α-1-antitrypsin protein is used for:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Emphysema treatment
Transgenic animals are animals whose DNA has been changed to carry and express a foreign gene. One of their uses is to make useful biological products. The gene for a human protein is put into the animal, and the animal makes the protein. α-1-antitrypsin is such a human protein. It is used to treat emphysema, a lung disease in which the air sacs (alveoli) are damaged.
(1) Insulin production — Incorrect. Human insulin is made by genetically engineered E. coli. It has nothing to do with α-1-antitrypsin.
(2) Milk production — Incorrect. α-1-antitrypsin is not used to make milk. The transgenic cow Rosie gave milk with a different human protein, α-lactalbumin.
(3) Emphysema treatment — Correct. This is the use of α-1-antitrypsin.
(4) Killing insects — Incorrect. Insects are killed by the Bt toxin in Bt crops, not by this protein.
NCERT Extract:
Transgenic Animals – …
