Definition of animal pharming In biotechnology and agriculture, what does the term “animal pharming” most accurately describe?
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AGrowing animals for conventional farming (meat and dairy)
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BProgramming animals to produce novel products (e.g., biopharmaceuticals) in milk, eggs, or blood
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CGenerating transgenic animals solely for faster growth rates
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DNone of the above
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EKeeping animals in pharmaceutical clean rooms without genetic modification
Answer
Correct Answer: Programming animals to produce novel products (e.g., biopharmaceuticals) in milk, eggs, or blood
Explanation
Introduction / Context:Animal pharming (biopharming) is a biotechnological approach where animals are engineered to express valuable therapeutic proteins or industrial enzymes, often secreted in accessible fluids such as milk or egg white.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- Focus is on “novel products,” not typical agricultural outputs.
- Expression is typically driven by tissue-specific promoters (e.g., mammary gland).
Concept / Approach:Transgenes encoding human proteins (for example, antithrombin, clotting factors) are integrated into animal genomes to achieve high-yield, scalable bioproduction using existing husbandry and downstream purification methods.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Identify that pharming implies pharmaceuticals or novel proteins.Recognize the role of transgenes and tissue-specific expression to harvest products efficiently.Select the definition that captures “programming animals to produce novel products.”Verification / Alternative check:Case studies include transgenic goats producing antithrombin in milk and hens producing therapeutic proteins in eggs.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
- Conventional farming: not biotechnology-driven production of novel molecules.
- Transgenics solely for growth: that is genetic improvement, not pharming per se.
- Clean rooms without modification: housing conditions do not define pharming.
Common Pitfalls:Confusing general transgenic traits (growth, disease resistance) with specific biomanufacturing goals of pharming.
Final Answer:Programming animals to produce novel products (e.g., biopharmaceuticals) in milk, eggs, or blood