What term is used to describe the use of genetically modified plants or animals to produce pharmaceuticals?

• A. Transgenic therapy
• B. Pharming
• C. Gene therapy
• D. Bioremediation

Answer: (B)

The term that describes the use of genetically modified plants or animals to produce pharmaceuticals is "pharming." This term is derived from a combination of "pharmaceutical" and "farming," reflecting the agricultural approach to producing drugs through the manipulation of genetic material in organisms. In pharming, specific genes that code for therapeutic proteins are inserted into the DNA of plants or animals, enabling them to express these proteins in significant quantities.

Pharming has gained attention for its potential to create cost-effective and scalable production systems for biologics, such as antibodies, hormones, and vaccines. By using organisms that can be cultivated on a large scale, pharming offers an alternative to traditional methods of drug production, which often rely on complex chemical synthesis or costly fermentation processes.

In contrast, transgenic therapy typically refers to the treatment methods where genes are introduced into a patient’s cells to cure diseases. Gene therapy focuses on correcting or replacing defective genes to treat genetic disorders. Bioremediation pertains to the use of living organisms to clean up contaminated environments, particularly in addressing pollution-related issues. Each of these terms relates to different aspects of biotechnology and genetic engineering, with pharming specifically targeting the agricultural production of pharmaceuticals.