---
title: "Biotechnology, Genomics & Vaccines: UPSC GS-3"
description: "Biotechnology for UPSC spans CRISPR, mRNA platforms, India's indigenous vaccines, genome programmes and their regulation. Master genomics and health technology"
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/lessons/upsc-science-technology-biotechnology-genomics-vaccines-health-technology"
---

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Biotechnology, genomics, vaccines & health technology

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# Biotechnology, genomics, vaccines & health technology

Biotechnology, genomics, vaccines and health technology for UPSC: CRISPR, mRNA platforms, India's indigenous vaccines, genome programmes and the regulatory architecture.

## The Molecular Toolkit a Candidate Must Command

Biotechnology questions in UPSC reward conceptual clarity over jargon. Begin with the central dogma: DNA is transcribed to mRNA, which is translated into protein. Modern biotech intervenes at each stage.

**Recombinant DNA technology** (Cohen and Boyer, 1973) inserts a gene from one organism into another using restriction enzymes and ligases, producing transgenic organisms. India's first transgenic crop, **Bt cotton**, was approved by the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) in 2002; **Bt brinjal** received GEAC clearance in 2009 but was placed under an indefinite moratorium by the Environment Ministry in February 2010. **GM mustard (DMH-11)** received environmental release approval from GEAC in October 2022, currently sub judice in the Supreme Court.

**Gene editing** is the high-yield frontier. **CRISPR-Cas9**, developed by Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier (Nobel Chemistry, 2020), acts as molecular scissors guided by a single-guide RNA. In November 2023 the UK's MHRA approved **Casgevy (exagamglogene autotemcel)**, the world's first CRISPR therapy, for sickle-cell disease and beta-thalassaemia; the US FDA followed in December 2023. India's Department of Biotechnology issued the **2022 guidelines exempting SDN-1 and SDN-2 genome-edited plants** (those with no foreign DNA) from the stricter rules applicable to GMOs under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 — a fact frequently misstated in answers.

## Genomics and Personalised Medicine

The **Human Genome Project** (declared complete in 2003) mapped the roughly 3.2 billion base pairs of human DNA. India's flagship is the **Genome India Project**, coordinated by the Department of Biotechnology, which announced in January 2024 that it had sequenced **10,000 healthy Indian genomes** across 99 population groups, building a reference database for a population marked by extraordinary genetic diversity and high consanguinity.

Distinguish two terms examiners conflate: **gene therapy** corrects a defective gene in a patient (somatic edits are non-heritable; germline editing is prohibited), while **genomics** is the study of entire genomes. **Pharmacogenomics** tailors drug choice to genetic profile.

## Vaccine Platforms

UPSC tests vaccine technology through current affairs. Memorise the platform taxonomy:

- **Inactivated/whole-virion**: Covaxin (BBV152), developed by Bharat Biotech with ICMR-NIV, granted restricted emergency use in January 2021 and WHO Emergency Use Listing in November 2021.
- **Viral vector**: Covishield (Oxford-AstraZeneca, made by Serum Institute); Sputnik V.
- **mRNA**: Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna; India's first indigenous mRNA vaccine, Gemcovac, by Gennova Biopharmaceuticals, received emergency approval in June 2022.
- **Protein subunit**: Corbevax (Biological E), India's first indigenously developed RBD protein subunit vaccine, approved December 2021.
- **DNA**: ZyCoV-D by Zydus Cadila — the world's first approved DNA vaccine for humans (August 2021), needle-free.

Note **mRNA platform** advantages: rapid design, no live pathogen, scalable; disadvantages: cold-chain requirements (ultra-low temperature for first-generation formulations).

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