide.
Answer:

• Biopesticides are the transgenic plants that are having resistance to insects.
• For eg: Bt cotton is created by using a strain of bacterium called Bacillus thuringiensis.
• Bt toxin proteins exists as inactive protoxins, but once an insect ingests the inactive toxin, it is converted into active form due to alkaline pH of the gut which solubilises the crystals.
• The active toxin binds to the surface of mid gut epithelial cells and create pores that cause cell sw elling and lysis and eventually cause the death of the insect.

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1.
An Application of biotechnology used in agriculture, is
1) Chemical fertilizers
2) Developing a DNA vaccine
3) Pest-resistant plants
4) Correcting a defective gene
Answer:
3) Pest-resistant plants

Question 2.
A nematode parasite Meloidegvne caused a gyeat reduction in the yield of
1) Potato
2) Rice
3) Cotton
4) Tobacco
Answer:
4) Tobacco

Question 3.
The mobile genetic elements are called as
1) Vectors
2) Plasmids
3) Transposons
4) Cosmids
Answer:
3) Transposons

Question 4.
Bacteria are used to produce human insulin chains?
1) Agrobacterium tumifaciens
2) Escherichia coli
3) Salmonella typhimurium
4) Bacillus typhimurium
Answer:
2) Escherichia coli

Question 5.
‘T’-DNA is associated with
1) Retrovirus
2) Bacteriophage
3) Bacterium
4) Fungi
Answer:
3) Bacterium

Question 6.
Transgenic golden rice with enhanced nutritional value obtained from
1) Taipei
2) Jaya
3) Ratna
4) Basmati
Answer:
1) Taipei

Question 7.
Gene transfer between unrelated organisms is done by
1) Hybridization
2) Mutation breeding
3) r-DNA technology
4) t-RNA technology
Answer:
3) r-DNA technology

Question 8.
The term ’Cry’ refers to
1) Antibiotic
2) Antigen
3) Antibody
4) Agene
Answer:
4) Agene

Question 9.
Human insulin is chemically composed of
1) two chains
2) three chains
3) four chains
4) five chains
Answer:
1) two chains

Question 10.
Pokmerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method causes amplification of
1) The proteins of pathogen
2) Enzymes of the pathogen.
3) Nucleic acid of the pathogen
4) Protoplasm of the pathogen
Answer:
3) Nucleic acid of the pathogen

Question 11.
A transgenic plant is created by
1) Gene transfer
2) Chromosome. duplication.
3) Chromosome delition
4) Chromosome insertion
Answer:
1) Gene transfer

Question 12.
The transgenic golden rice is rich n
1) Vitamin A
2) Vitamin B-complex
3) Vitamin C
4) Vitarnin D
Answer:
1) Vitamin A

Question 13.
The number of Basmati varieties of Rice grown in ln(Iía arc
1) 25
2) 27
3) 52
4) 35
Answer:
2) 27

Question 14.
“Bt” toxin is produced from
1) Bacillus vulgaris
2) Bacillus ramosus
3) Bacillus thuringiensis
4) All the above
Answer:
3) Bacillus thuringiensis

Question 15.
Bacillus thuringiensis produces toxins that kill
1) Lepidopterans
2) Coleopterans
3) Dipterans
4) All the above
Answer:
4) All the above

Question 16.
Toxin of Bacillus thuringiensis is activated in the gut of insect due to
1) Alkaline pH
2) Acidic pH
3) Saliva of insect
4) Basic pH
Answer:
1) Alkaline pH

Question 17.
First genetically modified plant commercially released in India is
1) Golden rice
2) Bt-Cotton
3) Bt-Brinjal
4) Slow ripening tomato
Answer:
2) Bt-Cotton

Question 18.
The bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis is widely used in contemporary biology as
1) Bio insecticide
2) Agent for production of dairy products
3) Source of industrial enzyme
4) Indicator of water pollution
Answer:
1) Bio insecticide

Question 19.
Vectors of which bacterium are used to introduce insect specific genes
1) Bacillus thuringiensis
2) Bacillus vulgans
3) Agrobacterium tumefaciens
4) Any of the above
Answer:
3) Agrobacterium tumefaciens

