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Here is a compilation of term papers on ‘Biotechnology’ for class 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. Find paragraphs, long and short term papers on ‘Biotechnology’ especially written for school and college students.
Term Paper on Biotechnology
Term Paper Contents:
- Term Paper on the Definition of Biotechnology
- Term Paper on the Branches of Biotechnology
- Term Paper on the Principles of Biotechnology
- Term Paper on Techniques Used in Biotechnology
- Term Paper on the Applications of Biotechnology
- Term Paper on the Ethical Issues of Biotechnology
Term Paper # 1. Definition of Biotechnology:
Biotechnology can be defined as the use of biological organisms (such as viruses, prokaryotes and eukaryotes) or their components (such as systems and processes) to generate products and services useful to human beings.
Examples of products are alcohol in the brewing industry and newer products such as human insulin from genetically engineered bacteria. Examples of services are treatment of sewage or detection of pollution using a biosensor. Here, the process rather than end-product is important.
Biotechnology does not include the use of complete animals and plants. This is mainly because exploitation of whole plants and animals is the subject of already well- established disciplines of agriculture, horticulture and animal husbandry.
Some Standard Definitions of Biotechnology:
i. Biotechnology is “the science of applied biological process”.
ii. Biotechnology is the application of scientific and engineering principles to the processing of materials by biological agents to provide goods and service.
iii. Application of biological organisms, systems or processes to manufacturing and service industries.
iv. The integrated use of biochemistry, microbiology and engineering sciences in order to achieve technological (industrial) application of the capabilities of microorganisms, cultured tissue cells and parts thereof.
v. “A technology using biological phenomena for copying and manufacturing various kinds of useful substances”.
vi. The application of biochemistry, biology, microbiology and chemical engineering to industrial processes and products and/or environment’.
vii. “The controlled use of biological agents, such as microorganisms or cellular components for beneficial use”.
Lastly, in the definition given by OECD, “scientific and engineering principles” refer to microbiology, genetics, biochemistry, etc., and “biological agents” mean microorganisms, enzymes, and plant and animal cells. The meanings of all these definitions of biotechnology which are given by different organizations of world are more or less similar.
Term Paper # 2. Branches of Biotechnology:
Biotechnology has various different branches. To separate them, they are denoted by different terms and different colors.
This is to clarify the biotechnological field that it is used in:
i. Red Biotech:
It is applied to medical processes. Some examples are the designing of organisms to produce antibiotics. The engineering of genetic cures through genomic manipulation.
ii. White/Grey Biotech:
It is applied to industrial processes. An example is designing of an organism to produce a useful chemical.
iii. Green Biotech:
It is applied to agricultural processes. An example is designing of transgenic plants to grow under specific environmental conditions or in the presence (or absence) of certain agricultural chemicals.
iv. Blue Biotech:
It is used to describe the marine and aquatic applications of biotechnology, but its use is relatively rare.
Some of the branches of biotechnology are:
i. Microbial biotechnology is defined as any technological application that uses microbiological systems, microbial organisms, or it derivatives, to make or modify products or processes for specific use.
ii. Agricultural biotechnology is a collection of scientific techniques used to improve plants, animals and microorganisms. Based on an understanding of DNA, scientists have developed solutions to increase agricultural productivity.
iii. Animal biotechnology is a branch of biotechnology which involves techniques that are used for genetically changing the genomes of animals in a way that helps their suitability for pharmaceutical, agricultural or industrial applications.
Term Paper # 3. Principles of Biotechnology:
The science of biotechnology is based on following two main technologies:
i. Genetic Engineering:
The genes are manipulated by man. It is artificial synthesis, isolation, modification, combination, addition repair of genetic material to alter the phenol type of host organism for human needs.
ii. Biochemical Engineering:
It is used for growth of desired microbe or eukaryotic cell in large quantities. The process is sterile for having a microbe free medium and multiplication of biotechnological product.
There is a new technique, known as recombinant DNA technology, which uses living organisms or their components to improve human health, produce GMO, and produce beneficial materials.
Term Paper # 4. Techniques Used in Biotechnology:
Below is a brief description of few techniques that are used in Biotechnology.
i. Genetic Engineering:
Genetic engineering is a boon to heath care.
