Grade 10 Q&A: Chapter 18: Cell Biology and Biotechnology

Concept Questions

Q1: What is cell biology (cytology)?

Answer: Cell biology, also known as cytology, is the branch of biology that studies the structure, function, and behavior of cells. It explores cellular components, processes like cell division, and interactions between cells.

Q2: Define biotechnology.

Answer: Biotechnology is the application of scientific and engineering principles to the processing of materials by biological agents to provide goods and services. Essentially, it involves using living organisms or their products to create or modify products for specific uses.

Q3: What are stem cells?

Answer: Stem cells are special types of cells that have the unique ability to develop into many different cell types in the body. They serve as an internal repair system, dividing to produce more stem cells or differentiating into specialized cells like muscle cells, blood cells, or brain cells.

Q4: Name the two main types of stem cells.

Answer: The two main types of stem cells are embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells.

Q5: What is the primary use of stem cells in regenerative therapy?

Answer: The primary use of stem cells in regenerative therapy is to repair or replace damaged tissues and organs by stimulating the body's own repair mechanisms or by replacing diseased cells with healthy ones.

Q6: What is organ and body donation?

Answer: Organ and body donation is the process of donating organs, tissues, or the entire body after death for transplantation into patients in need or for scientific research and medical education.

Q7: What is a 'genetically modified crop'?

Answer: A genetically modified crop (GM crop) is a plant used in agriculture, the DNA of which has been modified using genetic engineering techniques to introduce new traits not naturally found in the species, such as pest resistance or enhanced nutritional value.

Q8: Give an example of a genetically modified crop mentioned in the chapter.

Answer: An example of a genetically modified crop mentioned is Bt Cotton (Bacillus thuringiensis cotton).

Q9: What is 'biofertilizer'?

Answer: Biofertilizers are substances containing living microorganisms which, when applied to seeds, plant surfaces, or soil, colonize the rhizosphere or the interior of the plant and promote growth by increasing the supply or availability of primary nutrients to the host plant.

Q10: What is 'artificial insemination' in animal husbandry?

Answer: Artificial insemination is a technique in animal husbandry where semen is collected from a male animal and manually introduced into the reproductive tract of a female animal for the purpose of conception, often to improve genetic traits in livestock.

Q11: What is 'gene therapy'?

Answer: Gene therapy is a medical approach that involves modifying a person's genes to treat or cure a disease. It typically involves introducing a new, healthy gene into a patient's cells to replace a faulty one or to provide a new function.

Q12: What is 'cloning'?

Answer: Cloning is the process of creating a genetically identical copy of a biological entity, such as a cell, tissue, or an entire organism. There are two main types: reproductive cloning (creating a new organism) and therapeutic cloning (creating tissues/cells for medical use).

Q13: What is 'DNA fingerprinting' and its application?

Answer: DNA fingerprinting is a technique used to identify individuals by characteristics of their DNA. Its application includes forensic investigations (identifying criminals), paternity testing, and identifying victims of disasters.

Application-Based Questions

Q14: How can biotechnology help in increasing food production?

Answer: Biotechnology can increase food production through genetically modified crops (e.g., pest-resistant, drought-tolerant varieties), biofertilizers that enhance soil fertility, and improved animal husbandry techniques like artificial insemination, leading to higher yields and healthier livestock.

Q15: Explain the concept of 'edible vaccines'.

Answer: Edible vaccines are genetically engineered plants (e.g., potatoes, bananas) that produce antigens of specific pathogens. When consumed, these plant-based vaccines trigger an immune response in the body, providing protection against the disease, offering a potentially cheaper and easier-to-administer alternative to traditional injectable vaccines.

Q16: Describe the benefits of 'bioremediation' in environmental management.

Answer: Bioremediation is the use of microorganisms (or other biological agents) to break down or remove pollutants from the environment. Benefits include cost-effectiveness, environmental friendliness (as it uses natural processes), and the ability to treat a wide range of contaminants like oil spills, industrial waste, and pesticides.

Q17: How does 'phyto-remediation' contribute to environmental protection?

Answer: Phyto-remediation is a type of bioremediation that uses plants to remove, degrade, or contain environmental contaminants. It helps protect the environment by cleaning up polluted soil and water, preventing the spread of pollutants, and restoring ecological balance in contaminated areas, often in a visually appealing and sustainable manner.

Q18: What is the 'Green Revolution' and how is biotechnology related to it?

Answer: The Green Revolution was a period of significant increase in agricultural production worldwide, particularly in developing countries, achieved through the introduction of new, high-yielding varieties of crops, improved irrigation, and fertilizers. Biotechnology, through genetic engineering and plant breeding, continues to enhance these efforts by developing even more productive and resilient crop varieties.

Q19: Explain the importance of 'stem cell preservation'.

Answer: Stem cell preservation (e.g., from umbilical cord blood) is important because these cells can be stored for future medical use. If an individual later develops a disease like leukemia or certain genetic disorders, their own preserved stem cells can be used for transplantation or regenerative therapies, minimizing the risk of immune rejection.

Q20: How does 'biotechnology' contribute to human health beyond just disease treatment?

