Question

A. What is biotechnology?
B. Explain any two commercial applications of it.

Answer 1

Biotechnology has transformed mankind since its inception and plays a critical role in human wellbeing. It makes a significant contribution to human welfare and health.
The most essential aspect of biotechnology is its impact on health and medicine. Scientists have been able to generate novel drugs, such as interferon for cancer patients, synthetic human growth hormone, and synthetic insulin, using genetic engineering — the controlled altering of genetic material.

Complete answer:
Part A- Biotechnology is a field that uses living organisms and technology to achieve improvements in a variety of fields for humanity's long-term progress. It has applications in both the medicinal and agricultural fields. For almost $6000$ years, live organisms' biological processes have been employed to produce important items such as bread, cheese, and alcohol.
Types of biotechnology-
Medical biotechnology- Medical biotechnology is the application of living cells to the development of technologies that improve human health. It entails putting these skills to work in order to identify more effective ways to keep people healthy. It also aids in the study of DNA in order to determine the causes of genetic illnesses and treatment options.
Agricultural biotechnology- This field deals with the introduction of a gene of interest into a plant to create genetically engineered plants. This, in turn, aids in the improvement of crop productivity.
Part B- commercial applications are:
Biotechnology is used to create genetically engineered plant hybrids with improved shelf life, size, or other characteristics.
It's used to make pharmaceuticals like insulin artificially utilising prokaryotic replication.
Various microorganisms are employed in biotechnology to produce biofuel and bioenergy.
Biotechnology is being used to create superior animal hybrids for animal husbandry.

Note:
The goal of genetic engineering is to edit and modify an organism's or plant's genetic material in order to introduce desirable qualities. The main pillar of genetic engineering is recombinant DNA technology.
Recombinant DNA Technology is a method of altering an organism's or plant's genes. Recombinant DNA technique is used to implant the desired gene into the host. The inserted gene controls the phenotypic expression of the desired phenotype in the host.
Steps of recombinant DNA technology-
The desired gene is chosen.
A cloning vector, such as plasmid, is a type of vector used to transfer genes.
Recombinant DNA is inserted into the host.
Keeping the injected DNA alive in the host so that it can be handed down to future generations.