Which one of the following diseases can be treated by human protein (α-1-antitrypsin) produced by transgenic animals?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Emphysema
Transgenic animals can be made to produce useful biological products. Human protein α-1-antitrypsin, made this way, is used to treat emphysema, a lung disease in which the alveoli are damaged.
Option (1) Cystic fibrosis — Incorrect. Transgenic models are used for studying diseases such as cystic fibrosis, not α-1-antitrypsin as its treatment.
Option (2) Cancer — Incorrect. Transgenic models help study cancer; α-1-antitrypsin is not its treatment.
Option (3) Emphysema — Correct. Transgenic animals are used to make useful biological products. Human protein α-1-antitrypsin, made by transgenic animals, is used to treat emphysema.
Option (4) Haemophilia — Incorrect. Haemophilia is a blood-clotting disorder, treated with clotting factors.
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.”