Interferon, once extremely expensive because it had to be extracted from human blood, is now obtained by
Correct answer: A. expressing the human interferon gene in cultured microorganisms
- A. expressing the human interferon gene in cultured microorganisms
- B. chemical synthesis from simple sugars
- C. purifying it from the milk of cows
- D. growing viruses in the laboratory and collecting their protein
Explanation
Cloning the gene into bacteria or yeast turned a protein that could only be obtained in microgram amounts into one that can be produced by the kilogram, which is what made treatment of hepatitis C and some cancers practical. This cost collapse is the general pattern of recombinant protein manufacture, as it was with insulin and growth hormone. Interferon is a human protein, not a viral one.
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Biotechnology applies genetic engineering, cell culture and recombinant DNA methods to medicine and public health. The material includes production of insulin, vaccines and antibiotics, diagnostic techniques, gene therapy, genetically modified organisms and the ethical concerns surrounding manipulation of human genes.
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