A genetically modified protein α-1-antitrypsin is used to treat:

The correct answer is Option (4) → Emphysema

Transgenic animals are animals whose DNA has been changed to carry and express a foreign gene. One use of them is to make biological products (medicines) that are costly to make in other ways. A gene for the human protein α-1-antitrypsin is put into the animal, which then makes this protein. The protein is used to treat emphysema, a disease in which the walls of the air sacs (alveoli) of the lungs are damaged.

(1) Diabetes — Incorrect. Diabetes is treated with insulin. Genetically engineered human insulin is made by bacteria, not α-1-antitrypsin.

(2) Cancer — Incorrect. α-1-antitrypsin is not a cancer treatment.

(3) Beri-beri — Incorrect. Beri-beri is a deficiency disease caused by lack of vitamin B₁. It is treated by giving the vitamin.

(4) Emphysema — Correct. The human protein α-1-antitrypsin made by transgenic animals is used to treat emphysema.

Note: A similar question was also asked in CUET (UG) 2026 on 21-05-2026 (Slot 1), and in CUET (UG) 2023 on 10-06-2023 (Slot 3).

NCERT Extract:
Transgenic Animals – “… (iii) Biological products: Medicines required to treat certain human diseases can contain biological products, but such products are often expensive to make. Transgenic animals that produce useful biological products can be created by the introduction of the portion of DNA (or genes) which codes for a particular product such as human protein (α-1-antitrypsin) used to treat emphysema.”