History & Applications of Biotechnology — NEET Biology
📚 Practice ConceptEver since the days of Rene Descartes, the French philosopher, mathematician and biologist of seventeenth century, all human knowledge especially natural sciences were directed to develop technologies which add to the creature comforts of human lives, as also value to human life. The whole approach to understanding natural phenomena became anthropocentric. Physics and chemistry gave rise to engineering, technologies and industries which all worked for human comfort and welfare. The major utility of the biological world is as a source of food. Biotechnology, the twentieth century off-shoot of modern biology, changed our daily life as its products brought qualitative improvement in health and food production. The basic principles underlying biotechnological processes and some applications are highlighted and discussed in this unit.
Consider the following statements regarding the origin and development of biotechnology: 1. Rene Descartes’ anthropocentric approach led natural sciences towards human welfare and comfort. 2. Physics and chemistry gave rise to engineering and industries that added value to human life. 3. Herbert Boyer first demonstrated plasmid removal and reinsertion in bacterial cells. 4. Stanley Cohen’s work on plasmids combined with Boyer’s DNA splicing gave rise to recombinant DNA technology. 5. Biotechnology, a twentieth-century branch of modern biology, improved human life through food and health applications.
View solution & NCERT explanation
Correct answer: C — 1, 4 and 5 are correct
Statement 1 is correct: Descartes’ philosophy made natural sciences anthropocentric. Statement 2 is correct, but incomplete without biology’s contribution; still valid as per NCERT. Statement 3 is incorrect: Herbert Boyer studied restriction enzymes and discovered sticky ends, not plasmid removal. Statement 4 is correct: Cohen worked on plasmids, Boyer on DNA splicing, and together they pioneered recombinant DNA. Statement 5 is correct: Biotechnology improved health and food production.
What does NCERT say about Ever since days Rene?
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Through deep analysis of NEET and NTA, 176 of the 180 ReNEET 2026 (June 21) questions were already in the MedicNEET question bank before the exam.
176/180MedicNEET's Biology question bank is built from the same NCERT lines NTA picks repeatedly. Not random MCQs — questions crafted exactly like NTA crafts them.