24 Genetics and Society

NIOS Biology Intext Solutions Chapter 24

INTEXT QUESTIONS 24.1

1. Name any two recent techniques in genetics.

Ans: Genetic engineering or recombinant DNA technology, gene cloning, and DNA fingerprinting (any two).

2. Define gene cloning.

Ans: A technique of producing many identical copies of a particular gene.

3. What is a gene bank?

Ans: A collection of all the genes of any human or genes of any other organisms in various clones of bacteria.

INTEXT QUESTIONS 24.2

1. What is the popular term for recombinant DNA technology?

Ans: Genetic engineering.

2. What is meant by DNA splicing?

Ans: Joining of two pieces of DNA belonging to different species.

3. What is a plasmid, and why is it called a vector for genetic engineering?

Ans: A Plasmid is a separate circular piece of DNA found in bacteria. It is used to carry the desired gene from a particular organism into bacteria.

INTEXT QUESTIONS 24.3

1. Use the example of Bt crops to state importance of transgenic crops.

Ans: Transgenic crops like Bt crops reduce the need for the use of insecticides, which are toxic to humans and other animals.

2. What is a cry protein?

Ans: Cry protein is an insecticidal (insect-killing) protein produced by Bt crops. The Cry protein produced by Bt crop causes toxicity or poisoning when it enters the pest’s stomach, killing the pest

3. Exploiting a biological resource of another country without being authorised is called. 

Ans: Biopiracy

4. When and why was the Biopatent Act adopted in India?

Ans: 1970

5. What is the duration of a patent for pharmaceutical products in India?

Ans: 20 years

INTEXT QUESTIONS 24.4

1. Define genome.

Ans: A collective term for the full set of genes of an organism.

2. What is genomics?

Ans: The Science of the analysis of genes in the DNA of an organism, relating each gene to its function.

3. What is the use of genomics?

Ans: Helps to identify defective genes so that correction may be possible by gene therapy.

4. Why should a genetic counsellor have good knowledge of genetics?

Ans: Because the counsellor has to advise regarding the possibility of genetic disorders in the next generation.

5. Expand the abbreviation PCR.

Ans: Polymerase Chain Reaction

6. Why is the technique DNA fingerprinting named so?

Ans: DNA fingerprinting is named so because this technique can distinguish the DNA of a person from that of another.

Additional Study Materials

• Chapter 19 Reproduction in Plants
• Chapter 20 Growth and Development in Plants
• Chapter 21 Reproduction and Population Control
• Chapter 22 Principles of Genetics
• Chapter 23 Molecular Inheritance and Gene Expression