Application of Recombinant DNA
Recombinant DNA technology has opened up
new opportunities for highly specific
manipulation of the genetic materials. This
technology broadens the possibilities of gene
transferring gene between unrelated organisms
and creating novel genetic information by
specific alteration of cloned genes.
Recombinant DNA has wide applications in the
fields of agriculture and medicine and human
health which are discussed herewith.
A. Application of genetic engineering in the
field of medicine and human health
The recent results of recombinant DNA
technology have revolutionized the field of
clinical medicine. This has greatly developed
the preparation of wide range of vaccines,
development of highly specific diagnostic
laboratory tests and prenatal diagnosis of
human genetic diseases. Some of the products
synthesized using genetic engineering are
given below:
1. Vaccines vaccine is preparation, which
contains an antigen composed of whole
disease causing organisms. Vaccines are used
to confer immunity against antigens.
Recombinant DNA technology can be used to
clone the gene for the protective antigen
protein. A number of vaccines against virus
have been developed using this technology.
These vaccines are Hepatitis B, influenza, HIV
(AIDS), Herpes, Foot and Mouth Disease, etc.
2. Human growth hormones Various human
growth hormones have been synthesized
commercially using Recombinant DNA
Technology. This hormone is used in treatment
of dwarfism.
3. Insulin Insulin, a small protein hormone, is
used for controlling diabetes. Bacterially
produced human insulin using recombinant
DNA technology is now available in market.
Products of microbial origin are often safer than
those derived from traditional sources. Insulin,
produced by microbes does not cause allergic
reaction.
4. Interferons interferons are the
glycoproteins which have an inhibitory action
upon the multiplication of viruses in cells more
or less adjacent to the affected ones. They are
being used for the treatment of several
diseases including a rare form of cancer called
hairy cell leukemia. Various interferon are
formed such as a interferon, interferon
and ? interferon. The bulk of a interferon is
produced by buffy coats (leukocyte pellets),
interferon by fibroblasts and ? interferon by B
or T lymphocytes. Japanese companies have
succeeded in producing cloned ? interferon.
Interferon are being used for the treatment of
several diseases.
5. Monoclonal antibodies Antibodies are
specific proteins produced by the immune
system in response to presence of a specific
antigen. Monoclonal antibodies can be
produced using hybridoma technology.
Hybridoma technology is used to fuse a normal
antibody producing lymphocytes (B-cells or
plasma cells) with myelonema cells (a kind of
tumor cells) giving a hybridoma. Hybridoma
has the potential to grow indefinitely in culture
and hence can be a source of unending supply
of antibody of choice. Since antibody produced
by a hybridoma is biochemically pure, it is
called monoclonal antibody. Monoclonal
antibodies are used to develop effective
vaccines against human, animal and plant
diseases.
6. Antibiotics Antibiotics are the chemical
substances, produced both by microorganisms
and synthetically. They can inhibit the growth
of bacteria and others microorganisms and
even destroy them. Penicillin is the first
antibiotic discovered by Alexander Flemming in
1928 using recombinant technology. Some
useful antibiotics being produced on the
commercial scale employing biotechnology
technique.
7. Diagnosis of infection disease Modern
medical practice depends on laboratory tests
for the specific and correct diagnosis of many
diseases. Recombinant DNA technology allows
for the production of highly specific diagnosis
tests.
Some of the common infectious diseases are diagnostic kits to identify pathogenic
cholera, small pox, measles meningitis, organisms by knowing the organism-specific
hepatitis, etc. These diseases lead the serious DNA sequence has provided rapid, specific and
damage to the human health. Infectious correct diagnosis.
diseases diagnosis mainly depends upon
isolation and identification of pathogens, which
may take several days. Development of