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Which medicines can be produced by genetically modified cells?

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Rows of genetically modified barley plants grow in an outdoor test plot in Germany, with a yellow marker labeled 3 and protective netting overhead. — genetically modified organism Genetically modified crops are assessed for their impact on environmental factors such as soil quality.

Genetically modified (GM) cells and organisms serve as biological factories for the production of various essential medicines and therapeutic proteins. By utilizing recombinant DNA technology, scientists can insert human genes into host cells—such as bacteria, yeast, or mammalian cells—to synthesize substances that were previously difficult or unsafe to extract from animal tissues.123

Medicines and therapeutic products produced by genetically modified cells include:

Insulin: Used for the treatment of diabetes, produced in GM Escherichia coli bacteria.23
Human Growth Hormone: Used to treat growth disorders.13
Blood-clotting factors: Such as factor VIII, used for hemophilia patients, produced in GM mammalian cells.12
Vaccines: Including the recombinant hepatitis B vaccine, produced in GM baker’s yeast.2
Tissue Plasminogen Activator (tPA): Used for patients suffering from heart attacks or strokes, produced in GM mammalian cells.2
Interferons: Used in the treatment of viral infections and certain cancers.3

These advancements have significantly improved the safety, purity, and availability of life-saving pharmaceuticals.23