cryopreservation

 Cryopreservation

Why Preservation is important?

• Until tow decades ago the genetic resources were getting depleted owing to the continuous depredation by man.
• It was imperative therefore that many of the elite Economically important and endangered species are preserved to make them available when needed.
• The conventional methods of storage of storage failed to prevent losses caused to various reason.
• A new methodology had to be devised for long term preservation of material.

There are various methods of storage

1. Cryopreservation:- Generally involves storage in liquid Nitrogen.
2. Cold storage:- It involve storage in low and non freezing temperature.
3. Low pressure:- It involves partially reducing the atmospheric pressure of surrounding.
4. Low oxygen storage:- It involves reducing the oxygen level but maintaining the pressure.

Cryopreservation;-

• Cryo is greek word, (Kroyes -frost)
• It literally means preservation in "frozen state"

The principle:- to bring plant cells or tissue to a zero metabolism and non dividing state by reducing the temperature in the presence of cryoprotectant.

It can be done:-

• Over solid carbon dioxide (at-79°C)
• Low temperature deep freezer (at-80°C)
• In vapor phase nitrogen (at-150°C)
• In liquid nitrogen (at-196°C)

Major advantages are:-

• Once the material is successfully conserved. Particular temperature it can be preserved indefinitely.
• Once in storage no chance of new contamination of fungus or Bacteria.
•  Minimal space required.
• Minimal labor required.

Mechanism of Cryopreservation:-

 

                             There cryopreservation technique followed by the regeneration of plants involves following steps:-

1. Selection of of material.
2. Addition of Cryoprotectant.
3. Freezing
4. Storage in liquid nitrogen.
5. Thawing.
6. Washing and reculturing.
7. Measurement of viability
8. Regeneration of plants.

1. Selection of plant material:-

             Two important factors depends on it such as 

                          a. Nature and

                          b. Density

      Any tissue can be selected for this purpose e.g., meristem, embryo, ovules, seeds, etc.

The density should be high.

2.Addition of Cryoprotectant:-

• They are chemical which prevent cryodestruction.
• These are sucrose, alcohol's, glycols, Some amino acid (proline), DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide)
• Generally tow cryoprotectant should be used together instead of single one as they are more effective.

3. Freezing:-

      

               The sensitivity of cells to low temperature depends on the plant species.

  There are four different types of Freezing:-

• Slow freezing method:- The tissue or plant material is slowly frozen at slow cooling rate. The advantage is the plant cells are partially dehydrated and survive better.
• Rapid freezing method:- It involves pluming the vials in liquid nitrogen. The temperature decreases from -300°C to -1000°C  rapidly.
• Rapid freezing method:- This is combination of both slow and rapid freezing method. The process is carried out in step wise like manner.
• Dry freezing method:- In this method dehydrated cells and seeds are stored.

4.Storage:-

• The maintenance of the frozen cells or material at specific temperature is kept -70°C to -196°C
• Prolong storage is done at temperature of -196°C in liquid nitrogen.
• To prevent damage, continuous supply of Nitrogen is done.

5.Thawing:-

• Usually carried out by plunging the vials. into warm water bath with vigorous swirling.
• As thawing occurs the vials are transferred to another bath at 0°C degree.

6.Washing and reculturing:-

• The preserved material is washed few times to remove the cryoprotectant.
• This material is then recultured in a fresh medium.

7.Measurement of viability

• There is possibility of death of cells due to storage stress.
• Thus viability can be found at any stage.
• It is calculated by formula:-

  No. of cells growing/no of cells thawed ✖100

8.Plant regeneration:-

• The viable seeds are cultured on non specific growth medium.
• Suitable Environment Conditions are maintained. 

   Application

• It is ideal method for long term conservation of material.
• DISEASE FREE PLANT CAN BE CONSERVED AND PROPAGATE.
• Peculcitrant seeds can be maintained for long time.
• Endangered species can be maintained.
• Pollens can be maintained to increase longitivity.
• Rare germplasm and other genetic manipulations can be stored.

❄️ Cryopreservation MCQs (CSIR-NET Level)

1. Cryopreservation mainly involves storage at:

0°C −20°C −80°C −196°C

2. The word cryo is derived from Greek word meaning:

Ice Cold Frost Snow

3. The basic principle of cryopreservation is to:

Increase respiration Stop metabolism Increase enzyme activity Induce mutations

4. Which of the following is a commonly used cryoprotectant?

Agar DMSO Antibiotic Cytokinin

5. Use of two cryoprotectants together is preferred because:

They reduce temperature They increase toxicity They are more effective They increase contamination

6. Slow freezing is advantageous because:

Cells remain hydrated Cells are partially dehydrated Ice crystals increase Temperature rises slowly

7. Long-term storage of plant material is usually done at:

−40°C −70°C −150°C −196°C

8. Thawing of cryopreserved material is generally done by:

Keeping at room temperature Slow air drying Warm water bath Ice bath

9. Viability of cryopreserved cells is calculated as:

Cells thawed / cells growing ×100 Cells growing / cells thawed ×100 Total cells ×100 Dead cells / live cells ×100

10. One major application of cryopreservation is:

Short-term storage Mutation breeding Conservation of endangered species Increasing transpiration

What Is Technology? Importance and Uses in Daily Life

Technology: Transforming the Way We Live

Have you ever wondered what technology really is? Many people ask this question, but the truth is that we use technology every single day often without realizing it. If you are not familiar with the technical definition, don’t worry. Understanding technology is easy when we look at our daily life.

Technology is the use of scientific knowledge, tools, and machines to solve problems and make human life easier, faster, and more comfortable. From communication to healthcare, education to entertainment, technology plays an important role in every part of modern life.

Role of Technology in Daily Life

Technology has become a basic necessity today. The best example is the smartphone, which combines many technologies into one small device. With a smartphone, we can perform multiple tasks within minutes:

• Communicate with people anywhere in the world
• Send and receive money instantly through digital payments
• Access current news and information in real time
• Listen to music and watch videos anytime
• Play online and offline games
• Attend online classes and meetings
• Shop online from home
• Stay connected through social media platforms

All these facilities save time and effort. Government initiatives like Digital India have further promoted the use of technology in everyday activities.

Importance of Computers in Technology

Computers are one of the most powerful tools of technology. They are widely used in almost every field. Today, computers are found in:

• Schools and colleges for education and learning
• Offices for data management and communication
• Railway stations and ticket counters for bookings
• Airports for flight communication and reservations
• Film industries for movie editing and animation
• Online marketing and digital business
• Software development and research work

Computers help in storing information, processing data quickly, and improving work efficiency.

Technology in Medical Science

One of the most important contributions of technology is in the field of medical science. Advanced medical technology has saved millions of lives and improved healthcare services.

Examples include:

• Modern brain surgery equipment
• Microscopes for medical research
• Digital temperature and diagnostic machines
•  Machines used for medicine production and quality testing
• Advanced scanning devices like CT scan and MRI

With the help of these technologies, doctors can diagnose diseases early and provide better treatment.

Technology in Science and Research

Technology supports scientific research and innovation. Scientists use advanced tools and machines to perform experiments, analyze data, and make new discoveries. Technology has helped humans explore space, understand nature, and develop solutions to global problems.

Advantages of Technology

Technology offers many benefits, such as:

• Saving time and energy
• Improving communication and connectivity
• Enhancing education and learning methods
• Advancing healthcare services
• Creating new job opportunities
• Making life comfortable and efficient

When used wisely, technology helps in the overall development of society.

Responsible Use of Technology

Although technology has many advantages, misuse can cause problems such as addiction, reduced physical activity, and mental stress. Therefore, technology should always be used responsibly and in a balanced way.

Conclusion

Technology has become an inseparable part of modern life. It has changed the way we communicate, study, work, and receive medical care. From smartphones to computers and medical machines, technology supports human progress in countless ways. When used properly, technology becomes a powerful tool for growth and development.

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Biotechnology scope and importance

Biotechnology Scope and Importance:-

                                                               

                                       Biotechnology has rapidly emerged as an area of activity having a marked realized as well as potential impact on virtually all domains of human welfare, ranging from food processing, protecting the environment, to human health. As a result, it now plays a very important role in employment, production and productivity, trade, economics and economy, human health, and the quality of human life throughout the world. This clearly reflected in the emergence of  numerous biotechnology companies throughout the world, including India, and the movement of noted scientists, including Nobel Laureates. to some of these companies. The total volume of trade in biotechnology products is increasing sharply every year, and it is expected to soon become the major contributor to world trade. Many commentators are confident that the 21th century will be the century of biotechnology, just as the 20th century is era of electronics.

A list of some of the important area in which biotechnology is making marked contributions:-

• Human health 
• Medicines
• Animal health
• Animal husbandry
• Dairy
• Chemicals and biochemical
• Food processing and beverages
• Crimes and parentage disputes
• Agriculture
• Forestry
• Horticulture and floriculture
• Environment
• Renewable energy and fuels
• Population control
• Mining
• Fisheries and aquaculture

Some selected contributions of biotechnology to human welfare:-

1.Medical Biotechnology:-

• Monoclonal antibodies ( use for disease diagnosis, e.g, venereal diseases, hepatitis B and other viral diseases, cancer, etc.)        
• DNA  probe ( used for disease diagnosis, e.g, kala-azar, sleeping sickness, malaria, etc.) 
• Recombinant vaccines ( cleaner, safer, e.g, human hepatitis B virus, E. coli vaccines for pigs, rabies virus etc.)                           
• Valuable drug like human insulin, human interferon, human and  bovine growth hormones, etc.                         
• Gene therapy to cure genetic disease , e.g., Huntington's chorea,  cystic fibrosis.              
• Babies of specified sex ( artificial insemination with X or Y carrying sperms prepared by sperm separation techniques.)          
• Identification of parents or criminals using DNA or auto-antibody   finger-printing.

