What is agriculture biotechnology? Explain its methods. Add a note on bioethical principles.
Answers
Application of Biotechnology in Agriculture involves scientific techniques such as Genetically Modified Organisms, Bt Cotton, Pest Resistant Plants. It helps in modifying plants, animals, and microorganisms and improve their agricultural productivity. Techniques like vaccines, tissue culture, genetic engineering are also used.You must have heard the term ‘GMO’ used by people around you or in the news every now and then. What does this mean? GMO stands for ‘Genetically modified Organisms’. GMOs are plants, animals, bacteria or fungi whose genes have been modified by genetic manipulation. Genetically modified crops or GM crops are used in the following ways:
They are more tolerant to stresses such as drought, cold, heat etc.
They are pest-resistant and therefore less dependent on chemical pesticides.
Genetically Modified crops help to reduce post-harvest losses.
They help to increase the mineral usage by plants, thereby preventing early exhaustion of soil fertility.
Genetically Modified crops have enhanced nutritional value. Example – Vitamin A enriched rice.
Genetic modifications also help to create tailor-made plants to provide alternative resources to industries, such as fuels, starches, and pharmaceuticals. Let’s look at some examples of GM crops and how they are useful.
Genetic engineering has produced improved strains of crops by improving genotype of crop plants and other important trees..
- herbicide resistant against weeds
- insect pest resistant
- resistant to drought
- resistant to frost
Principles of biotechnology
Modern biotech has two main techniques as the principles ..
(1) Generic Engineering or recombinant dna technology
(2) Biochemical engineering process
hope this helps yah (: