Human protein, α-1-antitrypsin is used for the treatment of-

The correct answer is Option (3) → Emphysema

Option (1) Cystic fibrosis — Incorrect. Cystic fibrosis is a disease for which transgenic treatments are still being tried; α-1-antitrypsin is not its treatment.

Option (2) Phenylketonuria — Incorrect. PKU is the other disease the book names as still under trial, not the one treated with α-1-antitrypsin.

Option (3) Emphysema — Correct. Transgenic animals carrying the human gene produce α-1-antitrypsin, a protein used to treat emphysema, a lung disease in which the alveolar walls are damaged.

Option (4) Alzheimer’s disease — Incorrect. Transgenic animals are used to study diseases such as Alzheimer’s, but α-1-antitrypsin is not its treatment.

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 – “… 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. Similar attempts are being made for treatment of phenylketonuria (PKU) and cystic fibrosis.”