2.Industrial Biotechnology:-

• Production of useful compounds, e.g., ethanol, lactic acid, glycerin, citric acid, gluconic acid, acetone etc.                             
• Production of antibiotics, e.g., penicillin, strepto-mycin, erythromycin, mitomycin, cycloheximide etc.                               
• Transformation of less use full and cheaper compounds into more useful and valuable ones, e.g., steroid hormones from sterols, sorbose from sorbitol etc.                                                                
• Production of enzymes, e.g., alpha-amylase, proteases, lipases etc. 
• Single cell protein (SCP) from bacteria, yeast, fungi or algae for  human food and animal feed.                                               
• Fuel (mainly ethanol, sometimes biogas) production from cheap,  less useful and abundant substrates, e.g., sugarcane bagasse, wood etc.                                                                   
• Mineral extraction through leaching from low grade ores, e.g., copper, uranium etc.                                                                        
• Immobilization of enzymes for their repeated industrial application.                                                                          
• Protein or enzyme engineering to change the primary structure of existing proteins or enzymes to make them more efficient, change their substrate specificity, e.g., successes with T4 lysozyme, trypsin, subtilisin, lactate dehydrogenases etc.              
• Production of immunotoxins by joining a natural toxin with a specific antibody.

3.Animal Biotechnology:-                                                                           

• Test tube babies in human; involves in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer.
• Hormone-induced superovulation and splitting in farm animal involves transfer and, in many cases, in vitro fertilization.
• Production of transgenic animals for increased milk, growth rate,  resistance to disease etc. and production of some valuable proteins in milk.

4.Environmental Biotechnology:-

• Efficient sewage treatment, deodorization of human excreta.
• Degradation of petroleum and management of oil spills.
• Detoxification of wastes and industrial effluents.
• Bio control of plant disease and insect pets by using viruses, bacteria, amoebae fungi etc.    

5.Plant Biotechnology:-

• Embryo culture to rescue otherwise invariable hybrids, to recover haploid plants from interspecific hybrids, micro propagation of orchids etc..
• Rapid clonal multiplication through meristem culture, e.g., of many fruit and forest trees, such as, teak.
• Recovery of virus and other pathogen free stocks of clonal crops; meristem culture is generally combined with thermotherapy.
• Germplasm conservation through storage in liquid nitrogen (-196'C, cryopreservation) or through slow growth.
• Rapid isolation of homozygous lines by chromosome doubling of haploid produced through anther culture, interspecific hybridization, ovary culture.
• Isolation of stable somaclonal variants with i
  mproved yield traits  resistance to cold, herbicides, metal toxicity, salt and other abiotic stresses.
• Gene transfer for insect resistance, protection against viruses, herbicide resistance, storage protein improvement etc.
• Molecular marker, e.g., RFLPs and RAPDs, for linkage mapping and mapping of quantitative trait loci.   

Biotechnology – Scope & Importance MCQ Quiz

1. Biotechnology is expected to dominate the 21st century similar to how which field dominated the 20th century?

Information technology
Nuclear physics
Electronics
Space science

2. Which of the following is a major contribution of medical biotechnology?

Biofertilizers
Monoclonal antibodies
Bioleaching
SCP production

3. DNA probes are mainly used for:

Protein synthesis
Disease diagnosis
Enzyme immobilization
Vaccine delivery

4. Production of ethanol, citric acid, and antibiotics comes under:

Plant biotechnology
Medical biotechnology
Industrial biotechnology
Environmental biotechnology

5. Single Cell Protein (SCP) is mainly used as:

Biofuel
Enzyme source
Human food and animal feed
Antibiotic substitute

6. Test-tube baby technology is an example of:

Plant biotechnology
Environmental biotechnology
Animal biotechnology
Industrial biotechnology

7. Degradation of petroleum and oil spill management comes under:

Medical biotechnology
Environmental biotechnology
Plant biotechnology
Animal biotechnology

8. Cryopreservation is mainly used for:

Vaccine storage
Enzyme stabilization
Germplasm conservation
SCP production

9. Molecular markers like RFLP and RAPD are used for:

Protein purification
Gene expression analysis
Linkage and QTL mapping
Vaccine production

10. Production of transgenic animals is mainly aimed at:

Pollution control
Increased milk and disease resistance
Biofuel generation
Mineral extraction