BIOTECHNOLOGY AND ITS APPLICATIONS
To increase food production and meet the demands of a growing population, several agricultural methods have been explored. These include agro-chemical based agriculture, organic agriculture, and genetically engineered crop-based agriculture. Each method has its advantages and limitations.
The Green Revolution significantly increased food production by introducing high-yield crop varieties and improving management practices. However, this approach heavily relied on agrochemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides. For many farmers in developing countries, these agrochemicals are too expensive, and the yield improvements from traditional breeding techniques have reached a plateau. This necessitated the exploration of new technologies for crop improvement.
Tissue culture is a significant advancement in agricultural biotechnology. Scientists discovered that whole plants could be regenerated from explants, which are any plant parts grown in a sterile nutrient medium. This process is known as totipotency, the ability of a single cell to develop into a complete plant.
Micropropagation involves the rapid multiplication of plants through tissue culture. This technique can produce thousands of genetically identical plants, known as somaclones, in a short period. Crops like tomatoes, bananas, and apples are commonly propagated using this method.