Human protein, α-1-antitrypsin is used to treat:

The correct answer is Option (1) → Emphysema

Some transgenic animals are made to produce useful human proteins. The gene for the protein is put into the animal, and the protein is then collected, for example from the milk. The human protein α-1-antitrypsin is made in this way. It is used to treat emphysema, a lung disease in which the air sacs are damaged.

(1) Emphysema — Correct. α-1-antitrypsin is the protein used for its treatment.

(2) Rheumatoid arthritis — Incorrect. It is an auto-immune disease, in which the body attacks its own cells. It is not treated with this protein.

(3) Cystic fibrosis — Incorrect. NCERT says that similar attempts are being made for cystic fibrosis. It is not the disease treated with α-1-antitrypsin.

(4) Alzheimer’s disease — Incorrect. It is a disease of the brain. This protein is not used for it.

Note: A similar question was also asked in CUET (UG) 2026 on 18-05-2026 (Slot 1), in CUET (UG) 2025 on 03-06-2025 (Slot 2), 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.”