Once a Rarely Used Subset of Medical Treatments, Protein Therapeutics have Increased Dramatically in Number GMAT Reading Comprehension

Reading Passage Question

Once a rarely used subset of medical treatments, protein therapeutics have increased dramatically in number. Protein therapeutics have risen considerably in number and frequency of usage since the launch of the first recombinant protein therapeutic-human insulin-25 years ago. Protein therapies are already playing an important part in practically every sector of medicine, but this role is still in its infancy. Human proteins such as erythropoietin, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, and alpha-L-iduronates are in high demand for the treatment of a wide range of disorders. While some can be purified from blood, this is costly and risks contamination with AIDS or hepatitis C. Proteins can be generated in human cell culture, however the costs are considerable and the output is tiny. Although bacteria and yeast can create far bigger numbers, the proteins. Much higher numbers can be generated in bacteria or yeast, but the proteins produced are difficult to purify and lack the necessary post-translational modifications for in vivo effectiveness.

Human proteins with proper post-translational modifications, on the other hand, may be generated in the milk of transgenic sheep, goats, and cattle. Transgenic animals such as goats, cattle, pigs, rabbits, and chickens are now being studied by research groups all over the world to see if they may be utilized to create therapeutic proteins. The animals serve as sterile bioreactors for the production of big, complicated proteins or proteins that cannot be produced in other cell systems. The output per liter of milk can be as high as 40 g, while the costs are comparatively cheap.

Transgenic animals have the benefit of using fewer than half as many experimental animals as pronuclear injection. It is also possible to specify the sex of offspring, reducing the time required to create a flock. The main disadvantages of producing therapeutic proteins in animals are that it takes a long time to generate and validate transgenic animals, that proteins cannot be harvested until lactation begins, and that the transgene may have an effect on the animal. For example, because the transgene inserts randomly into a chromosome, it may disrupt a gene required for an important function. Despite this, the number of therapeutic proteins being created by the biomedical sector is quickly increasing, and some experts anticipate that demand for proteins may soon outweigh supply. To assist satisfy these demands, transgenic animals might provide an alternate supply of therapeutic proteins.

“Once a rarely used subset of medical treatments, protein therapeutics have increased dramatically in number”- is a GMAT reading comprehension passage with answers. Candidates need a strong knowledge of English GMAT reading comprehension. This GMAT Reading Comprehension consists of 7 comprehension questions. The GMAT Reading Comprehension questions are designed for the purpose of testing candidates’ abilities in understanding, analyzing, and applying information or concepts. Candidates can actively prepare with the help of GMAT Reading Comprehension Practice Questions.

Solution and Explanation

1. Which of the following is the best title for the given passage?

1. Genetically modified animals and proteins
2. Transgenic human proteins
3. Human protein extraction
4. Protein therapies
5. Protein therapeutic benefits and drawbacks

2. What is one of the advantages of human proteins over bacterium proteins, according to the passage?

1. They can be manufactured in considerably greater quantities.
2. They can be manufactured in extremely pure forms.
3. They can be manufactured at significantly greater costs than any other.
4. They need the least amount of time to manufacture.
5. They can be subjected to the necessary post-translational changes.

3. Does the paragraph provide an answer to any of the following questions?

1. Why is the protein production from human cell cultures limited?
2. Why are bacteria-produced proteins undesirable for use in treatments?
3. How much useable protein can a flock of transgenic animals produce?
4. Why are animals better than sheep for transgenic production?
5. What disorders can only be healed by protein therapies and not by other means?

4. According to the paragraph, all of the following statements concerning protein therapies are unsubstantiated, EXCEPT that they

1. is effective in the treatment of AIDS and Hepatitis C.
2. cure human diabetes
3. Transgenic animals cannot generate
4. are utilized in the production of human insulin.
5. handle undefined circumstances

5. Which of the following statements regarding animals created by pronuclear injection is supported by the passage?

1. It takes twice as long to create a pronuclear flock.
2. Their gender cannot be predicted.
3. It takes more than twice as many transgenic mice to produce the same amount of tissue activators.
4. They produce more test animals than transgenic animals.
5. Although most animals cannot be created with pronuclear injection, sheep can.

6. Which of the following claims does the author most likely agree with, according to the passage?

1. Human proteins produced in transgenic animals may be an alternate source of therapy.
2. Human proteins are the finest approach to conduct future medical research.
3. Human proteins derived from transgenic animals are the only method to fulfill the medical industry's expectations.
4. Human protein extraction from bacteria or blood is both unneeded and economically impossible.
5. Protein therapy is the most significant medical research finding of the last century.

7. Which of the following, if accurate, would undermine the author's case against proteins derived from human cell culture the most?

1. Human cell culture proteins are the finest type of protein.
2. The lower the cost of human cell culture, the greater the yield required.
3. Human cell culture is not opposed by animal rights groups, nor is the production of transgenic animals.
4. Human cell culture in the lab is doable with little equipment and takes half the time of creating transgenic animals.
5. Proteins generated in human cell culture are free of contaminants and replicate very precisely.

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