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There are many different types of proteins that can be produced in transgenic organisms. Hormones, such as growth hormone, can be expressed, harvested, and then used to combat dwarfism in children (Larrick 2001). Antibodies can also be expressed, which can then be used to substitute the presence of naturally occurring antibodies in patients with immune deficiencies. In addition, enzymes, collagen, and even nutrient supplements can all be synthetically expressed in either transgenic animals or plants. Another potential application of protein expression is the ability to use transgenic organisms to generate vaccines. This is possible because viral surface antigens can be expressed in the GM organism. These proteins can then either be directly ingested, such as in a banana or potato, or the protein can be isolated from animals milk and then used as the active ingredient in a traditional vaccine (Larrick 2001). In either case, the human body is exposed to a specific foreign protein, which will allow for the availability of specific antibodies, upon actual exposure to the virus.

Vaccines

• Ex. Vaccine for parvovirus produced in honey (BBCNews, 1999)
• Ex. Rabies vaccine produced in Tobacco (Larrick, 2001)

Sub-unit vaccines in plants and animals

• Ex. Hepatitis B surface antigen produced in potatoes (Walmsley, 2003)

Antibodies

• Ex. IgG anti-herpes simplex produced in soybean (Larrick, 2001)
• Ex. Monoclonal antibody (colon cancer) produced in goats (Daniell, 2001)

Donor Organs

• Ex. Growing human organs in animals Still in preliminary research phase (Cohen, 2001)

Nutritional supplements

• Ex. Increased ß -casein produced in cows (Brophy, 2003)
• Ex. Vitamin A produced in rice (golden rice) (Larrick, 2001)

Growth hormones

• Ex. Growth Hormone produced in cow (Rudolph, 1999)
• Ex. Growth Hormone produced in tobacco (Larrick, 2001)

Disease Models

• Ex. Induce human disease (though inserting a gene or infecting with a disease) in an animal and then test for human treatments. Still in preliminary research phase (Cohen, 2001)

Other

• Ex. Collagen produced in tobacco (Larrick, 2001)
• Ex. Libase producd in maize (Larrick, 2001)
• Ex. Calctonin produced in rabbit (Larrick, 2001)
• Ex. Ex. Fibrinogen produced in Sheep (Rudolph, 1999)

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This web page was produced as an assignment for an undergraduate course at Davidson College.

©Copyright 2004 Department of Biology, Davidson College, Davidson, NC 28035
Send comments, questions, and suggestions to William Wood at wiwood(at)davidson.edu