Revision: Class 12 >> Biotechnology and Its Application NEET (UG) Biotechnology and Its Application

Bioethics is the branch of ethics that deals with moral principles and issues arising from advances in biology, medicine, and life sciences.

Bioethics are a set of standards that may be used to regulate our activities in relation to the biological world.

Biopiracy is defined as ‘theft of various natural products and then selling them by getting patent without giving any benefits or compensation back to the host country’.

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It is an unauthorised misappropriation of any biological resource and indigenous knowledge.

• Biotechnology in agriculture involves the use of genetically modified (GM) crops to improve productivity, pest resistance, and stress tolerance.
• Tissue culture is used for micropropagation, allowing rapid and large-scale production of identical plants (clones).
• It is also useful for germplasm conservation and for plants with recalcitrant seeds that are difficult to store.
• To increase food production, three approaches are used: agrochemical-based, organic, and genetically engineered crop-based agriculture.
• Genetic engineering helps overcome the limitations of traditional methods and reduces dependence on expensive and polluting agrochemicals.

• Bioethics is the study of moral principles and decisions related to biological sciences and their impact on society.
• It deals with issues like cloning, gene therapy, genetic engineering, euthanasia, and in vitro fertilisation.
• Biotechnology raises ethical concerns such as animal suffering, gene transfer between species, and misuse of living organisms.
• Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) may pose risks to human health, the environment, and biodiversity, and can disturb natural processes.
• To ensure safety and ethical use, measures like biosafety regulations and organisations such as the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) are established.

• Biopiracy is the unauthorised use or patenting of biological resources and traditional knowledge without giving compensation to the original owners.
• It mainly occurs when developed countries exploit the rich biodiversity and traditional knowledge of developing countries.
• Traditional knowledge includes information about agriculture, medicines, and conservation practices passed through generations.
• Biopiracy harms indigenous communities by denying them rights, benefits, and recognition for their knowledge.
• Common examples include the patenting of neem, basmati rice, and turmeric (haldi) by foreign companies, which were later challenged and revoked.