Biotechnology And Its Application Part 2

Biotechnological Applications in Medicine#

1. Recombinant Therapeutics:

• Recombinant DNA technology allows mass production of safe and effective therapeutic drugs.
• Recombinant therapeutics avoid unwanted immune responses seen with non-human sources.
• 30 recombinant therapeutics are approved globally 12 marketed in India.

2. Genetically Engineered Insulin:

• Previously extracted from animal pancreas, causing allergic reactions.
• Recombinant DNA technology allows production of human insulin in bacteria.
• Insulin cannot be orally administered because it is a protein and would be digested in the stomach.

3. Gene Therapy:

• Corrects genetic defects by inserting normal genes into cells/tissues.
• First clinical use in 1990 for ADA deficiency.
• Current methods require periodic infusions; embryonic gene insertion may offer a permanent cure.

4. Molecular Diagnosis:

• PCR amplifies nucleic acids, detecting pathogens at very low concentrations before symptoms appear.
• Used to detect HIV, cancer mutations, and other genetic disorders.
• DNA probes detect mutated genes via hybridization; non-complementary sequences are not detected.
• ELISA detects antigens or antibodies to identify infections.

Transgenic Animals: Benefits and Applications

Definition:- Animals that have had their DNA manipulated to possess and express an extra (foreign) gene are known as transgenic animals. Transgenic rats, rabbits, pigs, sheep, cows and fish have been produced, although over $95%$ of all existing transgenic animals are mice.

I. Understanding Normal Physiology and Development:

• Transgenic animals help study gene regulation and its effects on bodily functions and development.
• They are used to investigate the roles of specific factors like insulin-like growth factor.

II. Disease Study and Modeling:

• Transgenic animals serve as models for human diseases (cancer, cystic fibrosis, etc.).
• They facilitate the research and development of new disease treatments.

III. Production of Biological Products:

• Transgenic animals can produce valuable biological products (e.g., human proteins) cheaply.
• Examples include α-1-antitrypsin for emphysema and human protein-enriched milk.

IV. Vaccine Safety Testing:

• Transgenic mice are used to test vaccine safety, potentially replacing the need for primates.
• This is exemplified by testing the safety of polio vaccines.

V. Chemical Safety Testing (Toxicity Testing):

• Transgenic animals, genetically modified to be more sensitive to toxins, are used.
• This speeds up and improves the accuracy of toxicity testing for drugs and other chemicals.