Which of the following is NOT a part of biotechnology?

Traditional agricultural practices

d) Traditional agricultural practices: Traditional agricultural practices are not a part of biotechnology. Biotechnology is a field of science that uses living organisms or their components to create new products or processes. Traditional agricultural practices, on the other hand, are based on the use of natural processes to grow crops and raise animals.

a) Making curd, bread, or wine: These processes, although they involve the use of live organisms (microbes) to produce products (curd, bread, or wine), are considered part of biotechnology. They fall under traditional or conventional food processing methods that have been practiced for centuries.

b) In vitro fertilization for a 'test-tube' baby: In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a reproductive technology that involves fertilizing an egg with sperm outside the body and then transferring the resulting embryo into the uterus to establish a pregnancy. This technique is considered a part of biotechnology as it involves manipulation of reproductive cells and embryos using modern scientific methods.

c) Synthesising genes and using them: This is a key aspect of modern biotechnology. It involves artificially constructing genes or DNA sequences in the laboratory and using them for various purposes, such as gene therapy, genetic engineering, and creating genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

d) Traditional agricultural practices: Traditional agricultural practices, such as planting crops, tilling the soil, and using natural methods to control pests and diseases, do not fall under modern biotechnology. These practices have been used for agriculture long before the advent of modern biotechnological techniques.

In summary, modern biotechnology encompasses advanced techniques that involve genetic manipulation, gene synthesis, and other molecular processes. Traditional agricultural practices and simple food processing methods are not considered part of modern biotechnology.