Production of a human protein in bacteria by genetic engineering is possible because

Production of a human protein in bacteria by genetic engineering is possible because
A Bacterial cell can carry out the RNA splicing reactions
B The mechanism of gene regulation is identical in humans and bacteria
C The human chromosome can replicate in bacterial cell
D The genetic code is universal

Detailed Solution

The genetic code is universal: the same codon specifies the same amino acid in almost all organisms, from bacteria to humans.
So when a human gene (usually as cDNA, without introns) is introduced into a bacterium with suitable regulatory sequences, the bacterial ribosomes read its codons in the same way and produce the same human protein.
This is how human insulin, human growth hormone and other proteins are produced in E. coli.
Bacteria cannot carry out RNA splicing, which is why cDNA has to be used.
Gene regulation in bacteria and humans is not identical, and human chromosomes cannot replicate in bacterial cells; the gene must be carried on a vector such as a plasmid.
So it is possible because the genetic code is universal.

Biotechnology and its Applications in past papers

77 questions from this chapter have appeared across 21 exam years.

Keep going

Practise Biotechnology and its Applications All 77 questions This chapter in 2005 AIPMT