Question

Answer in 200 to 250 words:
a) What is Gene therapy? Give an example.
b) Write a note on Biopiracy with reference to 'Basmati Rice'.

Answer 1

a) Gene therapy is the method which uses genes to treat or prevent disease. This technique involves the introduction of normal genes into cells. This helps in replacing the function of the missing or defective ones in order to correct genetic disorders. Human blood clotting factor VIII gene can be introduced in order to treat haemophiliacs.

b) Biopiracy is the commercial exploitation of naturally occurring biochemical or genetic material, without proper authorisation is known as biopiracy. Basmati rice is an indigenous crop of India but it was patented by an American company RiceTech Inc in 1997. This is an example of biopiracy.