NCERT · Class 12 · Biology · Biotechnology and its ApplicationsWhat are Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)? List any four beneficial applications of GMOs in agriculture and medicine.

Plants, bacteria, fungi and animals whose genes have been altered by manipulation are called Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). Genetic modification has been used to create plants that are tolerant to abiotic stresses (cold, drought, salt, heat), reduce reliance on chemical pesticides, help to reduce post-harvest losses, increase efficiency of mineral usage by plants, and enhance nutritional value of food (e.g., Vitamin A enriched rice). \nFour beneficial applications of GMOs in agriculture and medicine are:

1. Pest-resistant crops: Development of Bt crops like Bt cotton, Bt corn, etc., which produce endotoxins from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis to kill insect pests like bollworms and corn borers, reducing the need for chemical insecticides.
2. Nutritional enhancement of food: Creation of Golden Rice, which is genetically engineered to contain beta-carotene (a precursor of Vitamin A) to help combat vitamin A deficiency in populations relying on rice as a staple food.
3. Production of therapeutic proteins: Recombinant DNA technology has enabled the mass production of safe and effective human proteins and hormones, such as human insulin (Humulin) using E. coli, for treating diabetes.
4. Gene therapy and disease models: Generation of transgenic animal models for studying human genetic diseases like cancer, cystic fibrosis, and developing precise gene therapies like the correction of ADA deficiency.