Question 20.
Activated Bt toxin binds to surface of
1) Lebrum
2) Midgut of epithelial cells
3) Hypopharynx
4) Mandible
Answer:
2) Midgut of epithelial cells

Question 21.
The process which takes place in all eukaryotic organisms as a method of cellular defence is
1) RNA interference
2) RNA translation
3) RNA transcription
4) RNA Replication
Answer:
1) RNA interference

Question 22.
Nematode specific genes can be introduced in the host by using
1) Agrobacterium vectors
2) Bacillus thuringiensis
3) Mycobacterium vectors
4) Rhodopseudomonas
Answer:
1) Agrobacterium vectors

Question 23.
Human insulin is now prepared in large scale by using bacteria called as
1) Acetobacter
2) Beggiota
3) Salmonella
4) E. coli
Answer:
4) E. coli

Question 24.
Human insulin ‘A & B’ chains extracted from Ecoli are combined by creating
1) Di peptide bonds
2) Di sulfide bonds
3) Di hydrogen bonds
4) Di nitrogen bonds
Answer:
2) Di sulfide bonds

Question 25.
Identify the mismatch
1) Cry IAb – Toxin producing gene
2) RNAi – Method of cellular affense in prokaryotes
3) PCR – Technique of gene amplification
4) Bt. Cotton – Genetical modified crop plant
Answer:
2) RNAi – Method of cellular affense in prokaryotes

Question 26.
Gene therapy involves
1) Introduction of a normal gene in cell
2) Treatment of defective genes with radiation
3) Eliminating defective and useless genes
4) Replacement of defective genes by normal one
Answer:
4) Replacement of defective genes by normal one

Question 27.
Identify the mismatch
1) ELISA-method of diagnosis
2) RNA i- Type of nucleic acid
3) INSULIN-kind of hormone
4) Elilily-an American company
Answer:
2) RNA i- Type of nucleic acid

Question 28.
RNA interference technique is successfully used in agriculture for controlling
1) Insect diseases on crop plants
2) Crop plant viral diseases
3) Meloidogyneincognitia population around tobacco plants.
4) Root knot disease of Tobacco caused by a nematode.
Answer:
3) Meloidogyneincognitia population around tobacco plants.

Question 29.
The inactive protoxin produced by Bacillus thuringiensis becomes active in
1) Neutral pH of insect gut
2) Alkaline pH of the insect mouth
3) Acidic pH of insect gut
4) Alkaline pH of insect gut
Answer:
4) Alkaline pH of insect gut

Question 30.
a and p chains of human insulin, collected from genetically engineered E.coli cells are combined to form active human insulin by creating between them
1) Weak‘H’-bonds
2) Disulphide bonds
3) Phospho-ester bonds
4) Diphosphate bonds
Answer:
2) Disulphide bonds

Question 31.
The Tumour inducing capacity of Agrobacterium tumefaciens is located in large extra- chromosomal plasmids called
1) Ri plasmid
2) Lambda phage
3) pBR322
4) Ti-Plasmid
Answer:
4) Ti-Plasmid

Question 32.
Which body of the Government of India regulates GM research and safety of introducing GM organisms for public services?
1) Research Committee on Genetic Manipulation
2) Bio-safety committee
3) Indian Council of Agricultural Research
4) Genetic Engineering Approval Committee
Answer:
4) Genetic Engineering Approval Committee

Question 33.
Identify the mismatch
1) Coleopterans – beetles
2) Lepidopterans – mosquitoes
3) Dipterans – flies
4) Lepidopterans – army worm
Answer:
2) Lepidopterans – mosquitoes

Question 34.
What triggers activation of protoxin to active toxin of Bacillus thuringiensis in bollworm?
1) Acidic pH of stomach
2) Body temperature
3) Moist surface of midgut
4) Alkaline pH of gut
Answer:
4) Alkaline pH of gut

Question 35.
When gene targeting involving gene amplification is attempted in an individual’s tissue to treat disease, it is known as
1) safety testing
2) biopiracy
3) gene therapy
4) molecular diagnosis
Answer:
3) gene therapy