NCERT Class 12 Biology Biology: Chapter 10 — BIOTECHNOLOGY AND ITS APPLICATIONS
Chapter 10 of the NCERT Class 12 Biology textbook, "Biotechnology and Its Applications," explores the significant uses of biotechnology. It details applications in agriculture, such as genetically engineered crops to increase food production beyond the Green Revolution's success, and in medicine, including therapeutics and diagnostics. The chapter introduces concepts like micro-propagation for rapid plant multiplication and the recovery of virus-free plants through meristem culture. It also touches upon the creation of somatic hybrids by fusing protoplasts from different plant varieties. The text emphasizes how these biotechnological advancements aim to improve human life, particularly in food security and health, while also acknowledging ethical considerations and the need for further research in areas like transgenic animals.
Quick info
| Board | CBSE / NCERT |
|---|---|
| Class | Class 12 |
| Subject | Biology |
| Book | Biology |
| Chapter | Chapter 10 — BIOTECHNOLOGY AND ITS APPLICATIONS |
| Language | English |
| PDF type | NCERT Textbook |
| Session | CBSE 2026 |
| Reading time | 3 minutes |
| Word count | 593 |
Learning outcomes
- Understand the industrial-scale production of biopharmaceuticals using biotechnology.
- Identify key research areas in biotechnology, including agriculture and medicine.
- Explain the concept and application of micro-propagation for plant multiplication.
- Describe methods for obtaining virus-free plants and creating somatic hybrids.
- Recognize the importance of biotechnology in improving food production and human health.
Vocabulary
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Biotechnology | The use of living systems and organisms to develop or make products, or any technological application that uses biological systems and living organisms. |
| Genetically modified | An organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. |
| Biopharmaceuticals | Pharmaceutical products derived from biological sources. |
| Agrochemicals | Chemicals used in agriculture, such as fertilizers and pesticides. |
| Tissue culture | The growth of tissues or cells in an artificial medium separate from the parent organism. |
| Totipotency | The ability of a single cell to divide and produce an entire organism. |
| Micro-propagation | The practice of rapidly multiplying plant material to produce a large number of progeny plants, using modern plant tissue culture methods. |
| Somaclones | Plants produced from tissue culture that are genetically identical to the parent plant. |
| Meristem | A region of plant tissue, found chiefly at the growing tips of roots and shoots and in the cambium, consisting of actively dividing cells forming new tissue. |
| Protoplasts | Plant cells from which the cell wall has been removed. |
| Somatic hybrids | A hybrid cell resulting from the fusion of two somatic cells from different individuals or species. |
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Practice questions
- What are the three options for increasing food production mentioned in the chapter? Answer: Agro-chemical based agriculture, organic agriculture, and genetically engineered crop-based agriculture.
- What is totipotency in plants? Answer: Totipotency is the capacity to generate a whole plant from any cell or explant.
- What is micro-propagation? Answer: Micro-propagation is the method of producing thousands of plants through tissue culture in a short duration.
- How can virus-free plants be obtained using meristem culture? Answer: The meristem, which is free of virus even in infected plants, is cultured in vitro to obtain virus-free plants.
- What are somatic hybrids? Answer: Somatic hybrids are new plants formed by fusing protoplasts from two different varieties of plants, each having a desirable character.
Practice MCQs
Q1. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a critical research area of biotechnology?
Explanation: The text lists therapeutics, diagnostics, genetically modified crops, processed food, bioremediation, waste treatment, and energy production as applications. Transgenic animals are mentioned later as a research area but not in the initial list of critical areas.
Q2. The Green Revolution primarily succeeded due to:
Explanation: The chapter states that increased yields were partly due to improved crop varieties and mainly due to better management practices and agrochemicals. However, it also notes that conventional breeding and agrochemicals have limitations.
Q3. What is the term for the ability of a single plant cell to regenerate into a whole plant?
Explanation: Totipotency is defined in the text as the capacity to generate a whole plant from any cell or explant.
Q4. Micro-propagation is a method for:
Explanation: The chapter explains that micro-propagation is the method of producing thousands of plants through tissue culture in very short durations.
Q5. Plants produced through tissue culture, which are genetically identical to the original plant, are called:
Explanation: The text states that plants produced through tissue culture are genetically identical to the original plant and are called somaclones.
Q6. Which part of a plant is often used to obtain virus-free plants through in vitro culture?
Explanation: The chapter mentions that the meristem (apical and axillary) is free of virus, making it suitable for culturing to obtain virus-free plants.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main goal of biotechnology applications in agriculture?
The main goal is to increase food production efficiently, improve crop quality, and develop resistance to pests and diseases, especially when traditional methods are insufficient.
How does tissue culture help in agriculture?
Tissue culture allows for rapid multiplication of plants (micro-propagation), production of disease-free plants, and can be a step towards creating somatic hybrids with desirable traits.
What is the significance of totipotency?
Totipotency is the fundamental principle behind tissue culture, enabling scientists to regenerate an entire plant from a single cell or a small piece of plant tissue.
Can biotechnology help recover plants from diseases?
Yes, meristem culture, a technique within biotechnology, can be used to obtain virus-free plants even if the parent plant is infected.
What are somaclones?
Somaclones are plants that are produced through tissue culture and are genetically identical to the parent plant from which they were derived.
What is the difference between conventional breeding and genetically engineered crops?
Conventional breeding involves crossing plants using traditional methods, while genetically engineered crops involve direct manipulation of the plant's DNA using biotechnology to introduce specific traits.
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NCERT Class 12 Biology — Biology — Chapter 10 — BIOTECHNOLOGY AND ITS APPLICATIONS. Verified by NCERT Help Editorial Team. Reviewed on 29 Jul 2026. Last updated 10 Aug 2026.