The defected genes in the DNA are replaced using treatments like Ex-Vivo culture (from an outside body) or In-Vivo culture (inside the body) by Gene therapy.
Gene splicing is a tool of genetic engineering which allows scientists to transfer gene from one organism to another. This alteration of genetic make-up of organism led to the development of recombinant DNA, which proved a milestone for production of insulin needed for type-2 diabetes. Some genes of human insulin are transferred to E-coli bacteria, from which further production of insulin is achieved.
ii. Cloning:
Cloning is another technique used in the study of pharmaceuticals, genetics. We all know about “Dolly”, the sheep, which was the first successful clone of a complete organism. In this technique, a nucleus is removed from one cell of one organism and is placed inside an unfertilized egg of another organism outside the body. The egg is then inserted and allowed to grow in the organism called surrogate identical to the donor of the original nucleus.
iii. Stem Cell Therapy:
Stem cells have the potential to develop into many different cell types in the body during early life and growth. They are found in adipose tissue, blood and bone marrow. Along with this, stem cells help in internal repairing, divide themselves to replace other cells that have damaged or injured.
All these functions of stem cells are lifelong till person’s death. The new stem cell after division has the ability to differentiate into any cell and merge with that specific organ for its functions. If the cell does not differentiates, it may remain as stem cell and divide further to give another stem cell.
iv. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR):
The polymerase chain reaction can be used to make many copies of small pieces of DNA. Because techniques in biotechnology usually require many copies of genes, PCR has allowed much of the biotechnology development that we have seen in recent years. It is useful in forensic science. It is used to study the entire genome structure, proteins, etc.
v. Cell Transfer Therapy:
In this therapy new cells can be inserted in place of damaged ones to treat the injury. The self-renewal property allows the generation of tissues to replace tissues in affected areas.
vi. Plant Tissue Culture:
It is a technique that allows whole plants to be produced from minute amounts of plant parts like the roots, leaves or stems or even just a single plant cell under laboratory conditions (in vitro). It also allows the plant to preserve the genetic resources.
The technique thus allows the production of clean, disease-free planting material and that too at a rapid pace. New desired qualities can be incorporated in the DNA which helps give new improved varieties of plants. For example, Bt. Cotton is pest resistant; fruits are without seeds, Pomato, which is tomato and potato in a single plant.
vii. Plant Genetic Engineering:
The technique of selective, deliberate transfer of genes to produce new improved crops has made it possible to grow genetically engineered crops for enhanced features as in cotton, sweet potato, etc.
Term Paper # 5. Applications of Biotechnology:
Biotechnology has many applications. It includes therapeutics, diagnostics, and genetically modified crops for agriculture, processed food, bioremediation, waste treatment, and energy production.
I. Biotechnology is a boon for agriculture. GM (Genetically Modified) plants have been useful in many ways:
i. Made crops more tolerant to cold, heat, drought, salt.
ii. Developed pest-resistant crops, reducing the usage of pesticides and chemicals, and in-turn reducing the pollution and harmful advent, for example Bt. Cotton.
iii. Increased nutritional value of food, for example vitamin A rich golden rice.
iv. Improved crop yield (quantity and quality).
II. There is a huge development in the field of medicine.
i. Bio-farming – production of pharmaceuticals in cultured organisms.
ii. Certain blood – derived products needed in human medicine can be produced in the milk of goats.
iii. Many vaccines are developed using biotechnology. A vaccine for hepatitis B is now produced using biotechnology. Vaccines for chlamydia, malaria and HIV are being developed.
iv. Many techniques like genetic engineering, gene therapy, and molecular diagnosis help diagnose and cure diseases soon.
v. Hormones useful to humans are also produced in vectors and used for therapies.
III. Biotechnology is used to solve many environmental issues:
i. Bacteria are being developed to do a better job at breaking down oil. These may be useful to help clean up oil spills.
ii. Bacteria have been developed that are capable of removing some kinds of toxins from the air and water.
iii. Bacteria have been engineered to extract metals from low-grade ore (bioleaching). This technique is currently being tested.
iv. A weed has been designed to produce a biodegradable plastic called polyhydroxy butyrate (PHB).
Term Paper # 6. Ethical Issues of Biotechnology:
Certain acts are regulated by communities to consider their ligitimacy.
Such regulations are called ethics.
