Gene pharming uses genetically modified organisms to produce pharmaceutical products, which can be derived from both plants and animals. The process involves modifying an organism to express a desired chemical compound, which is then refined and prepared for sale. However, concerns have been raised about the safety and ethical implications of gene pharming.
Gene pharming is the use of genetically modified organisms to produce pharmaceutical products. It is sometimes known simply as “pharming”. Numerous pharmaceutical companies sell pharmaceutical products and numerous others are in constant development. From the initial stages of development to drug release, generating a viable pharmaceutical product can take years and the process is considered experimental.
Both plants and animals can be used for pharming. In the case of animals, mammals such as goats and cows are popular for genetic agriculture, as their milk can be used to generate pharmaceuticals. Plants ranging from potatoes to tobacco have been used for gene pharming, expressing drugs in their flesh and sap. Once a plant or animal starts producing, drug can be refined from it and prepared for sale.
In gene pharming, scientists genetically modify an organism to express a desired chemical compound. In essence, the body’s natural processes are hijacked to create a design that is useful to humans. In some cases, people may eat plants or consume milk directly to access the compound. In others, once the compound is expressed, it must be processed to make it salable, to ensure that the dose is regulated and stable. Products made with this technique may or may not need to be labeled as such, depending on regional laws.
Pharmaceutical products produced by gene pharming must be functionally identical to products produced in other ways. The development process is expensive, as researchers have to manipulate genes and test the result to confirm it is usable. Once the work is done, large numbers of organisms can be bred to produce the drug on a larger scale so that it can be sold. Gene pharming requires expertise in many fields, including genetics, agriculture and chemistry, and people can collaborate for long periods on projects.
As with other drugs sold to the public, the product is inspected and certified for safety before it can be released. Some people have raised concerns about gene pharming, ranging from ethical concerns from people who don’t want to consume genetically modified organisms or their products to concerns that people with allergies could be adversely affected if they take medicines made by an organism that is a known allergen. As with other advances in medical science, it has been a topic of vigorous discussion and debate as people grapple with legal, ethical, and health issues related to gene pharming.
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