Which human protein, produced using transgenic animals, is used to treat emphysema?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → α-1-antitrypsin
Medicines for some human diseases contain biological products that are costly to make. Transgenic animals can be made to produce them by introducing the gene for that product. The book’s example is the human protein α-1-antitrypsin, used to treat emphysema.
Option (1) α-1-antitrypsin — Correct. α-1-antitrypsin is the human protein made through transgenic animals for the treatment of emphysema.
Option (2) Insulin-like growth factor — Incorrect. Insulin-like growth factor is studied in transgenic animals to learn about normal growth, not produced for treating emphysema.
Option (3) Adenosine deaminase — Incorrect. Adenosine deaminase is the enzyme missing in ADA deficiency. It is given by injection in enzyme replacement therapy or supplied by gene therapy.
Option (4) Human insulin — Incorrect. Human insulin is made in the bacterium E. coli, and it is used for diabetes.
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.”