Question

How can genetically modified bacteria with human genes be used to treat human diseases

Answer 1

Genetically modified bacteria with human genes can produce human proteins, like insulin and HGH, for treating diseases. They act as biological factories, utilizing recombinant DNA technology to make protein-based medicines more accessible. Bacteriophages, a type of virus, can be used to target antibiotic-resistant bacteria, offering alternative treatments.

Step-by-step explanation:

Genetically modified bacteria that carry human genes serve as tiny factories producing important human proteins for medical treatments. For example, by inserting the human gene for insulin into E. coli bacteria, this process, known as recombinant DNA technology, allows for the production of human insulin at scale, making diabetes treatment more affordable and reducing allergic reactions associated with animal-sourced insulin. Another application is in producing human growth hormone (HGH), used to treat growth disorders in children, by cloning the HGH gene into a bacterial vector and expressing it in E. coli. Furthermore, genetically engineered bacteria can also enable the production of other therapeutic agents such as cytokines, interferons, and recombinant vaccines essential for modern medicine.

Bacteriophages, which are viruses that infect bacteria, have been used in phage therapy to target antibiotic-resistant bacteria like MRSA, presenting a potential solution to the growing issue of antibiotic resistance. This specificity of bacteriophages allows them to bypass bacterial antibiotic resistance mechanisms, offering a targeted approach to combat bacterial infections.

Answer 2

In the 1980s, scientists discovered how to produce human insulin by transplanting the genetic information for the human insulin hormone from a human cell, into the DNA of the E. coli bacterium. This reprograms the bacteria to produce insulin, in just the same way as they make their own proteins.