Answer: Beyond disease treatment, biotechnology contributes to human health through improved diagnostics (e.g., rapid disease detection kits), vaccine development (preventing diseases), production of therapeutic proteins like insulin and interferon, and advancements in reproductive technologies, all enhancing overall well-being and quality of life.

Higher-Order Thinking Questions

Q21: Discuss the ethical concerns surrounding the use of embryonic stem cells versus adult stem cells.

Answer: Ethical concerns regarding embryonic stem cells primarily revolve around the destruction of human embryos, which some consider to be a violation of the sanctity of life. This contrasts with adult stem cells, which are obtained from developed tissues and do not involve embryo destruction, making them ethically less controversial. However, embryonic stem cells are pluripotent (can differentiate into any cell type), offering greater therapeutic potential compared to multipotent adult stem cells, which have limited differentiation capabilities. The debate balances potential medical breakthroughs against moral objections to embryo manipulation.

Q22: If a new disease emerges, how can biotechnology rapidly contribute to developing a vaccine or treatment?

Answer: When a new disease emerges, biotechnology can rapidly contribute to vaccine and treatment development in several ways: 1. **Genome Sequencing:** Quickly sequence the pathogen's genome to identify key proteins or genetic sequences for vaccine targets. 2. **Recombinant DNA Technology:** Use recombinant DNA technology to produce large quantities of viral antigens or therapeutic proteins (e.g., antibodies) in bioreactors. 3. **mRNA/DNA Vaccines:** Develop mRNA or DNA vaccines, which are faster to design and produce compared to traditional vaccine types. 4. **Drug Discovery:** Utilize high-throughput screening and computational biology to identify potential drug candidates that can inhibit the pathogen. 5. **Diagnostic Kits:** Develop rapid diagnostic kits based on molecular techniques (e.g., PCR) to quickly identify infected individuals and control spread.

Q23: Compare and contrast 'reproductive cloning' and 'therapeutic cloning'.

Answer: **Reproductive Cloning:** * **Goal:** To create a genetically identical copy of an entire organism. * **Process:** Involves transferring the nucleus of a somatic cell into an enucleated egg cell, which is then implanted into a surrogate mother to develop into a new individual. * **Ethical Concerns:** Highly controversial due to ethical issues related to human identity, individuality, and potential misuse. **Therapeutic Cloning:** * **Goal:** To create embryonic stem cells that are genetically identical to a patient, for medical treatment. * **Process:** Similar initial steps to reproductive cloning (somatic cell nuclear transfer), but the resulting embryo is not implanted; instead, stem cells are harvested from it. * **Ethical Concerns:** Still controversial due to the destruction of the embryo, but widely supported for its potential to cure diseases without immune rejection issues.

Q24: How has biotechnology transformed the agricultural sector, particularly in India?

Answer: Biotechnology has significantly transformed the agricultural sector in India by: 1. **Increasing Crop Yields:** Development of high-yielding varieties and pest-resistant crops (like Bt Cotton) has boosted productivity. 2. **Improving Nutritional Value:** Creation of crops like Golden Rice (enriched with Vitamin A) addresses nutritional deficiencies. 3. **Reducing Pesticide Use:** GM crops resistant to pests reduce the need for chemical pesticides, benefiting farmers and the environment. 4. **Enhancing Stress Tolerance:** Developing crops tolerant to drought, salinity, or extreme temperatures helps in challenging climatic conditions. 5. **Promoting Sustainable Farming:** Biofertilizers and bioinsecticides offer eco-friendly alternatives to chemical inputs, supporting organic farming practices. 6. **Advancing Animal Husbandry:** Techniques like artificial insemination improve livestock breeding and productivity.

Q25: Discuss the future potential of biotechnology in addressing global challenges like climate change and resource scarcity.

Answer: Biotechnology holds immense future potential for addressing global challenges: * **Climate Change:** * **Biofuels:** Development of sustainable biofuels from algae or agricultural waste can reduce reliance on fossil fuels. * **Carbon Capture:** Genetically engineered microbes or plants could be developed to more efficiently capture atmospheric carbon dioxide. * **Climate-Resilient Crops:** Creating crops that can withstand extreme weather conditions (drought, heat, floods) ensures food security in a changing climate. * **Resource Scarcity:** * **Enhanced Crop Productivity:** Further advancements in GM crops and precision agriculture can maximize food output from limited land. * **Water Purification:** Biotechnological methods (e.g., microbial filtration) can make contaminated water sources potable. * **Sustainable Material Production:** Bioplastics and other bio-based materials can reduce dependence on finite petrochemical resources. * **Biomining:** Using microbes to extract valuable metals from low-grade ores more efficiently. These applications demonstrate biotechnology's capacity to offer innovative, sustainable solutions to pressing global issues.

References

1. MSBSHSE Class 10 Science and Technology Textbook Part 2 (2021-22 English) - Chapter 8: Cell Biology and Biotechnology
2. Maharashtra State Board 10th Standard Science Syllabus 2025-26
3. Balbharati Science and Technology Part 2 Textbook
4. Shaalaa.com Balbharati solutions for Science and Technology 2