Video Transcript
Hemophilia A is a disorder which prevents blood from clotting normally. People suffering from hemophilia A lack factor VIII protein as their livers cannot produce it. Regarding treatment methods, which of the following proposed strategies does not mainly rely on genetic engineering? (A) Producing bacteria that have recombinant DNA containing the human gene for factor VIII protein. (B) Manipulating current medicines chemically so they can mimic the function for factor VIII protein. (C) Modifying the genomes of human embryos to make them produce factor VIII protein. Or (D) developing genetic therapies to fix the liver cells of those patients, allowing them to synthesize factor VIII protein.
This question asks for a strategy that does not rely on genetic engineering. We can approach this question through a process of elimination, but let’s first discuss what the term genetic engineering means. You might remember that genetic engineering is a manipulation of an organism’s genome through artificial means. This often involves inserting a gene from one species into another. There are many examples of genetic engineering, like engineering crops for pest resistance or using bacteria to produce insulin for medical use. This question presents hemophilia A as a disorder that lacks factor VIII protein, which is usually produced in the liver.
These answer choices outline different treatment strategies, but we’re looking for the option that isn’t genetic engineering. Answer choice (A) states “Producing bacteria that have recombinant DNA containing the human gene for factor VIII protein.” This is an example of genetic engineering because the DNA of the bacteria has been modified to include the gene for factor VIII protein. So this is incorrect. Answer choice (B) states that manipulating current medicines chemically so they can mimic the function for factor VIII protein. This is not an example of genetic engineering since there has been no modification of a genome, only chemical modifications of medicine. So this is correct. But let’s see the other choices to be sure.
Answer choice (C) states that modifying the genomes of human embryos to make them produce factor VIII protein. This is an example of genetic engineering since the embryo’s DNA has been manipulated. Answer choice (D) states that developing genetic therapies to fix the liver cells of those patients, allowing them to synthesize factor VIII protein. This implies that genetic modification of liver cells is taking place, so this answer is incorrect. Therefore, the correct answer is (B), manipulating current medicines chemically so they can mimic the function for factor VIII protein.