Some ethical issues are as under:
I. Biopatent:
Government grants the patent to certain inventors as permission to use invention for commercial purpose.
Patent is given to:
(i) For producing new product or invention.
(ii) Modified and improved earlier invention.
(iii) Technical knowhow.
(iv) New designing concept.
Biopatents are being granted by the Government for biological entities and products derived from them. Countries like USA, Japan, members of European Union are granting biopatents.
Biopatents are given to:
(i) For discovery of new strains of microorganisms.
(ii) Transgenic (genetically modified) plants and animals.
(iii) Discovery of cell lines.
(iv) New biotechnological methods.
(v) Unearthing the DNA sequences.
(vi) Proteins formed by various DNA sequences.
(vii) Formation of new products.
(viii) New production techniques.
(ix) For product applications.
Biopatents help in economic growth for individual involved and country concerned. Biopatents are being done due to their ethical and political values also.
Biopatents sometimes become ‘absurd’ and problem causing if they are done in broad sense e.g., a biopatent of ‘All transgenic plants of Brassica family will provide monopoly to few powerful corporates only. This type of biopatent is normally unacceptable and may effect the research in the fields like plant breeding and agriculture.
II. Bioethics:
Certain acts are regulated by communities to consider their legitimacy. Such regulation is called ethics. Bioethics include standards followed by us to regulate the activities linked with biological activities. Unexpected methods are being adopted in the fields of biology like recombinant DNA technology and pharmaceutical studies.
Bioethical concerns related to biotechnology are:
(i) For the production of pharmaceutical products like proteins many animals are reduced to the status of factory.
(ii) Animals undergo great physical sufferings while performing experiments on them.
(iii) There is violation of ‘integrity of species’ due to transferring of a transgene from one species to another.
(iv) ‘Concept of humanness’ is diluted due to introduction of human genes to various animals or vice- versa.
(v) Biotechnological studies have been considered as mere exploitation of living beings.
(vi) Biodiversity may be affected due to biotechnological experiments, thus posing a threat to environment.
Validity of above concerns should be evaluated by each community and to take the impartial decision that whether these activities should be carried or not?
III. Biopiracy:
Pirates in general terms were blood thirsty. They stole and killed others to enrich themselves. The biopirates are slightly different. They do not kill, they patent. They are completely protected by law. As a result, no body hunts them. Such practices are being employed by corporations and different Governments. Scientists go and collect various genetic materials like seed etc., from country like India or Amazon.
Biological resources or bioresources include the organisms which are used to derive commercial benefits.
Example:
For thousands of years neem is being used in India for killing pests and as medicine. One of the American companies patented neem. As a result, anybody using neem will have to pay for it. This was called as legalised theft. Biopiracy permits the piracy of gene resources and knowledge from non-western countries. Such piracy was claimed by them as invention.
This means, that once free heritage of seeds or knowledge can be protected by patent. It is a type of legalised stealing. Patents (basic meaning intellectual property rights or IPRs) were freely shared between everybody who required them. But after getting a patent, one will have to buy it to use it legally. Even those communities will have to pay for it, who had learned it, as it was passed down through each generation.
Traditional knowledge of bioresources used by communities residing in remote areas is being exploited to develop modern commercial methods. For example, use of herbs etc., as drugs.
Mae-Wan Ho biologist from Open University, UK (1999) is of the view that transgenic agriculture is needed to feed the world. The tightening of corporate monopoly on food by patenting the seeds may cause famine. It also diverts the various countries to successful implementation of sustainable, organic agriculture which can ensure food security and better health for all.
Gurdial Nijar presented his views at Superior court in Brasiha (1998) by saying that indigenous knowledge has fed, clothed and healed the world for millinea. The concept of patenting is unethical for third world.
It denies the cumulative innovative genius of farmers over the several generations.
Some Interesting Aspects of Biopiracy:
i. Adalberto Antonio, Judge of State of Amazoans points out that Harry Wickham took about 70,000 seeds on behalf of Kew Gardens, Britain. This only act plunged the State of Amazoans in to starvation for years altogether.
ii. American countries are also opposing the new patents on life and to commercialisation of science.
iii. Several scientist have called for various Governments to improve a moratorium on global releases of transgenic crops and to ban patents on living organisms.